Our Story
History
The HFA story began with humble beginnings on a card table in the basement of Founder Chad Buck’s home. Over the past 20 years, we have been blessed with an incredible team of professionals dedicated to their work, customers and Hawaiʻi’s consumers. Together, we have grown from our first 17 items in Safeway’s Neighbor Island stores to the largest distributor of perishable food to grocers, clubs and C-stores in Hawaiʻi.
We are grateful to our team members, customers and vendors for their commitment over the years, as we have all come together to feed Hawaiʻi.
Hawaiʻi Foodservice Alliance is Founded
March 18, 2002
Hawaiʻi Foodservice Alliance, LLC is founded by Chad Buck. He began operating statewide, launching Safeway’s private label bread program in Hawaiʻi.
Recognized as Hawaiʻi’s #1 Fastest Growing Company in Hawaiʻi by Pacific Business News
July 11, 2003
After only two years, HFA is recognized as the #1 Fastest Growing Company in Hawaiʻi by Pacific Business News.
Acknowledged as the Fastest Growing Company in Hawaiʻi for the second year in a row by Pacific Business News.
August 6, 2004
Three years in, HFA is recognized as the Fastest Growing Company in Hawaiʻi for the second year in a row by Pacific Business News, making them the only company to ever win first place two consecutive years in a row.
Chad Buck receives the Business Person of the Year Award
August 7, 2005
Founder and CEO, Chad Buck, is honored as Business Person of the Year for the City & County of Honolulu by the Small Business Administration.
Establishes a Proprietary Consolidation Facility in Long Beach, CA
October 2008
After an amazing six years distributing food across the islands, HFA expands to the west coast and opens up its first consolidation facility in Long Beach, CA.
Got Moo! HFA begins Milk Distribution
November 2008
MOO-ve over! HFA begins distributing milk across the Hawaiian Islands.
We Made the List! HFA enters the Top 250 at #218 in Hawaii Business’ List of Companies
August 2009
HFA ranks #218 in Hawaii Business Magazine’s Top 250 Companies by Revenue in Hawaiʻi in 2009.
Honolulu City Lights – Milk & Cookies
December 2009
HFA starts an annual tradition of spreading holiday cheer at Honolulu Hale with thousands of free servings of milk and cookies, led by the HFA Leadership team and families.
Ranks at # 193 in Hawaii Business Top 250
August 2010
HFA moves up to #193 in Hawaii Business Magazine’s Top 250 Companies by Revenue in Hawaiʻi in 2010.
Get Egg-cited! HFA begins Egg Distribution
October 2010
HFA expands its distribution efforts and begins distributing eggs to the community.
Ranks at #164 on Hawaii Business Top 250
August 2011
HFA is ranked for the third year in a row at the #164 spot on Hawaii Business Magazine’s Top 250 Companies by Revenue in Hawaiʻi in 2011.
Recognized as One of Hawaiʻi’s Most Charitable Companies by the Hawaiʻi State Legislature
May 2012
HFA is committed to providing for the community. In 2012, HFA is recognized as one of Hawaiʻi’s Most Charitable Companies by the Hawaiʻi State Legislature.
Ranks at #164 on Hawaii Business Top 250
August 2012
For the fourth consecutive year, HFA ranks on Hawaii Business Magazine’s Top 250 Companies by Revenue in Hawaiʻi in 2012, moving up to #164.
Maui’s Warehouse Facility Expansion
October 2012
HFA installs new state-of-the-art chill and freezers as the anchor tenant in a facility in Kahului, Maui, former location of the Maui Pineapple Cannery.
Honolulu Facility Renovation and Consolidation
December 2012
HFA builds out over 33,000 square feet of warehouse, including 11,000 square feet of new state-of-the-art chill in Honolulu near the Honolulu International Airport and surrounding harbors.
Maui goes green with 550 photovoltaic panels installation
December 2012
HFA invests in 550 PV panels on the Maui facility.
Honolulu turns on 1,344 photovoltaic panels
December 30, 2012
HFA installs 1,344 PV panels on the facility in Honolulu.
Ranks at #134 on Hawaii Business Top 250
August 2013
For the fifth consecutive year, HFA continues to move up the chart at #134 on Hawaii Business Magazine’s Top 250 Companies in Hawaiʻi in 2013.
Ranks at #128 on Hawaii Business Top 250
August 2014
HFA ranks #128 on Hawaii Business Magazine’s Top 250 Companies in Hawaiʻi in 2014, listed for the sixth consecutive year.
“Pound for Pound” is acknowledged as Hawaiʻi’s Most Charitable Company
August 2014
HFA is recognized in the top ten Most Charitable Companies in Hawaiʻi since 2014 by Hawaiʻi Business News. – Link to Article
First Responder for food, ice and water after Hurricane Iselle
August 14, 2014 & August 19, 2014
HFA leads the first community response to the Puna and Nanawale Community after Hurricane Iselle struck Hawaiʻi Island on August 8, 2014, providing ice, food and water in coordination with the American Red Cross Hawaiʻi Chapter.
Ranks at #117 on Hawaii Business Top 250
August 2015
HFA ranks #117 on Hawaii Business Magazine’s Top 250 Companies in Hawaiʻi in 2015, making it the seventh consecutive year.
Honolulu Operations Expansion
October 31, 2015
Honolulu operations expands with 22,000 square feet in its second state of the art facility.
Pu’u Wa’awa’a Forest Restoration Project
November 2015
HFA is proud to support the Pu’u Wa’awa’a Forest restoration project through Hawaiian Values in Action, an HFA community organization. We partnered with the community for this environmental-focused event to ensure the Pu’u Wa’awa’a Forest is protected with fencing to protect the native environment. Watch Here
Cultivation of Loʻi
April 2016
In 2016, HFA and Hawaiian Values in Action help with the cultivation of Loʻi. Watch Here
Restoration of Ulupō Heiau on O‘ahu
June 2016
In 2016, HFA, Hawaiian Values in Action and the Maryknoll Basketball Travel Team work with Ahahui Malama I Ka Lokahi to help restore the cultural and ethnobotanical features of Ulupō Heiau on ‘Oahu. Watch Here
Ranks at #108 on Hawaii Business Top 250
August 2016
HFA continues to move up on Hawaii Business Magazine’s Top 250 Companies in Hawaiʻi, for the eighth consecutive year, and ranks at #108, in 2016.
Hawaiʻi Island Expansion
September 2016
HFA builds a brand new, state-of-the-art facility on Hawaiʻi Island. The facility features 24,000 square feet of warehouse, including chill and freezer space for our growing Hawaiʻi Island business.
780 PV panels installed in Honolulu (Phase II)
September 2016
Phase II begins on the installation of 780 PV panels in the facility in Honolulu.
Hawaiʻi Island facility receives 385 Photovoltaic panels
April 2017
HFA consistently invests in solar energy, including 385 PV panels on the Hawaiʻi Island facility.
Ranks at #95 on Hawaii Business Top 250
August 2017
HFA breaks the top 100 on Hawaii Business Magazine’s Top 250 Companies in Hawaiʻi in 2017 with the #95 spot.
Kauaʻi Expansion
December 25, 2017
HFA renovates on Kauaʻi Island. The lot features 67,000 square feet of land with two warehouses and plenty of room for expansion.
Honolulu Operations Expansion
March 2018
Honolulu operations expands with third warehouse facility dedicated to Salty Snacks.
Ranks at #83 on Hawaii Business Top 250 Companies
August 2018
HFA continues to make the top 100 on Hawaii Business Magazine’s Top 250 Companies in Hawaiʻi for the ninth consecutive year, with the #83 spot in 2018.
Ranks at #72 on Hawaii Business Top 250 Companies
August 2019
HFA continues to make the top 100 on Hawaii Business Magazine’s Top 250 Companies in Hawaiʻi for the tenth consecutive year, with the #72 spot in 2019.
Supporting local agriculture with 30,000 pounds of potatoes
January 10, 2020
Mahi Pono and HFA donate potatoes and transportation to bring locally-grown potatoes to Hawaiʻi residents during the pandemic. See Article
First Mass Food Donation in Hawaiʻi’s history
April 12, 2020
During the height of the pandemic, Chad and Stephanie Buck partner with the HFA Leadership team and Salvation Army volunteers to give away 2,220 gallons of fresh milk, 4,320 dozen eggs, 3,000 loaves of bread, and 5,000 pounds of fresh Maui harvest potatoes during a food distribution at Ala Moana Center. See Article
Securing Hawaiʻi’s Food Supply
May 22, 2020
Chad Buck speaks with The Star Advertiser about Hawaiʻi Foodservice Alliance’s role in Hawaiʻi food chain. See Article
Ranks at #70 on Hawaii Business Top 250
August 2020
HFA breaks the top 75 on Hawaii Business Magazine’s Top 250 Companies in Hawaiʻi in 2020 with the #70 spot.
Molokaʻi food giveaway
October 13, 2020
Assists with distribution logistics in food giveaway for 250 households on Molokaʻi.
Recognized as one of Hawaiʻi’s Most Charitable Companies in 2020
November 16, 2020
Supporting Hawaiʻi: Each year, Hawaiʻi Foodservice Alliance is recognized by Hawaiʻi Business Magazine and our community as one of the largest donors of In-Kind Donations. In 2020, HFA was the fourth most generous donor of In-Kind Donations. See Article
Supports the Waimea (Kauaʻi) Community
January 2021
In early January, the Waimea community was impacted by a landslide that left 2 dozen families stranded. In partnership with the Kauaʻi Food Bank, HFA donates eggs, bread, milk and lamb.
Awarded USDA’s Dairy Box Program
February to May 2021
During the pandemic, HFA created a network of non-profits to reach thousands of families with USDA milk. HFA distributes over 75,000 gallons of milk to families across our island home.
Kauaʻi’s solar project complete with 293 PV panels
April 2021
Completing our commitment to sustainable energy on all islands, HFA installs 293 PV panels on the Kauaʻi facility.
Providing opportunity and empowering Hawaiʻi’s emerging leaders
April 5, 2021
HFA has supported the men and women from Hawaiʻi’s community correctional center since inception. Recently highlighted in a Hawaiʻi Business Magazine article about Secrets of Success After Prison for their Maui Reentry program. See Article
Launches the Kaukau 4 Keiki Program
July 21, 2021
Together with Vibrant Hawaiʻi, HFA supports a new food program with the USDA and DOE to feed over 7,000 keiki during the summer. HFA coordinated the logistics of purchasing and distributing food on four islands, in excess of 500,000 pounds of milk, bread and shelf-stable protein.
Ranks at #48 on Hawaii Business Top 250 Companies
August 2021
HFA breaks top 50 on Hawaii Business Magazine’s Top 250 Companies in Hawaiʻi in 2021 with the #48 spot.
Awarded the Lease for Oʻokala Dairy
October 26, 2021
In 2021, HFA’s sister company, Hawaiʻi Secure Foods, is awarded the lease of Oʻokala Dairy from the Hawaiʻi Department of Agriculture.
Sponsor of Love’s Spirit of Giving
November 2021
HFA donates $12,500 of the $25,000 to 10 local Hawaiʻi non-profits that are making a positive impact on our communities.
Community Collaboration with WCCHC’s Food Distribution
December 2021
In support of Waʻianaʻe Coast Comprehensive Health Center’s (WCCHC) food distributions throughout the pandemic, HFA donates over 8,000 gallons of milk and over 3,000 dozen eggs.
Launches Hawaiʻi’s First Ever Precovery POD
January 26, 2022
This first ever food pod of its kind holds long-term meal storage for an entire community supporting food security in communities that are vulnerable to natural disasters.
Chad Buck is as panelist on Food Security and Hawaiʻi’s Supply Chain
March 2, 2022
Hawaiʻi Business Magazine’s Need to Know series’ first event focuses on Food Security and Hawaiʻi’s Supply Chain. The panel for this event consists of Dr. Albie Miles of CTAHR (UH), David Lopez, the Director of Hawaiʻi Emergency Management, Denise Yamaguchi founder of Hawaiʻi Agricultural Foundation, Kāʻeo Duarte of Kamehameha Schools, and Chad Buck of Hawaiʻi Foodservice Alliance.
Happy 20th Anniversary to HFA!
March 18, 2022
Cheers to 20 Years! HFA celebrates across all islands and in California with our HFA ʻohana.
Ranks At #50 on Hawaii Business Top 250
HFA remains in the Top 50 on Hawaii Business Magazine’s Top 250 Companies in Hawaiʻi in 2022 with the #50 spot.
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