The Clark Associates Legacy
Big Dreams. Small Beginnings
What started over fifty years ago as an electrical service company with two partners and seven employees has grown into a family of companies that employs more than 7,872 people in 36 states. Scroll down to read more about our story.
The Beginning
In an ever-changing world, Clark Associates had to adapt and evolve in order to meet the unique needs of our industry. Over the past fifty years, our dedicated team of employees continues to produce creative solutions in answer to our customers’ every request, and with each new challenge we faced, the road to opportunity grew wider.
The ‘70s
In the early 1970s, Clark Associates was established from humble beginnings in Hatville, PA. It started as an electrical contracting business with just seven employees and a handful of customers. High Steel and Dutch Wonderland were the main two at the start. But when the tourist industry began to boom in Lancaster County, the summers grew busy. As more restaurants, hotels, and attractions were built around them, the electricians added HVAC work to the list of their expanding services, and in ten years’ time, the company grew to twenty employees.
- 1971 Glenn & Lloyd Clark found G/L Clark Associates as an electrical contracting business in Hatville, PA, on Lloyd’s 40th birthday
- 1974 HVAC division is added to G/L Clark Associates
- 1976 Lloyd’s son, Fred Clark, joins the company out of high school
- 1978 Company moves to a bigger building in the center of Intercourse, PA & Clark Food Service Equipment is founded
The ‘80s
During the 1980s, we also took on kitchen equipment repair work, since there were no commercial service agents in central PA. We replaced everything from broken ice machines to ranges and ovens, which sparked our initial negotiations with manufacturers. Designing and installing Queen Terrace Cafeteria came next, followed by a remodel of the Willow Valley kitchen. By 1982, we were getting design requests, institutional work, and plenty of installation jobs as an equipment contractor in the booming foodservice industry. Clients included Isaac’s, Bird-in-Hand, Miller’s Smorgasbord, and Good ‘N Plenty, just to name a few. This rapid growth led to the launch of Clark Fire Protection for completing our kitchen installment services as well as Hawk Industries, Inc. and Commercial Stainless, Inc. for all our custom millwork and stainless steel fabrication.
- 1980 Calumet Enterprises is founded by Lloyd and Fred
- 1986 Clark Fire Protection is founded
- 1987 Fred Clark & Larry Hawk found Hawk Industries
- 1989 Fred Clark & Brian Wawroski found Commercial Stainless
The ‘90s
In the early 1990s, we took a big risk by investing in central PA’s first cash-and-carry store model. Under General Manager Don Fisher, The Restaurant Store opened its doors in 1993, but our groundbreaking venture was met with immediate challenges. Since customers were used to waiting for thirty days and paying upon delivery, the idea of shopping at a store and paying in cash was strange. Their skepticism made for a difficult two-year start, but our perseverance ultimately paid off, leading to a flourishing distribution system that offers fast, efficient service around Lancaster today. The 1990s also brought about two other major divisions that were needed in the foodservice equipment world—Clark Service & Parts and Noble Chemical, Inc.
- 1990 Noble Chemical & Clark Service & Parts are founded
- 1993 The first Restaurant Store opens in Lancaster & Fred Clark is named CEO of Clark Associates
- 1997 Glenn & Lloyd Clark, founders of Clark Associates, retire
The ‘00s
The 2000s were an exciting time, and the idea for WebstaurantStore was born. When a company known as Big Tray kept appearing on the internet in 2003, we knew that Web was the way of the future and eagerly set to work. After its launch, the website exceeded all expectations by growing 100% year over year, causing new distribution centers to be opened across the country, with sixteen in total to date. It was during this explosion of growth that Clark Associates Charitable Foundation was founded to give back to our local communities. This foundation funds organizations that support the health, welfare, arts, and education of today’s youth and those in need. It also includes charities that our employees are directly involved with.
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2004
WebstaurantStore.com launches
- 2005
First Distribution Center is opened in Lancaster, PA
- 2007
The new 2205 office building is opened in Lancaster
- 2008
Clark Food Service Equipment expands its operations into Bradenton, FL
- 2009
Clark Convenience Store Products division is founded & David Groff is named President of WebstaurantStore
The ‘10s
During the 2010s, the Clark name caught major attention in the industry. We went from flying under the radar to full-blown recognition as a market leader due to our unprecedented and dynamic growth. We even made ten consecutive appearances in CPBJ’s top ten list of fastest growing companies. By 2017, we launched our first chain business venture with Clark National Accounts, pushing us into new and exciting areas. Hometown Provisions was acquired shortly thereafter, and another level of sophistication was added by establishing exclusive membership programs like WebstaurantPlus, Platinum, and TRS Gold. Constant catalog expansion through popular private label brands helped solidify our standing as a primary supplier as well.
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2010
Clark EcoEnergy division is founded
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2012
Gene Clark is named President of Clark Food Service Equipment Ranked 6th in Food Service Equipment Reports magazine’s Top Dealers list WebstaurantStore office building opened in Lititz, PA
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2013
Clark TurnKey Solutions Group opens in Charlotte, NC Named CPBJ’s fastest growing company
- 2014 Clark Service Group opens office in Baltimore, MD
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2015
Named Food Service Equipment and Supplies Dealer of the Year Steve Leaman is named President of The Restaurant Stores
- 2016 WebstaurantStore Learning Center is opened
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2017
Received Food Service Equipment Reports’ 2017 Management Excellence Award for Dealers Clark National Accounts is founded Hometown Provisions is acquired 2207 Office building is opened on Lancaster, PA, campus
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2018
Clark Service Group is spun off to Glenn Clark, Jr Named 2nd largest foodservice dealer by FES Magazine Named CPBJ’s fastest growing company WebstaurantPlus program launched 2209 East offices opened on Lancaster, PA campus
The ‘20s
The beginning of 2020 was like no other in the past fifty years. The global pandemic impacted many companies, but our mission has always remained the same—to continuously reinvent ourselves and what we offer to meet our customers’ requests. With the implementation of our new web-based inventory management system (IDS), we were able to make the shift to working from home happen without sacrificing top-quality service. Curbside pick-up also kept our Restaurant Stores fulfilling orders as needed. We’ve installed CVP Impack machines across our distribution network, eliminating cardboard waste and the need for plastic filler.
In 2021 we hit a major milestone, 50 years. In celebration of our anniversary, Clark Associates Charitable Foundation gifted $5M to the Lancaster Conservancy to create the Clark Nature Preserve. This gift is an expression of our appreciation to our employees and the greater community.
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2020
Gene Clark is named CEO of Clark Associates
- 2021
Clark Associates is Ranked #1 on the Distribution Giants List by FES Magazine
- 2022
Clark Associates is Ranked #1 on the Distribution Giants List by FES Magazine 2257 offices opened on Lancaster, PA campus
- 2023
Clark Associates is Ranked #1 on the Distribution Giants List by FES Magazine Clark Associates named the Fastest Growing Food Service Equipment and Supplies Dealer in the Nation by FER
- 2024
Clark Associates is Ranked #1 on the Distribution Giants List by FES Magazine The Restaurant Store expands into Florida
