KaTom Restaurant Supply
ActiveOverview
KaTom Restaurant Supply distributes commercial kitchen equipment and wholesale restaurant supplies to the foodservice industry. It offers over 130,000 products including cooking appliances, refrigeration units, food preparation tools, and tabletop items, serving restaurants, bars, cafeterias, and other culinary businesses via online and physical channels. The company operates from a 350,000 sq ft headquarters with a design-build division for custom kitchen solutions and ships orders from its East Tennessee fulfillment center or manufacturing partners.
History
KaTom Restaurant Supply was founded in 1987 by Tim Bible in a garage in Morristown, Tennessee, addressing delays in restaurant equipment delivery by filling supply gaps and building makeshift manufacturing facilities. It expanded from 4 employees to over 250, moving to a 4,000 sq ft shop and later a 350,000 sq ft headquarters in Kodak, Tennessee. After Tim's passing in 2001, CEO Patricia Bible led growth from $4 million in annual sales, earning recognition on Inc. 5000 lists and as a top distributor, along with WBENC certification as a woman-owned business in 2009.
Product Lines
| Product Line | Positioning | Price Range |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking Equipment (ovens, grills, fryers) | Commercial-grade for high-volume kitchens | $500 - $15,000 |
| Refrigeration (walk-ins, reach-ins, freezers) | Reliable cooling for foodservice storage | $1,000 - $20,000 |
| Food Preparation (mixers, slicers, processors) | Tools for efficient prep in restaurants | $200 - $5,000 |
| Smallwares & Tabletop (utensils, dishes, glassware) | Wholesale essentials for dining areas | $10 - $500 |
| Beverage Equipment (dispensers, ice makers) | Bar and front-of-house solutions | $300 - $4,000 |
| Janitorial & Sanitation (cleaners, dishwashers) | Maintenance supplies for hygiene | $50 - $10,000 |
Manufacturing
KaTom does not manufacture products in-house but distributes items from its 100,000 sq ft fulfillment center in East Tennessee or ships directly from manufacturing partners. Early operations included makeshift facilities to meet demand, but it now focuses on distribution and supply chain efficiency.
Notable Products
- Commercial Ice Makers - Units for producing ice in high-volume foodservice settings.
- Commercial Refrigerators - Reach-in and undercounter models for kitchen storage.
- Commercial Grills and Broilers - Gas and electric options for cooking proteins.
- Dishwashers - Door-type and conveyor models for warewashing.
- Food Slicers - Manual and automatic slicers for deli prep.
Reputation
KaTom is recognized by professionals for its extensive product selection, fast shipping, and online resources, with BBB accreditation since 2010 and rankings among top U.S. restaurant equipment distributors. It holds WBENC woman-owned certification, aiding government contracts. Some users note variability in customer service response times during peak periods.