US Foods’ fiscal Q3 shows how artificial intelligence (AI) and automation are reshaping one of America’s largest food distributors.
The company’s digital tools are helping customers find products faster, streamlining truck routes and improving order accuracy — all of which are fueling steady gains despite softer restaurant traffic.
US Foods sales rose 4.8% year over year to $10.2 billion in its fiscal Q3, which ended Sept. 27. Meanwhile, net income climbed 3.4% to $153 million.
Through the first nine months of 2025, US Foods sales increased 4.4% to $29.4 billion. In that period, net income rose 16.8% to $432 million. The growth reflects stronger productivity and continued share gains with independent restaurants.
CEO Dave Flitman called the results “a strong step forward,” crediting digital tools for boosting efficiency and customer satisfaction.
“Our performance reflects our team’s ability to deliver growth through consistent share gains and better execution,” he said.
US Foods ecommerce sales in Q3
A centerpiece of that effort is MOXē, US Foods’ ecommerce platform. The company introduced an AI-powered search tool this year that Flitman said is “already delivering measurable results.” Customers are locating products faster, and the feature is generating more complete orders equivalent to roughly 1.3 million additional cases annually.
AI is also transforming how the company moves goods. A rollout of Descartes routing software across its national network improved delivery efficiency by 2.3% compared with last year, while the operations quality initiative cut order errors by 24%.
Chief financial officer Dirk Locascio said AI now touches nearly every part of the business.
“We’re using it to recommend products online, build order guides for sellers in minutes instead of hours, and give customers accurate delivery updates,” he said. “Our focus is on using technology that creates impact now — not years from now.”
US Foods is pairing those digital gains with new distribution models. The company expects its Pronto small-truck delivery service — designed for tighter routes and faster turnaround — to generate about $950 million in sales this year and exceed a $1 billion annual run rate by year-end. US Foods also began shipments from a new semi-automated warehouse in Aurora, Illinois, its first facility built around robotic picking and digital routing systems.
Flitman said the company’s momentum with independent restaurants — up 3.9% in case volume — is proof that the strategy is working.
“We’re investing for growth, improving productivity and serving customers better every day,” he said.
The company raised its full-year outlook for profit growth and said it will continue expanding AI applications across ecommerce, sales and logistics. For US Foods, technology is no longer a side project — it’s becoming the core driver of how the $30 billion distributor grows.
Percentage changes may not align exactly with dollar figures due to rounding. Check back for more earnings reports.
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