Highland Supply

Highland Supply is a Michigan-based distributor specializing in disposable supplies, cleaning products, janitorial supplies, paper goods, plastic products, and packaging materials for a broad range of business customers. Founded in 2010 by Todd Hess, the company was established to address the challenge of high disposables costs faced by food service operators. What began as a modest operation run out of a family garage using a 1999 GMC Suburban has grown into a regional distribution company employing 40+ team members and servicing more than 2,000 businesses across Michigan.

The company purchases products directly from manufacturers, allowing it to offer competitive pricing compared to traditional food purveyor channels. Its inventory spans over 2,500 stock-keeping units, covering product categories that include kitchen disposables, restroom supplies, office supplies, janitorial and cleaning products, and shop floor consumables. This broad assortment allows business customers to consolidate their disposables purchasing onto a single delivery, simplifying procurement and reducing vendor complexity.

Highland Supply serves a diverse cross-section of industries beyond its foundational restaurant and foodservice customer base. Current markets served include auto dealerships, catering operations, churches, manufacturing facilities, medical offices, municipalities, schools, and veterinary clinics. This diversification has contributed to sustained growth, including a 300% expansion in company size between 2021 and 2025.

Operationally, the company differentiates itself through service reliability and ease of doing business. Key operational features include next-day delivery, an 8:30 a.m. same-day order cut-off time, online and app-based ordering, and a streamlined one-page account setup process. The company operates distribution centers in multiple Michigan locations, including Gaylord (opened 2021) and Grand Rapids (opened 2024), enabling broad geographic coverage across the state.

Highland Supply became a family-run partnership in 2015 when founder Todd Hess was joined by his son Brady, whose restaurant industry background and sales expertise contributed to year-over-year growth exceeding 50% annually from 2015 through 2019. The company demonstrated resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, remaining fully operational due to surging demand for carryout and packaging supplies. On average, customers purchase 54 unique line items from Highland Supply annually, reflecting the depth and utility of its product catalog for everyday business operations.