Choco On Tour to Dot Foods HQ

On our recent visit to Dot’s headquarters in Mount Sterling, Illinois, here is what stood out.

1. A Warehouse That Defines Scale

Dot’s warehouse is breathtaking in size, overwhelmingly large, immaculately clean, and remarkably efficient. Walking its aisles, you do not just see food products, you see the invisible infrastructure that keeps America’s foodservice industry moving. For Choco, it underscored how digital innovation must complement physical scale to power the supply chain of the future.

2. People First, Always

What struck us even more than the scale was the people. Employees spoke with genuine pride, and many are part of multi-generational Dot families, including warehouse teams where three generations have worked side by side. That kind of loyalty does not happen by chance. It is the result of culture, care, and a family-first ethos. At Choco, we believe the same principle holds true: innovation succeeds only when it is built on trust and relationships.

3. The Midwest Experience

Driving from St. Louis to Mount Sterling felt like entering Dot’s ecosystem before even arriving. We passed Dot trucks on the highway, amidst cornfields stretching for miles. Once on-site, what struck us was how deeply Dot is invested in its community, from providing family health centers at many locations and first class benefits for employees to broader local initiatives that reinforce its family-first culture. For us at Choco, it showed that Dot is not just a distribution powerhouse. It is a regional anchor.

4. America’s Favorite Products

Some of the most surprising insights were the simplest. Cooking spray is among the top products moving through Dot’s massive warehouse, while cookies consistently rank as one of the most searched items on Dot Shop. It is a reminder that even at the scale of 150,000 SKUs and 15 Dot Foods distribution centers across North America, food distribution ultimately comes down to the everyday products people need and love.

5. Innovation Everywhere

From Dot on Demand, to advanced warehouse automation, innovation is not an add-on at Dot. It is embedded in how they operate. Even on the warehouse floor, small but clever solutions stood out, like specialized gloves that make product picking faster and safer. At Choco, we are proud to extend that story by bringing AI-powered ordering and predictive tools that help distributors operate with the same blend of precision, speed, and resilience.

6. Why Dot + Choco Matters

The food supply chain is under pressure: tighter margins, rising costs, shifting demand. Dot brings scale, trust, and infrastructure. Choco brings AI, agility, and innovation. Together, we are building a more modern, resilient supply chain for distributors, suppliers, and operators alike.

Finally,

Leaving Mount Sterling, we felt both inspired and aligned. Dot has built a company that combines a family-first culture with unmatched scale. Choco is building an AI-first platform to modernize distribution. Together, this partnership is about more than technology. It is about the future of food, powered by values and innovation.

Learn more about our new Dot + Choco Endless Aisle Offering here >>