At Navis Food Partners, we celebrate the rich and diverse independent food venues that define the vibrant food scene in New England and the broader Northeast. Unlike regions where chain restaurants and national fast-casual brands dominate, our operators are unique, innovative, and demand the same ethos from their foodservice distributors—commitment to service, flexibility, reliability, and value.

That’s where our story begins.

Our mission is to build a foodservice distribution platform at scale, tailored specifically to the needs of our unique marketplace and the food operators who serve this community. By uniting companies with unique capabilities, value-added services, diverse customer channels, and broad category offerings, we are creating a network of independent brands and companies that align with the needs of our innovative customers.

OUR STRATEGY

Over the past 30 years, the relentless consolidation of the foodservice distribution industry has significantly reduced the number of supplier choices available to restaurant operators. Many successful food distributor brands have been absorbed into large, publicly traded broadliners, dominating the industry and diminishing diversity.

Navis Food Partners offers a different approach.

We are committed to preserving and investing in the legacy brands of our companies and leadership teams, while enhancing the competitive advantages that have made these companies successful. All customer-facing functions—selling, marketing, local procurement, and distribution center operations—remain under the control and responsibility of the local company leadership. Meanwhile, back-office functions such as finance, accounting, treasury, and IT are supported by Navis Food Partners’ shared services.

This strategy allows our companies and teams to concentrate on what truly matters for their success and that of their customers, while Navis optimizes processes, leverages technology, and scales operations to drive growth.

OUR TEAM

Robert Berkowitz leads Navis Food Partners as CEO, bringing 40 years of experience as a third-generation founder of City Line Foodservice in West Haven, CT. Under his leadership, Robert grew his family’s foodservice business into one of the largest independent foodservice distributors in the Northeast.

Sean Griffin serves as Navis Food Partners’ Executive Chairman, contributing his 40 years of leadership across all sectors of food distribution. Throughout his distinguished career, Sean has held pivotal roles, including CEO of SuperValu, COO of UNFI, and Region President of Performance Food Group.

Doug Behre serves as the Chief Financial Officer at Navis Food Partners and City Line Foods, bringing a wealth of experience in financial and operational excellence.

Both Robert and Sean are native New Englanders, deeply connected to the region they serve.

Navis Food Partners is further strengthened by a highly experienced and accomplished Board of Directors, providing strategic guidance and support.