Our History

Our History

TriMark has a rich history dating back to 1896, with many family businesses turning into the established, well-respected foodservice industry leader that TriMark has become today. Read about our full history below.

Adams-Burch

Joined TriMark in 2016

Origin Year: 1896

Thomas Burch Soda Fountain Equipment (1896) and E.B. Adams Dairy Products (1901) merged in 1931 by E.B.'s son, Donald, who focused the company on restaurants, chemicals, and cleaning supplies.

Notable Moments:

• Adams-Burch launched the largest foodservice show on the East Coast, the Annual Great Ideas Show.
• They opened a showroom and warehouse in Baltimore, Maryland, two weeks before Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination - they were one of the few family businesses to survive the city's civil rights riots.
• Adams-Burch notably provided materials to Admiral Byrd's Antarctica operation.

Gill

Joined TriMark in 2007

Founded in 1973

Ken Gill founded the premier foodservice equipment dealership, Gill, in Phoenix, Arizona. In 1976, they expanded to Crofton, Maryland, under Gill Marketing, which focused primarily on government contracts in the United States and abroad. They now operate in more than 9 locations.

Hockenbergs

Joined TriMark in 2017

Founded in 1908

Max Hockenberg opened foodservice equipment store in Des Moines, Iowa. By 1956, they had expanded their reach to Omaha, Nebraska. After Tom Schrack Jr. left his position at Pegler & Co. to join Hockenbergs in the 1970s, the Hockenbergs brothers sold the company to Prudential Properties (1979). Tom Schrack Jr. purchased the company back in 1985 after it exchanged hands from Prudential Properties to Godfather's Pizza and Pilsbury.

Notable Moments:

• Hockenbergs was named Dealer of the Year by FE&S Magazine in 2007.

Marlinn

Joined TriMark in 1998

Founded in 1946

World War II friends Seymour Lubin and Norman Marcus founded Marlinn together in Chicago, Illinois, selling chemicals, paper, and smallwares. In the 1970s, they expanded as their children and extended family joined Marlinn. Lubin's nephew, Mike Siegel, purchased the company in 1976 after graduating from college. They brought in technology and expanded their offerings to include kitchen equipment by the 1990s.

1998-1999 - Marlinn, Foodcraft, and United Restaurant Equipment Company (United East) joined as the first three TriMark divisions.

SS Kemp

Joined TriMark in 2007

Founded in 1926

Scottish immigrant Samuel Scott Kemp founded SS Kemp in Cleveland, Ohio, becoming the largest and most dominant dealer in the area by the 1950s. Kemp's competitor, Foodservice Equipment Inc. (FSEI), previously known as S&S Sales Co., was founded by Joe Schwartz and his son Bob - joined by Howard Fishman and Jerry Faub Jr. in 1978.

One day at a local deli, Howard Fishman ran into SS Kemp's President, Chuck Volinsky; they discussed the benefits of merging FSEI and SS Kemp. But Bob Schwartz declined with vulgarity; FSEI eventually went out of business.

Notable Moments:

• Stouffer's became SS Kemp's largest customer in 1979

United East

Joined TriMark in 1998

Founded in 1947

Harry Halpern sold brewing supplies to local Rhode Island restaurants from the back of his station wagon under the United Restaurant Equipment Company (URE) - he expanded his offering to provide a full range of restaurant equipment and supplies. Upon retirement, Harry's son Bob, Norman Bean, and Bernie Goldberg took over the company's operations, expanding the family business from Rhode Island to regional New England. They became the regional leader in equipment and supplies by the 1970s.

1998-1999 - URE, Marlinn, and Foodcraft joined as the first three TriMark divisions.

2000 - URE became United East when the TriMark name was unveiled.

South

Assembled in 2023

Strategic Equipment and Supply Corp.  | Origin Year: 1910

Six family businesses merged in 2000 to establish Strategic Equipment and Supply Corporation.

1910 - The Palm Brothers founded their namesake company in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Palm Brothers merged with St. Cloud Restaurant Supply, founded in 1962, becoming Strategic's Minnesota division in 2000.

1932 - Ernest Carleton Scruggs founded Scruggs Inc. in Knoxville, Tennessee, reselling foodservice equipment from New York City to restaurants, soda shops, and grocery stores in Knoxville. In 1990, they succumbed to a fire costing $1M+ in damage and inventory loss. But they fully recovered from the fire in six months. The community recognized them as one of the industry's most committed and resilient businesses.

1960 - William H. Reynolds founded W.H. Reynolds in Tampa, Florida, and surrounding areas, selling deli equipment to supermarkets after securing high-profile connections with the help of his well-connected socialites. Eugene O. Lee moved his family from Georgia to Florida to work with William; his son Gene joined the company as a Salesman after graduating from college with a degree in Biological Science in 1978. In 1984, Gene purchased W.H. Reynolds with William's son, Steve, as President and Steve Howze as Vice President. Over sixteen years, the two tripled business volume by expanding their range of supermarket equipment. Publix, Winn Dixie Supermarkets, BBQ King, and Henny Penny Corp. are well-known accounts.

1963 - Gaines and Lura Medley spent their life savings to open Medley Hotel & Restaurant Supply Company, selling pots, pans, cooktops, refrigeration units, and silverware. They were survivors of the Great Depression and modeled their business on values of personal relationships, innovation, and financial conservatism. The couple retired in the 1980s and handed their business down to their sons-on-law, Reed Jackson and David Campbell. In 1992, they began a relationship with Outback Steakhouse, establishing themselves as a premier foodservice industry dealer, securing the 20th spot on FE&S Magazine's nationwide distributor list in 1999. Expanding their services from Southwest Georgia to northwestern Florida and Tennessee, Medley began serving restaurants, school systems, and hospitality businesses like Hyatt Hotel, Chik-fil-A, Carrabba's Italian Grill, and more.

1978 - Robert Zintgraff founded Top of the Table Inc. in San Antonio, Texas.

1982 - Harold Gernsbacher Jr. founded Gernsbacher's Inc. in Fort Worth, Texas.

• Strategic joined TriMark in 2013.

Foodcraft | Founded in 1960

Greek immigrants Jack Kroustalis and Pete Nichols and their friend John Chamis founded their full-service foodservice dealership in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Thirteen-year-old Harry Gallins joined the team in 1970 as a UPS desk assistant and shelf stocker. After graduating  with an Arts degree, Harry was invited to work full-time as a Foodcraft salesperson, quickly working up to Sales Manager. In 1977, the company acquired its first chain contract, Bojangles Chicken & Biscuits. Other prolific customers include Applebee's, Longhorn Steakhouse, Raising Cane's, Arby's, Burger King, and Camp Humphrey's in South Korea.

• By 2017, sales rose to $140M, 10x the profit made in 1992 after transitioning to focusing solely on chain accounts.
• Foodcraft joined TriMark in 1999 along with United East and Marlinn - TriMark's first three divisions.

Industry Sales Inc. (ISI) | Founded in 1965

H.H. Shepherd Jr. founded ISI in Dallas, Texas, selling, leasing, and serving commercial ice machines. He and Eric Hohn ran the business operation with three other employees. In 1970, Dallas voted to allow the sale of mixed beverages by the glass; the foodservice industry in the area responded with tremendous growth, including ISI. In 1990, ISI acquired three other companies, expanding their reach from Texas to New Mexico, Louisiana, and Mississippi. By the mid-1990s, they had built a reputation as one of the most predominant leaders in the foodservice industry, acquiring distributorships like Frigidaire Ice Machines, EDI Liquor Post-Mix Dispensers, and Beverave-Air Beer Boxes.

• Eric Hohn retired and named Marty Monnat as President in 2004.
• ISI joined Strategic in 2006.

Century Concepts | 1999

With little funds to start his unique turnkey foodservice business, Gregg Adams sought to partner with small dealerships around Atlanta, Georgia. Paul Erickson, Founder of Commercial Store Design (CSD), brought Gregg on as a partner, and together, they began designing a website and catalog for the business idea at the turn of the century. They changed CMD's name to Century Concepts, founded on December 31, 1999. By 2003, sales grew to $13M, 28x CSD's sales in 1999. Between 2012 and 2015, sales increased to $34M. Century Concepts became the sole supplier of Focus Brands, owner of Moe's Southwest Grill, Cinnabon, Auntie Anne's, McAlister's Deli, Jamba, Carvel, and Schiotzsky's.

• Century Concepts joined TriMark in 2013 after discussing Gregg's three-year retirement plan.
• Century Concepts consolidated with TriMark Strategic in 2015, and Gregg stayed on as an employee, stating, "I'm having fun. I don't think I'm ready to leave." As of 2022, Gregg is still having fun.

Chefs' Toys

Joined TriMark in 2018

Founded in 1985

Steve Dickler founded AccuSharp, a mobile operation modeled after Snap-On Tool trucks selling knife-sharpening equipment and later, smallwares. In the early 2000s, AccuSharp and its competitor Advantage Foodservice Equipment Company merged to form Chefs' Toys, offering smallwares, tabletops, and large equipment. They opened their first cash-and-carry store in Southern California. Growing quickly, they moved to more extensive facilities and purchased Michael Blackman & Associates design firm.

2020 - Chefs' Toys absorbed Big Tray, the e-commerce division of Economy Restaurant Fixtures, which joined TriMark in 2008

Chefs' Toys currently has eleven locations open in California with plans to expand.

R.W. Smith

Joined TriMark in 2016

Founded in 1935

R.W. Smith founded his namesake company, selling bar supplies, growing to offer a full range of products and solutions, including a Kitchen Design & Build division by 1950. In the 1970s, R.W. Smith expanded geographically to serve many regions, including California, Nevada, and Arizona. Ownership of the company transitioned from the Smith family to its employees in 1997, remaining under employee ownership until joining TriMark nineteen years later.

2020 - R.W. Smith absorbed Economy Restaurant Fixtures' field and territory sales teams.

Notable Moments:

• R.W. Smith receives Dealer of the Year Award from FE&S Magazine in 1989 and 2011.
• They were named Top Achiever in the Foodservice Industry in 2006.

TMOC

Assembled in 2018

Economy Restaurant Fixtures | Founded in 1965

Mike and Betty Weinstock founded Economy Restaurant Fixtures in the Mission District of San Francisco, California, as an instant resource to serve customers with stock availability and exceptional service. Economy expanded its services to include design and contract bids in the late 1980s. In 1999, Mike's son, Josh, founded BigTray.com, the first national e-commerce equipment and supplies space in the digital sphere - they operated from Economy's headquarters in San Francisco. California. 

2020 - Economy merged their field and territory sales teams with R.W. Smith, and design, build, and construction services merged with TriMark Orange County. Chefs' Toys absorbed BigTray.com.

Federighi Food Machinery | Founded in 1942

George Federighi Sr. opened Federighi Food Machinery in San Francisco, California. In the 1970s, George Sr. brought on his sons, George Jr., Robert, and Bill, as service technicians. Upon seeing George Jr.'s passion and skill for drawing and designing, George Sr. moved him into a kitchen design position - shortly after, the company transitioned from a service-oriented to a design/build-oriented company. George Jr. and future business partner Michael Redding designed and built new foodservice concepts, including Kimpton Hotel Group and Chevys Fresh Mex. They quickly expanded to facilities like restaurants, hotels, bars, and resort properties. They renamed the company Federighi Design in 2000 to reflect this transition. Because of their success, the company has become one of the most well-recognized names in the foodservice design/build trade.

• Federighi Design joined TriMark in 2012 and joined TriMark Orange County in 2018.
• George Sr. also founded Stero Manufacturing, selling and servicing his patented dishwashers. He also founded Cork Pops.
  

Raygal Inc. | Founded in 1971

Ray Martin planned to retire in 1971 but wouldn't  until 1976 after the restaurant design business, Raygal Inc., with his colleague, Ygal Sonenshine. The company became one of the nation's most successful restaurant design and supply companies by the late 1990s, with high-profile clients including Cheesecake Factory, Marriott, Staples Arena, and more.

• Raygal Inc. joined TriMark in 1999 and joined TriMark Orange County in 2018.

RobertClark | Founded in 1991

Robert Heimstra and Clark Fletcher opened their boutique restaurant equipment and design company focused on chain establishments. At the time, they were unique in having their own installation team, unlike many other companies in the area who outsourced their installation services.

• RobertClark joined TriMark in 2000.
• RobertClark joined TriMark Orange County when Clark Fletcher retired in 2018.