Why a quick price check misleads
A broadline distributor invoice and a Restaurant Depot order look different on paper. The packs are not always the same size, the fees sit in different places, and one side may add charges that never show next to the item. If you only compare the two items you remember, you will miss most of the difference. A fair comparison takes one invoice, one Restaurant Depot order for the same list, and about twenty minutes.
The real published result
bar-bak.com publishes one example from a Florida Keys pizzeria: the same order, compared line by line, came in 22% below its broadline invoice. That is a single kitchen and a single order. Your result depends on what you buy, how much, and what your distributor charges you, so treat it as a reason to run the check, not as a promise.
How to compare, step by step
1. Match the pack size first
A 20 lb case and two 10 lb bags are not the same line. Write down the pack as printed: weight, count and unit. If the sizes differ, convert before you compare totals.
2. Work out the unit price
Divide the line total by the pounds, or by the count for items sold each. Per-pound and per-each prices are what let a 40 lb case sit next to a 25 lb case. Case totals alone do not.
3. Check the same grade and brand
Compare like with like: the same cut, the same trim, the same fat content. If an equivalent product has a different name, note it and compare it anyway. Skip any item where you cannot tell whether it is equivalent.
4. Add the distributor-side charges
Look at the bottom of your distributor invoice, and at the order terms, for these. Which ones apply varies by distributor and by account, so check your own paperwork:
- Delivery fees, which may be per stop or built into a price tier.
- Fuel surcharges, which may be a flat amount or a percentage of the invoice.
- Order minimums, and any small-order charge if you fall under them.
- Price changes between the quote and the invoice, and items substituted or short-shipped.
5. Add our side
With BarBak Hospitality the delivery cost is $55 flat per delivery on a $300 minimum order. It is charged at Restaurant Depot checkout as part of the order, and it is the same in every town we serve, including Key West. Item prices are Restaurant Depot's own, because you order on your own account. Membership is free to join.
6. Compare the totals, then the habits
Put both landed totals side by side. Then ask what each route asks of you: order cutoffs, delivery days, how often you are short an item, and whether anyone has to make a store run to fill the gaps.
Illustration only: a hypothetical five-line comparison
Illustration only. These are made-up round numbers to show the method. They are not real prices from any distributor or from Restaurant Depot, and they are not a result from a BarBak customer.
| Item | Distributor line | Distributor unit price | Depot line | Depot unit price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shredded mozzarella | 20 lb case, $80 | $4.00/lb | 20 lb case, $70 | $3.50/lb |
| Chicken thighs | 40 lb case, $100 | $2.50/lb | 40 lb case, $90 | $2.25/lb |
| Fry oil | 35 lb jug, $50 | $50 per jug | 35 lb jug, $45 | $45 per jug |
| Paper towels | 30 rolls, $60 | $2.00 each | 30 rolls, $54 | $1.80 each |
| Romaine hearts | 20 count, $50 | $2.50 each | 20 count, $45 | $2.25 each |
| Item subtotal | $340 | $304 | ||
| Assumed fees | $20 fuel surcharge | $55 delivery | ||
| Landed total | $360 | $359 |
Look at what this made-up order shows. The item lines are about 11% lower on the Restaurant Depot side, but a flat $55 fee on a small order eats almost all of that, and the landed totals end up close. That is the useful lesson. The fee is flat, so it shrinks as a share of a bigger order, while a percentage-based surcharge grows with the invoice. Run your own numbers at your real order size.
What the comparison will not tell you
- Items Restaurant Depot does not carry. Some lines may only be available from your distributor. A split order is common.
- Credit terms and account services. Those are separate from price, and only you can weigh them.
- Your own numbers. This guide cannot see your invoice. Only a real comparison can.
Get yours checked
You can do this on a spreadsheet, or send us your invoice and we will compare it line by line against Restaurant Depot. For the full range of options, see Restaurant Depot vs Sysco and US Foods for small restaurants, and for the fee math at different order sizes, what Restaurant Depot delivery costs. Questions about a specific order? Call (866) 248-0118, 24/7.