Our mission is to provide the world’s greatest ingredients to North America’s best chefs.

In 1956 following the Korean War, two Cypriot cousins, once immigrants, now Veterans, returned to New York City and joined forces. The Veterans' Butter and Egg Company was soon founded in a small warehouse on Greenwich Street. Peter Pappas, an original partner found immediate success with the company that provided butter, eggs, and cheese too many of New York City's restaurants.

Peter had two sons, Christopher and John, who grew up in the business, helping after school and during summer vacations. After college, Chris was recruited to play basketball in Europe professionally. This experience enabled Chris to discover many of Europe's culinary splendors. Inspired by his experience, Chris sensed a real business opportunity in providing unique foods and superior ingredients to chefs back at home. Upon his return to the United States, he recruited his brother John, & together they transformed Veterans’ Butter and Egg Company into Dairyland USA, with hopes of becoming a major distributor.

Throughout the following 35 years, Chris & John led the company through major expansion & development to become The Chefs’ Warehouse: Premier purveyor of specialty ingredients to over 34,000 high end independently owned restaurants, hotels, country clubs, and gourmet food stores in key culinary markets across North America.