Food and beverage investment firm acquires frozen food distributor

Food and beverage investment firm KDSA Investment Partners has acquired Spokane, Washington-based Williams Distributors, a direct-store-delivery (DSD) distributor of ice cream, frozen pizza and frozen foods in the Northwest.

The acquisition was completed in partnership with Greyrock Capital Group, according to a news release.

Founded in 1992 by Roger Williams and led for the past six years by his son, Tony Williams, Williams Distributors operates a full-service DSD distribution network across eastern Washington, Montana, Idaho, northeast Oregon and northern Wyoming. The company services more than 2,000 customer locations, including regional grocers, convenience stores and independent retailers.

“This is a major step forward for KDSA,” David Knopf, co-managing partner of KDSA and new chair of Williams Distributors, said in the release. “Williams has built a terrific business grounded in customer service and trust, reliability and strong supplier partnerships. It’s a great fit with our long-term vision, and we’re excited to support the team in this next phase of growth.”

As part of the transition, Tim Valdez, an operating partner at KDSA, has been named CEO of Williams Distributors. Valdez previously served as president of Cold Front Distribution. Former Williams Distributors owner Tony Williams will remain company president through the end of 2025 and continue as a strategic advisor and brand ambassador.

“I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built at Williams,” Williams said. “We’ve spent decades earning trust in our markets by focusing on best-in-class, flawless customer service. KDSA shares that same mindset. With their support and under Tim’s leadership, I’m confident the business will continue to thrive for years to come.”

KDSA plans ongoing infrastructure investments, talent expansion and targeted growth across the Northwest and Mountain West regions, according to the release.

“Williams is a standout operation with a great team and a loyal customer base,” Valdez said. “We’re stepping into a very strong position with significant opportunity ahead. Our focus will be on maintaining exceptional service while expanding our reach and capabilities across the region.”