GFS Marketplace Stores

There is a new grocery item store that opened near my office in Schaumburg and was wondering if anyone had luck or reviews on the food they sell there...

http://www.gfs.com/en/gfs-marketplace-stores.page?

GFS is a foodservice type store. Lots of stuff branded with their name. Quantities range from warehouse club size to commercial. Many of their products are similar to what you would find at Sam's Club but at higher prices. They also sell paper products and restaurant type cooking pans & utensils.

Artie wrote:GFS is a foodservice type store. Lots of stuff branded with their name. Quantities range from warehouse club size to commercial. Many of their products are similar to what you would find at Sam's Club but at higher prices. They also sell paper products and restaurant type cooking pans & utensils.

Thanks Artie,

I might check it out this week and post back my findings...

HonestMan wrote:There is a new grocery item store that opened near my office in Schaumburg and was wondering if anyone had luck or reviews on the food they sell there...

http://www.gfs.com/en/gfs-marketplace-stores.page?

I have been shopping at GFS Marketplace Stores since the early 80s in the Detroit Metro area.

GFS stands for Gordon Food Service, a large Grand Rapids based food distributor and the largest one in Michigan.

GFS was originally set up to serve small Gordon's customers who might need to stop by and pick up several items for their small businesses. They decided to open it up to the public.

Are they the cheapest? NO. However, they have a lot more SKUs than the average warehouse store. Also, since they are geared toward institutional and restaurant customers, their meat is much better portioned than you get at your club stores. For example, I was preparing a church dinner last month. I had planned on stopping at GFS and getting 20# of 4oz pork chops. Instead, I stopped at Sams and Costco and the pork chops were all variable cuts.

More important to me is that a stop at GFS is a good shop.

According to the Mount Prospect Journal, another GFS just broke ground on a Golf Mill outlot.

It's pretty impressive, I went "window shopping" there yesterday and found what looks like a cross between Costco and Market Day. They have name brands and private labels of frozen food, snacks, serving utensils and party items. I will buy something next week and report back...

They just broke ground on 11/21 for a new GFS at 2424 W. Oakton in Evanston. Expected to open next summer.

There are two places I regularly encounter food from GFS.

One is at an annual event that I help put on where we feed 500 convention-goers for four days. GFS is a lifesaver -- but not just because of the quantity. They have a good range of things on offer, and while it's not high-end gourmet fare, it's good enough to have the 500 people think we're mighty good hosts. For big events, they deliver. Plus, if you're in a venue that is concerned about food safety, GFS is recognized as a safe supplier.

The second is at the home of a friend who uses GFS for every party she gives. Hot things on a warming table, cold things on a chilling table, and she gets to enjoy the party, and the guests all eat well -- whether it's breakfast or dinner -- or both (as during our 12-hour Lord of the Rings marathon).

It's easy and most of it is tasty. So for the right application, it's a good place. And some stuff is surprisingly good -- for example, the crust on their breakfast quiche is admirably tender and flaky.

Don't expect Fox and Obel, but if you are facing a hungry hoard, GFS is very useful.

I actually like to get equipment there.
I've gotten inexpensive but good quality pots and pans for everyday use, and some really nice sturdy steam table pans a few months ago for a steal.
If you need to outfit a home kitchen on the cheap it's a great place to visit.

Check out the size of this catalog. (PDF)
Not being in the business I wouldn't even know where else to get 1/2 this stuff.

On a totally random note, GFS sold me the best ever coffee... uhhh... words are failing me... vacuum pumpy dispenser thing? Sorry, I'm sick. But their stuff is usually good quality, and the coffee dispenser pump thing was a bargain at the time, and usually manages to keep the coffee warm for up to 10 hours. Unless I forget to fasten the lid.

MincyBits wrote: vacuum pumpy dispenser thing?

Airpot?
Pics

They just broke ground on 11/21 for a new GFS at 2424 W. Oakton in Evanston. Expected to open next summer.

Holy cats! That's just across the street from my Home Depot!

There is a new store going in on Oakton just east of McCormick (across from Home Depot). Its called GFS Marketplace. GFS stands for Gordon Food Service. I gather they are billed as a restaurant supply store which is open to civilians. Does anyone have experience with this store? Should the opening of this location be anticipated. . .or not so much? Just curious.

There is one by me in Milwaukee. Saves me the trip to the next closest store in Kenosha.
Very nice people, very good food. I see their supply truck at Bayshore Mall in Glendale, WI all of the time stocking up the eateries.
They have good quality, sign up for their newsletter for $5 off of $50. If you have a bunch of people or a work lunch coming up, you can get one of their pre-made items and just heat it up.
One of the better selections of aluminum trays. I often get more of the produce there than I should.
I go through quite a bit of their boneless pork chops in the Sous Vide. Very good prices on deli meats like sandwich pepperoni.
They also have a great price on Planter's honey roasted peanuts (I have a friend who is addicted).
Make sure that your freezer is not stocked when you go in there.

I'm fond of their tavern cheese spread with horseradish. Better and cheaper than Merkt's (whose horseradish variety is hard to find, anyway). They've had very good prices on short ribs, lately, and I have some in the fridge waiting for me to decide what to do with them. The other meat looked to be a good value as well, if you go in for big cuts.

The GFS on Oakton was open when I stopped at Home Depot this weekend. Didn't have a chance to check it out.

LAZ - the Merkts horseradish is always available at Woodmans. Also I think at the Tom & Toms outlet on your way up north. (you can get the Cheddar by the gallon there BTW - had to do that once for a friend's pregnant wife who lived out of state and NEEDED IT).
I miss the Merkts outlet attached to their factory - great deals and interesting items.

Experiences with GFS.

We think all the things we've tried & regularly use below are great.

Edibles:
Whole Milk Mozzarella 5lb. blocks; more consistent & tasty than most we've tried.
Sharp cheddar 2lb. blocks
Butter 1lb. blocks
Fresh mushrooms ( when not near a Woodman's for pick-your-own)
Cocoa Mix is tasty

Kitchen Stuff:
Non stick pans
Pizza pans
Trash bags
Food surface wipes


So, for us, GFS is a good place to shop.

So if I have this correct: this place is like Sam's, but any schmo can shop there, no membership needed? I see that a lot of things are bulk, but can you pick up fresh produce or is everything packaged?

So if I have this correct: this place is like Sam's, but any schmo can shop there, no membership needed? I see that a lot of things are bulk, but can you pick up fresh produce or is everything packaged?

Yep, anyone can shop there. It doesn't have clothing, TVs, grills and the other random stuff that Sam's has. Strictly food and foodservice items. I honestly don't remember if they have produce.

Has anyone tried their Kitchen Essentials line of chef's knives? They a a no-frills knife with a simple molded white plastic handle and a stamped blade. I am thinking one of these might be a good hard-use beater knife for the home kitchen if it is made to stand up to professional cooking.

Pie Lady wrote:So if I have this correct: this place is like Sam's, but any schmo can shop there, no membership needed? I see that a lot of things are bulk, but can you pick up fresh produce or is everything packaged?

Not really like Sam's. It's meant primarily as a source for mom-and-pop type food establishments (it's where you local take-out place would get packaged condiments, to-go containers, paper goods, bulk spices, food-service size ingredients (gallon jugs, #10 cans)). It also has a very limited selection of produce (large salad-in-a-bag and some other limited items), bulk dairy/eggs (including a 10-lb box of peeled hard-boiled eggs). Prices are good but not exceptional. They also have prominently displayed shelf labels identifying Kosher items which is pretty unusual, but thoughtful. Overall, the selection is far more limited than a typical grocery, it's handy if you're shopping for a large gathering but it's not a place I'd visit for my general grocery needs.

For those of us not able to get into Restaurant Depot, it provides something of an intermediary: Most items from the full catalog are available to the general public: chefwear, steam table pans (I use a plastic one for sous vide).

There are a few things they won't sell without a retail license, such as Coca-Cola syrup.

Things I have bought there include: full packer brisket, pecan meal (now that Home Economist is no more), squeeze bottles, big box of candy canes (for crushing to make cookies). I've never bought anything frozen from there, nor any produce (of which there is a little, and not low priced). If you've got a banquet, they're probably going to be cheaper than a cards 'n' parties kind of place.

They've got great prices on whole brisket.
Last time I looked I think it was around $2.50/lb., maybe Excel is cheaper but Jewel and Dominic's are twice that.

spinynorman99 wrote:

Pie Lady wrote:So if I have this correct: this place is like Sam's, but any schmo can shop there, no membership needed? I see that a lot of things are bulk, but can you pick up fresh produce or is everything packaged?

.

If you are looking for a comparison to GFS, the only one that I can think of is SOCAL's Smart and Final.

BTW, do NOT expect the pricing to be inexpensive. It is generally decent. If shopping on price alone, shop elsewhere.

JoelF wrote:Things I have bought there include: full packer brisket, pecan meal (now that Home Economist is no more), squeeze bottles, big box of candy canes (for crushing to make cookies). I've never bought anything frozen from there, nor any produce (of which there is a little, and not low priced). If you've got a banquet, they're probably going to be cheaper than a cards 'n' parties kind of place.

The Home Economist is no more. However Fisher Nuts has a factory store on S. Randall Rd, just south of I-90 that carries much of the same stuff.

They have sale items listed on their website. Nowhere near a comprehensive list but it will give you a sense of price points and item selection:

http://www.gfs.com/en/gfs-marketplace-s ... -sale.page?

Of note, the 10-lb box of hard-cooked eggs is on sale. Great item for your summer stock theater production of "Cool Hand Luke".

spinynorman99 wrote:Of note, the 10-lb box of hard-cooked eggs is on sale. Great item for your summer stock theater production of "Cool Hand Luke".

This is a remix, though it was what I could find:

GFS supplies several eateries by me. I was asked to leave one of them with my son when asking the waitress about the markup on several items. Seriously, the retail GFS stores are higher than their food service, but go through and you will be amazed at some of the markups from (mostly chains) that do not have real chefs, just re-heaters.

A really sad thing was that I "catered" a scout dinner, using GFS "reheat in oven, drop in fryer" items.
I had several folks asking for recipes because it was just as good if not better as xxx,yyy,zzz and far cheaper. The shocked looks on faces....

I once took an elderly neighbor to GFS on a day where they were sampling their prime rib. She bought one as well as some canned broth. On Thanksgiving I heated up the beef and microwaved the broth, brought both over to her house for her to feed her visiting family and a couple of them were asking me to cater their next event. When they realized they were "plunked" they were amazed at the cost and started to look at where they went for dinner.

Not always the cheapest, but great for when you don't want to bother to do "real"food for your office on "bring in a dish day".

exvaxman wrote:GFS supplies several eateries by me. I was asked to leave one of them with my son when asking the waitress about the markup on several items. Seriously, the retail GFS stores are higher than their food service, but go through and you will be amazed at some of the markups from (mostly chains) that do not have real chefs, just re-heaters.

Crappy restaurant or not, once an ingredient passes through its portals then the purchase price ceases to exist. Would it really shock you that an $8 restaurant omelet contains less than $1 in product costs? Or that the can of Coke that they bought for $4 a 12-pack is $1.50? Maybe the better question is would you have felt better about eating in a "re-heater" establishment at a lower price point?

The problem is that GFS does "ready made food". No intervention required. Just fry/microwave/heat up.
No chef/cook needed. Just nuke and deliver.