Our History
From day one, RDP Foodservice has been a local, family-owned company. Our story begins even before America was hooked on pizza, with the DiPaolo family supplying fresh ingredients to the very first pizzeria in Columbus, Ohio. We are still family-owned and operated to this day, and while we’ll never forget our roots as a small Italian grocery, we’re proud to have grown into one of the region’s largest independent broadline distributors.
Our commitment to quality and service has fueled our growth, and RDP has twice been honored as one of Columbus’s top 50 fastest-growing companies by Business First Magazine, growing to well over 100 million dollars in annual top-line sales. Three generations later, our values remain the same: Keep the food fresh. Keep the work honest. Keep the customer first.
History of RDP Foodservice
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1920Italian Grocery
1920 - Italian Grocery in Columbus, Ohio
The DiPaolo family owned and operated an Italian grocery in Columbus, Ohio.
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1949Food Distributors
1949 - DiPaolo Food Distributors
Richie DiPaolo saw an opportunity to supply the new pizza houses of Columbus, thus began DiPaolo food distributors.
1940s -
1985Food Service Operation
1985 - Food Service Operation
SYSCO, approached Richie to acquire the now multi-million dollar food service operation.
1980s -
1996Independent Restaurant Market
1996 - Independent Restaurant Market
Richie, his sons and his grandsons decided to start RDP, designed to benefit the independent restaurant market.
1990s -
2005Food Show & Concert Series
2005 - Food Show & Concert Series
RDP hosts the first Food Show & Concert Series with Eddie Money performing hits for RDP guests.
2000s -
2017Largest Regional Broadline Distributors
2017 - Largest Regional Broadline Distributors
RDP Foodservice moved to a new warehouse doubling capacity and making RDP one of the largest regional broadline distributors.
2020s -
2024First Post-Covid Food Show & Concert Series
2024 - First Post-Covid Food Show & Concert Series
RDP hosts the first post-Covid Food Show & Concert Series with Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame ZZ Top as the entertainment.
2020s -
2025Warehouse Expansion
2025 - Warehouse Expansion
RDP Foodservice expands warehouse with 35,000 square feet of new freezer. The facility now features temperature-controlled docks, ensuring products maintain quality during loading and unloading.
With over 30 years in foodservice distribution, Mark’s experience spans marketing, sales, and executive leadership. He was a founding family member of RDP Foodservice in 1996 and has led the company as President since 2001, driving our mission to enhance the quality, productivity, and experience of the restaurateur.
Rich has been in the industry for 25 years, beginning his career as a founding family member of RDP. His extensive background in supply chain management has been pivotal to his roles in merchandising and procurement. Today, his responsibilities include sales, business development, and strategic planning.
With over 30 years of experience, Christopher began his career in finance before moving into sales and operations. As a founding family member, he has been instrumental in shaping the company’s operational success. He oversees RDP’s transportation, operations, and customer service.
Service Area
RDP Foodservice is proud to provide unparalleled service throughout Ohio and into the surrounding region. While we continue to expand, our start as a local Italian grocer inspires us to treat every customer like family.
Our service area includes:
- Ohio
- Kentucky
- Indiana
- Michigan
- West Virginia
- Pennsylvania
Our service area continues to expand throughout the Midwest and Eastern U.S.