With over 60 years of being in foodservice industry, our company’s history is as unique and personal as our commitment towards product and service quality.
Steve Manolakis was born in 1935 in a small village on the island of Crete, one of three children. At the age of five, while his father was away fighting in World War II, he awoke one morning to find that his mother had passed away.
“That tragedy, along with the hunger of war, lit an insatiable desire not only to survive, but succeed.”
By nine, he was already selling candies and chewing gum at a bus stop — his first step into business. He dreamed of America, the land of opportunity, and after serving in the Greek military, his chance came through the Merchant Marines. His first stop was Brazil, where he worked for a year before finally reaching the United States. With the support of distant relatives and Canton’s Greek community, Steve arrived in Ohio in the early 1950s.
In Canton, Steve worked humble jobs before pursuing his entrepreneurial ambitions. He began sourcing fresh fish directly from the Lake Erie docks, loading boxes into his car and selling them back in town.
“A man of vision, he could see opportunity and the path to achieve it.”
In 1960, he purchased a cold storage warehouse on East Tuscarawas Street and founded Atlantic Fish & Distributing Co. The company quickly grew beyond seafood, supplying local markets and restaurants with service and quality as its foundation. That same vision gave rise to Seafood Harbor, a restaurant chain that expanded to five locations before Steve returned his focus fully to distribution.
After building a successful enterprise, Steve passed Atlantic on to his son, Stan, before retiring in 2001. Under Stan’s leadership, the company has grown tremendously — expanding its reach, modernizing operations, and strengthening its reputation as a trusted partner in foodservice.
Today, Atlantic Food Distributors stands as a broadline distributor delivering high-quality food at competitive prices throughout the region. Guided by the same entrepreneurial spirit that began in Crete, our family-led team continues to stand by its values — practical solutions, reliable service, and food support programs that help our customers and vendors reach their milestones day to day.
Atlantic’s story is one of family, perseverance, and excellence — a foundation laid by a visionary immigrant whose determination turned a dream into a legacy.
From a single cold storage warehouse in Canton to a state-of-the-art distribution facility in North Canton, Atlantic’s story spans more than six decades of family leadership, innovation, and growth. Each milestone reflects our ongoing commitment to quality, integrity, and service.
Guided by decades of experience, Atlantic’s leadership team is dedicated to building strong partnerships, supporting our employees, and delivering trusted service to customers.
Community outreach is at the heart of our mission — a commitment to supporting the local organizations, schools, and initiatives that strengthen the neighborhoods around us.
Throughout the year, we collaborate with food banks and local charities to help ensure families in need have access to nutritious meals. From holiday drives to ongoing donations, our team works alongside partners to address food insecurity at its source.
Beyond food support, we actively engage with schools and local events to foster connections that promote learning, wellness, and shared growth. Because for us, being a distributor means nourishing the place we call home.
Atlantic Food Distributors supports a wide range of businesses across the foodservice industry — from large institutions to independent operators. Our customers include:
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