McLane Company
McLane Company is a Berkshire Hathaway-owned wholesale distributor and supply-chain services provider serving retail, convenience, foodservice, and beverage customers.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
McLane Company is an American wholesale distribution and supply-chain services business headquartered in Temple, Texas. Its operations move packaged groceries, convenience-store merchandise, foodservice products, and selected alcoholic beverages from manufacturers and suppliers to commercial customers across the United States, with additional distribution activity in Brazil. The company serves a broad range of outlets, including convenience stores, discount retailers, wholesale clubs, drugstores, military facilities, fast-food restaurants, and casual-dining chains. The business traces its origins to 1894, when Robert McLane opened a grocery store in downtown Cameron, Texas. In 1903, the company expanded from retailing into wholesale trade, supplying stores in neighboring communities with products transported by rail and horse-drawn wagons. During the 1920s through the 1940s, the operation grew across Central Texas. A major operational transition occurred in 1966, when McLane moved to Temple and began adapting its warehousing and delivery systems to the needs of retail accounts, particularly the expanding convenience-store sector. Under Drayton McLane Jr.'s leadership, beginning in 1976, the company expanded outside Texas and developed a national distribution network. By 1990, McLane had established a presence across the United States. That year, it was sold to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., receiving Walmart stock and cash in a transaction that made McLane part of Walmart's supply-chain infrastructure. McLane later broadened its capabilities beyond grocery and retail distribution. In December 2000, it entered foodservice by acquiring selected assets of AmeriServe Food Distribution and forming McLane Foodservice. In 2003, Berkshire Hathaway purchased McLane from Walmart for approximately $1.45 billion, making McLane a wholly owned Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary. McLane is organized around grocery, foodservice, and beverage distribution activities. Its grocery operations supply convenience stores, independent grocers, retail chains, and other commercial accounts. McLane Foodservice supplies restaurant operators and restaurant chains with food, ingredients, disposables, equipment-related items, and other operating supplies. The beverage business distributes distilled beverages in parts of the country, particularly through Empire Distributors in the Southeast and Colorado-related markets. Specialty operations support private-label merchandise, regional grocery wholesaling, meat and foodservice distribution, and alcoholic-beverage distribution. The company has historically counted Walmart as a major customer, although its customer base is diversified across retail, restaurant, military, and convenience channels. Its listed customers and restaurant accounts have included Walmart, Sam's Club, Walgreens, Pilot Flying J, Wawa, ExxonMobil, Target, Family Dollar, and AAFES, as well as restaurant brands such as Taco Bell, KFC, Pizza Hut, Sonic Drive-In, Buffalo Wild Wings, Arby's, Del Taco, Denny's, Jack in the Box, Hardee's, Applebee's, and El Pollo Loco. McLane's role is primarily business-to-business: it combines purchasing, warehousing, inventory management, order fulfillment, transportation, and delivery rather than selling mainly to end consumers under its own retail banner. McLane operates a large network of grocery and foodservice distribution centers in the United States and has maintained an international facility in Brazil. Its strategic position is that of a high-volume intermediary connecting consumer-goods manufacturers with fragmented retail and restaurant locations. The company remains active under Berkshire Hathaway ownership, with its brand identity associated with dependable replenishment, national scale, and specialized distribution for convenience, grocery, foodservice, and beverage customers.
History
McLane Company began in 1894 in Cameron, Texas, where Robert McLane operated a small retail grocery store. In 1903, the business entered wholesale trade, supplying grocery stores in nearby towns. Its early distribution system relied on rail service and horse-drawn wagons, reflecting the regional nature of commerce in Central Texas at the time. During the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s, the company expanded its customer base and geographic reach throughout Central Texas. In 1966, McLane moved its operations to Temple, Texas. The relocation accompanied a more systematic approach to warehousing and distribution, including methods designed for the rapidly developing convenience-store market. Rather than functioning only as a regional grocery wholesaler, McLane increasingly positioned itself as a logistics and replenishment provider capable of serving organized retail networks. Drayton McLane Jr. led a major phase of expansion beginning in 1976. Under his leadership, the company moved beyond its Texas base and built a national presence. By 1990, McLane had become a substantial United States distribution business. In December of that year, Drayton McLane sold the company to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. in exchange for 10.4 million shares of Walmart stock and an undisclosed amount of cash. Walmart's ownership connected McLane directly to one of the world's largest retail supply chains, while McLane continued operating as a wholesale distribution business. McLane diversified into restaurant supply in December 2000. It acquired selected assets from AmeriServe Food Distribution and used them to create McLane Foodservice. This move expanded the company's role from grocery and convenience distribution into the supply of restaurant chains and foodservice operators. The foodservice division later served accounts associated with major quick-service, fast-casual, and casual-dining brands. In May 2003, Berkshire Hathaway acquired McLane from Walmart for approximately $1.45 billion. McLane became a wholly owned Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary and remained part of the group's portfolio of operating companies. Under Berkshire ownership, McLane continued to develop its three broad business areas: grocery, foodservice, and beverage distribution. The company added regional and specialist capabilities through acquisitions and affiliated businesses. It acquired C.D. Hartnett in 2004, a Texas-based grocery wholesaler serving foodservice accounts, convenience stores, and independent grocers in parts of Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Louisiana. In 2006, McLane acquired McCarty-Hull, a grocery wholesaler based in Amarillo, Texas. In 2010, it purchased Empire Distributors, a wholesale alcoholic-beverage distributor operating in the Southeastern United States. In 2012, McLane acquired Meadowbrook Meat Company, strengthening its foodservice and meat-distribution activities. McLane's operating model combines procurement, warehousing, inventory control, order processing, transportation, and delivery. Its customers include national and regional retailers, convenience-store chains, drugstores, military facilities, restaurant chains, and independent operators. The company has operated approximately 80 grocery and foodservice distribution centers across the United States, together with a distribution presence in Brazil. Its business remains primarily infrastructure-oriented: McLane supports other brands' retail and restaurant operations instead of relying on consumer recognition of McLane products. The company is active under Berkshire Hathaway ownership, with its historical development defined by regional grocery wholesaling, national logistics expansion, foodservice diversification, beverage distribution, and acquisition-led specialization.
- 2012
Acquisition of Meadowbrook Meat Company
[1]McLane acquired Meadowbrook Meat Company, also known as MBM, to expand foodservice distribution capabilities.
- 2010
Acquisition of Empire Distributors
[1]McLane purchased Empire Distributors, adding a wholesale alcoholic-beverage distribution business in the Southeast.
- 2006
Acquisition of McCarty-Hull
[1]McLane acquired McCarty-Hull, a grocery wholesaler based in Amarillo, Texas.
- 2004
Acquisition of C.D. Hartnett
[1]McLane acquired C.D. Hartnett, a Texas-based regional grocery wholesaler.
- 2003
Acquisition by Berkshire Hathaway
[1]Berkshire Hathaway acquired McLane from Walmart for approximately $1.45 billion.
- 2000
Creation of McLane Foodservice
[1]McLane acquired selected AmeriServe Food Distribution assets and entered the foodservice distribution business.
- 1990
Sale to Wal-Mart Stores
[1]McLane was sold to Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. for 10.4 million shares of Walmart stock and an undisclosed cash amount.
- 1976
National expansion begins
[1]Under Drayton McLane Jr., the company began expanding outside Texas.
- 1966
Operations move to Temple
[1]McLane relocated its operations to Temple, Texas, and refined warehouse and distribution methods for retail and convenience-store customers.
- 1903
Expansion into wholesale trade
[1]The company began supplying grocery stores in neighboring towns, using rail and horse-drawn wagons for distribution.
Products and positioning
A large-scale, business-to-business distribution and supply-chain partner for convenience stores, retailers, restaurants, military facilities, and beverage accounts. McLane emphasizes network reach, high-volume fulfillment, category breadth, and recurring delivery service rather than consumer-facing brand marketing.
Wholesale distribution
Grocery distribution
McLane's grocery segment distributes packaged food, snacks, beverages, and other fast-moving consumer goods to convenience stores, discount retailers, wholesale clubs, drugstores, military facilities, and independent grocers. The service integrates purchasing, warehousing, order fulfillment, and delivery for accounts that require frequent replenishment and broad product assortments.
Foodservice distribution · 2000
McLane Foodservice
McLane Foodservice supplies restaurant chains and other foodservice operators with ingredients, frozen and refrigerated products, packaged goods, disposables, and operating supplies. The division was created after McLane acquired selected AmeriServe assets in 2000 and expanded the company into national restaurant distribution.
Alcoholic-beverage wholesale
Beverage distribution
McLane's beverage activities include wholesale distribution of distilled beverages in selected United States markets. Empire Distributors forms a major part of this specialty business, serving beverage customers in the Southeast and related territories.
Private-label convenience merchandise
Salado Sales private-label merchandise
Salado Sales develops and markets private-label products for McLane's convenience-store customers. Its merchandise categories have included health and beauty care items, photographic film and flash products, light bulbs, motor oil, and work gloves.
Regional grocery and foodservice distribution
Regional wholesale distribution
McLane's affiliated regional businesses broaden its geographic and category coverage. C.D. Hartnett serves foodservice accounts, convenience stores, and independent grocers in several south-central states, while McCarty-Hull supports grocery distribution from its Amarillo base. MBM adds meat and foodservice capabilities.
Brand decisions
2003
Berkshire Hathaway acquisitionM&ABackground
Walmart owned McLane after acquiring the company in 1990, while McLane continued operating as a specialized wholesale distribution business.
Action taken
Berkshire Hathaway purchased McLane from Wal-Mart Stores for approximately $1.45 billion.
Aftermath
McLane became a wholly owned Berkshire Hathaway subsidiary and continued developing grocery, foodservice, and beverage distribution operations.
Acquisition price. $1.45 billion (2003 acquisition)
2000
Entry into foodservice distributionStrategyBackground
McLane had historically focused on grocery and retail wholesale distribution but sought to broaden its business scope and serve restaurant customers.
Action taken
The company acquired selected assets from AmeriServe Food Distribution and established McLane Foodservice.
Aftermath
The transaction created a dedicated foodservice division and enabled McLane to supply major restaurant chains in addition to retail and convenience accounts.
Sources1 sources
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