About Independent Restaurant Supply
We’ve always been a family-owned and family-driven business. Our story began in 1994 when our founder, Saul Bornstein, started selling restaurant smallwares out of the basement of his home in Newburyport Massachusetts. His wife still laughs remembering boxes of silverware, stacks of china, and equipment catalogues piled up under the family ping pong table.
What started as a humble basement operation grew quickly. Before long, Saul invested in the buildings in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Portland, Maine— locations that today still house Independent Restaurant Supply today.
Saul has always understood the long days and hard work that go into running a foodservice business. Before opening his supply company, he owned a 24-hour coffee shop called Night Owl Donuts, followed by a breakfast and deli spot, Saul’s Bakery, both in Worcester, Massachusetts. Those years taught him what it really means to serve customers—and that experience still shapes our approach today.
Now the next generation carries the torch. Saul’s oldest son Dan—who once zoomed around the bakery floor in his baby walker—now runs the Portland store. Saul’s nephew Pete helps lead our Portsmouth location. And while family may be our foundation, our non-family team members are every bit as essential. Their talent, dedication, and diverse perspectives make our business stronger every day.
At Independent Restaurant Supply, we’re proud of where we came from—and even more excited about where we’re going.
