Odeko, an operations and technology platform serving independent coffee shops, cafés, and other food and beverage businesses, has acquired District Distribution, a specialty food and beverage distributor based in Washington, DC. The deal gives Odeko an anchor presence in the nation’s capital and strengthens its footprint across the Mid Atlantic, including Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
District Distribution, founded in 2023, focuses on sourcing independent local brands and making them available to independent retailers, cafés, and foodservice operators in the region. The company has also worked through a partnership with Union Kitchen, a DC-based accelerator for local food and beverage businesses.
Alongside the acquisition, Odeko said it is entering into its own partnership with Union Kitchen. Odeko described the relationship as a way to connect with emerging brands and help them pursue broader distribution opportunities across Odeko’s national customer base.
Odeko said District’s customers will gain access to Odeko’s online ordering platform, expanded product catalog, around-the-clock customer support, and additional offerings such as financing and insurance. The combination is positioned to bring more local products into Odeko’s network while giving regional buyers and suppliers new tools to scale.
Odeko said it supports more than 20,000 independent food and beverage businesses and operates a warehouse and delivery network across 17 major US markets, with broader national reach through e-commerce and other solutions. The company also noted it has raised more than $280 million in equity and is backed by a group of venture capital firms and strategic partners.
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“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome District Distribution to Odeko. District’s team has built strong relationships with its customers and vendor partners and is well known in the community. We look forward to continue the good work District has done and to provide an enhanced experience for their customers.”
Dane Atkinson, CEO and Founder of Odeko
“We are thrilled to be joining forces with Odeko. With Odeko’s technology and national network, our customers will have the tools to continue to grow, and our many local suppliers will have in Odeko a real partner to scale their business. This is a big win for our ecosystem of food and beverage brands.”
Cullen Gilchrist, CEO of District Distribution
