Mission Statement, Vision, & Core Values of US Foods Holding Corp. (USFD)

When a company like US Foods Holding Corp. (USFD) guides for a massive fiscal year 2025 revenue between $39.4 billion and $40.1 billion, you know their foundational principles-Mission, Vision, and Core Values-are more than just posters on a wall. Their core mission, To be First in Food, is directly tied to their Q2 2025 net income of $224 million, so the strategy clearly works; but how exactly do their values of innovation and teamwork translate into tangible market advantage and sustained growth? If you're looking to understand the bedrock of a $16 billion market cap foodservice giant, you need to see how their cultural beliefs drive the bottom line, defintely.

US Foods Holding Corp. (USFD) Overview

You need a clear picture of US Foods Holding Corp. (USFD), one of America's largest foodservice distributors, and the story is one of consistent execution and profitable growth, especially in a tough macro environment. The company's roots trace back to the 19th century, with predecessors like Monarch Foods and John Sexton & Company, but the modern entity was primarily shaped by a 2007 acquisition and its 2016 Initial Public Offering (IPO).

US Foods supplies a massive range of food and non-food products, partnering with approximately 250,000 customer locations across the Continental U.S. They serve a diverse clientele: independent restaurants, national chains, healthcare facilities, and educational institutions. Their product portfolio is deep, featuring exclusive, high-margin brands like Chef's Line® and Metro Deli®, plus business solutions like menu planning and e-commerce through US Foods Direct.

For the trailing twelve months (TTM) ending September 30, 2025, the company delivered net revenue of approximately $39.115 billion, a solid increase of 4.8% year-over-year. That's a lot of food moving efficiently. They employ over 30,000 associates and operate more than 70 broadline distribution facilities, which is a significant logistical footprint.

Here's the quick math on their core business: they source from manufacturers and deliver everything a restaurant needs, from fresh produce and meats (which accounted for 34% of 2024 revenue) to dry grocery products and essential supplies.

Q3 2025 Financial Performance: Profitable Growth Engine

The latest numbers from the third quarter of fiscal year 2025, reported on November 6, 2025, defintely show US Foods is firing on all cylinders, translating top-line growth into significant profit expansion. Net sales for Q3 2025 climbed to $10.2 billion, representing a 4.8% year-over-year increase. This growth wasn't just inflation, either; total case volume was up 1.1%.

The real story is their focus on the high-margin independent restaurant segment, which saw case volume accelerate by 3.9%, marking the 18th consecutive quarter of market share gains in this key area. This focus, combined with operational efficiencies, led to margin expansion:

• Net Income increased 3.4% to $153 million.
• Adjusted EBITDA grew by a robust 11.0% to $505 million.
• Adjusted Diluted EPS surged by 25.9% to $1.07.

What this estimate hides is the impact of their digital initiatives. For instance, their AI-enabled e-commerce search is estimated to drive 1.3 million incremental cases annually by boosting conversion rates by 3%. Plus, their rapid delivery service, Pronto, is on track to hit a $1 billion run rate by the end of 2025, which is a huge competitive advantage in dense urban markets. The company is so confident, they raised their full-year 2025 Adjusted EBITDA growth guidance to a range of 10% to 12%.

A Leader in the Foodservice Distribution Industry

As the second-largest foodservice distributor in the United States, US Foods Holding Corp. is a critical player in the $300+ billion industry, rivaled primarily by Sysco. Their success isn't accidental; it's a result of a strategy centered on gaining share with the most profitable customers-independent restaurants-and leveraging technology for efficiency and customer convenience.

The company's operational strength is evident in its ability to consistently deliver double-digit Adjusted EBITDA growth, even while navigating industry headwinds like food cost inflation. They are actively using tuck-in acquisitions, such as the definitive agreement to acquire Shetakis in Q3 2025, to deepen their local density in key hospitality markets like Las Vegas. This dual focus on organic share gains and strategic M&A is what separates the leaders from the rest.

If you want to understand the mechanics behind this sustained market outperformance, you need to look closer at the investor sentiment and strategic positioning. Find out more about the capital flows driving this stock by reading Exploring US Foods Holding Corp. (USFD) Investor Profile: Who's Buying and Why?

US Foods Holding Corp. (USFD) Mission Statement

You're looking for the foundational principles that drive a company like US Foods Holding Corp. (USFD), and for a major foodservice distributor, the mission is the blueprint for navigating a competitive, low-margin industry. The company's mission statement is direct and powerful: To be First in Food. To inspire chefs and foodservice operators to bring great food experiences to consumers.

This statement isn't just marketing fluff; it's a clear strategic guide that ties the company's massive logistical operation-serving approximately 250,000 customer locations-to the ultimate goal of customer success. It's what connects the Q3 2025 net sales of $10.2 billion to the daily delivery of fresh produce and innovative products. Honestly, if a mission doesn't directly inform capital allocation and operational decisions, it's useless.

The mission is broken down into three actionable core components, which we can map directly to their 2025 performance and strategic pillars. For a deeper dive into how this all started, you can check out US Foods Holding Corp. (USFD): History, Ownership, Mission, How It Works & Makes Money.

Core Component 1: Being First in Food

Being 'First in Food' is a commitment to market leadership, quality, and operational excellence, not just size. For US Foods Holding Corp., this translates to a relentless focus on supply chain efficiency and product superiority. In fiscal year 2025, the company demonstrated this by updating its full-year guidance for Adjusted EBITDA growth to a range of 10% to 12%, up from earlier projections, showing they are defintely controlling costs and driving margin expansion.

This operational strength is what allows them to deliver value. It's about having the best products, like their Exclusive Brands, which are guided by an unwavering commitment to quality. The company's ambition to be the 'safest, fastest-growing, most profitable leader in digital' is the vision that supports this 'First in Food' goal. The quick math here is simple: superior logistics and product quality lead to better profitability, which in turn funds more innovation.

• Drive superior product quality and selection.
• Achieve best-in-class supply chain efficiency.
• Lead the market in digital solutions and technology.

Core Component 2: Inspiring Chefs and Foodservice Operators

This component is the heart of US Foods Holding Corp.'s customer-centric strategy. It recognizes that their success is entirely dependent on their customers' success. The company doesn't just sell food; it provides solutions. A concrete example is the MOXē® platform, a proprietary e-commerce tool that enables efficient operations for customers all from one app.

The proof is in the independent restaurant case volume growth, which accelerated to 3.9% in the third quarter of fiscal year 2025. That's a strong indicator that their tools and service are resonating with the core customer base. Plus, the penetration of their high-quality Private Label products among core independent restaurant customers grew to over 53% in Q3 2025, which directly helps customers offset inflationary pressures with lower costs. That's how you inspire-you help them save money and succeed.

Core Component 3: Bringing Great Food Experiences to Consumers

The final component is the ultimate, consumer-facing outcome. US Foods Holding Corp. is a business-to-business (B2B) company, but its mission extends to the end consumer's dining experience. This focus is a quality control mechanism for the entire supply chain. If the food isn't great, the chef fails, and the distributor fails.

This commitment is supported by their strong financial performance, which allows for continued investment in product innovation. For the first nine months of fiscal year 2025, cash flow provided by operating activities was a robust $1,076 million, an increase of $185 million from the prior year. This cash generation ensures they can invest in the freshest, most in-demand products, like the sales of fresh produce, which increased by 8% in fiscal year 2024, reflecting a growing consumer demand for healthy options. The company's dedication to quality is what ultimately drives those memorable dining experiences for the public.

US Foods Holding Corp. (USFD) Vision Statement

You want to know where US Foods Holding Corp. (USFD) is headed, and the Vision Statement is the clearest map you'll get. It's not just corporate fluff; it's a measurable ambition that drives capital allocation. The direct takeaway is this: US Foods is aiming to be the undisputed best in the industry, which means dominating in four key areas-safety, growth, digital leadership, and being a top employer.

This isn't a vague aspiration. It's a multi-pronged strategy to enhance shareholder value, especially when you look at the 2025 financial guidance. The company's focus on these pillars is what's driving the projected full-year 2025 revenue guidance of between $39.4 billion and $40.1 billion, a tight range that shows management's confidence in execution.

Vision: The Undisputed Best in the Industry

The US Foods vision is to be 'the safest, fastest-growing, most profitable leader in digital, and the best place to work.' This statement is a clear operational mandate. We, as analysts, see that 'fastest-growing' is backed by a focus on high-margin independent restaurants, where case volume grew by 2.7% in the second quarter of fiscal year 2025.

The 'most profitable leader in digital' part is where the rubber meets the road. Digital penetration is a huge margin play, and the company's MOXe e-commerce platform is seeing record use, with a 78% penetration rate for independent restaurant orders in Q2 2025. That's defintely a stickiness metric you want to see. This digital edge reduces the cost to serve, directly boosting profitability and supporting the full-year 2025 Adjusted Diluted EPS guidance of $3.906 to $3.969.

• Be the safest operator: Reduces liability and insurance costs.
• Be the fastest-growing: Focuses on high-value customer segments.
• Be the most profitable leader in digital: Drives margin expansion via MOXe.
• Be the best place to work: Lowers turnover and improves service quality.

Mission: To be First in Food

The mission statement is the daily action plan: 'To be First in Food. To inspire chefs and foodservice operators to bring great food experiences to consumers.' This mission supports the 'fastest-growing' and 'most profitable' parts of the vision by focusing on customer success. It's a B2B model built on B2C outcomes-helping their customers, the chefs, succeed.

The 'First in Food' claim is executed through their exclusive brands, which are guided by innovation and a commitment to quality. Think about it: if they provide the best, most innovative products, their customers win, and US Foods wins with higher-margin sales. The company's net income for the second quarter of 2025 was a strong $224 million, up 13.1% year-over-year, which shows this mission is translating into real financial performance. That's a solid return on their customer-centric strategy.

Core Values: The Cultural Beliefs Driving Execution

A vision is useless without the right culture to execute it. US Foods calls its core values 'Cultural Beliefs,' which are the pillars defining their work ethic and commitment to service. While the full list of Cultural Beliefs is extensive, the key values that underpin the leadership's focus and guide their 30,000 associates are clear: customer success, integrity, innovation, and teamwork.

Here's the quick math: Innovation, for instance, is not just a buzzword; it's a direct contributor to their operational excellence strategy. They are on track to exceed their 2027 target of $260 million in vendor management savings, having already achieved over $50 million year-to-date in 2025. This is innovation in the supply chain, not just the product catalog. What this estimate hides, however, is the long-term impact of customer success-happy chefs buy more, leading to sustained volume growth.

If you want to dive deeper into the financial mechanics that support this strategic direction, you should check out Breaking Down US Foods Holding Corp. (USFD) Financial Health: Key Insights for Investors. Anyway, the alignment of the Mission, Vision, and Core Values is what gives us conviction in the company's ability to hit its aggressive 2025 targets and beyond.

US Foods Holding Corp. (USFD) Core Values

You want to understand the engine driving US Foods Holding Corp. (USFD)'s recent performance-it's not just the supply chain, it's a clear set of values that guides their capital allocation and strategic priorities. The company's ambition is to be the undisputed best in the industry: the safest, fastest-growing, most profitable leader in digital, and the best place to work. This ambition translates into core values that are deeply integrated into their business strategy, particularly in the areas of customer partnership, operational efficiency, and social responsibility.

This is a company that delivered a trailing 12-month revenue of approximately $39.1 billion as of September 30, 2025, with a laser focus on execution. They are defintely putting their money where their values are.

Customer Focus & Product Innovation

The core of US Foods' mission is simple: to be First in Food and inspire chefs to bring great food experiences to consumers. This isn't just a tagline; it's the commercial driver behind their growth, especially with independent restaurants. They understand that if their customers don't succeed, they don't succeed.

A key example of this value in action is the strength of their Exclusive Brands (private label) portfolio. These products help customers manage inflationary pressures with lower costs, which is why penetration among core independent restaurant customers was over 53% in the third quarter of fiscal year 2025. That's a huge competitive advantage built on trust and value. Also, they maintain a portfolio of more than 5,000 differentiated products that offer social or environmental benefits, aligning their product offering with evolving diner demand for local, sustainable, and well-being options.

Operational Excellence & Digital Leadership

Operational excellence is the backbone of being the 'safest, fastest-growing, most profitable leader in digital.' For fiscal year 2025, the company is guiding for Adjusted EBITDA growth of 10% to 12%, a clear signal that efficiency gains are translating directly to the bottom line. Here's the quick math on execution:

• The MOXē® platform, their best-in-industry e-commerce tool, enables efficient operations all from one app.
• The Pronto small truck delivery service is expected to deliver approximately $950 million in sales for 2025, demonstrating a successful, scalable solution for smaller, urban customers.
• They improved their operations quality composite-a measure of delivering products without errors-by a significant 24% compared to the prior year, showing tangible service improvement.

They are committed to driving 3% to 5% annual productivity well into the future through initiatives like their routing and deployment programs. That relentless focus on the supply chain is what makes a difference in a low-margin business.

People & Community

This value covers two critical areas: the associates who power the business and the communities they serve. Making US Foods the 'best place to work' is a core ambition. On the safety front, they improved injury and accident rates by 19% compared to 2023, which is a major win for employee well-being and operational continuity.

In the community, their 'Helping Communities Make It' programming saw a strategic investment increase of more than 5-fold over the last two years, leveraging nearly $4 million in support for 2025. This investment focuses on hunger relief, culinary education, and disaster relief. For example, the US Foods Scholars program plans to award 18 scholarships in 2025, totaling $360,000, to foster the industry's future workforce.

Planet & Sustainability

The commitment to 'Planet' involves measuring, monitoring, and minimizing their environmental impact, which is essential for long-term business resilience (supply chain risk). They have reduced absolute Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 16% since 2019, working toward a formal goal of a 32.5% reduction by 2032.

This isn't just about reporting; it's about fleet investment. They added 47 electric vehicles to their fleet and installed 65 fast-charging stations at eight different locations. That's a concrete step toward fleet efficiency and a lower carbon footprint. This focus on sustainability also strengthens their supply chain by prioritizing responsible sourcing practices, like mapping 96% of the palm oil used in US Foods Exclusive Brands products to the mill level to reduce deforestation risk.

If you are looking for a deeper dive into the capital structure supporting these values, you should be Exploring US Foods Holding Corp. (USFD) Investor Profile: Who's Buying and Why? Exploring US Foods Holding Corp. (USFD) Investor Profile: Who's Buying and Why?