Harbor Wholesale, a subsidiary of Lacey-based Harbor Foods, is expanding deeper into the California grocery distribution market with the acquisition of MTC Distributing.

Harbor acquired the 100-year-old MTC for an undisclosed sum in a deal announced last week. MTC is based in Modesto, California, and serves most of the state, as well as some locations in Nevada.

The acquisition means the company will have four distribution centers on the West Coast. In addition to the Modesto site, it has distribution centers in Lacey, Portland, and Roseburg, Oregon.

MTC will continue to operate independently and its current leadership team will remain intact. Its CEO, Tom Eakin, will remain with MTC during the transition.

Both Eakin and Justin Erickson, CEO of Harbor Foods, touted the family businesses’ similar histories. MTC celebrated its centennial anniversary in 2022, while Harbor is set to pass that milestone in 2023.

“This is an incredible opportunity to bring our family companies together into the fourth generation and beyond, maintaining and enhancing the culture that's made MTC and Harbor successful for a century,” Erickson said in a news release. “We look forward to entering our next 100 years with an incredible team of industry professionals who share common values and a similar obsession with our customers' success." 

Combined, the companies now have more than $1 billion worth of collective purchasing power, according to a Harbor news release. Going forward, Harbor plans to reinvest in its facilities and technology.

In January, Harbor Wholesale acquired the Skippers Seafood & Chowder brand from Starway Restaurants LLC. The deal gave Harbor the rights to the brand and planned to support the remaining licensed retail locations. Its sister company, Harbor Foodservice, acquired NW Foodservice Distribution in October. NW Foodservice is based in Longview. Harbor Foodservice is also a subsidiary of Harbor Foods.

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