About Us

Pictured here is George Walsh, founder of By-George Food Specialties. 

By-George Food Specialties has grown from a one man operation out of the back of an Oldsmobile to to multi-million dollar business it is today. In the early 1970's, George began selling snack items to taverns and restaurants in the capital district area while running nine successful bread routes for a major bakery. Not afraid of hard work, George would work fourteen hour days to maintain the bread routes and build his new business. In 1975, George sold his bread routes and moved his family to the capital district area to direct all of his focus to what is known today as By-George Food Specialties. 

George's first warehouse was located in Scotia, NY. Within the year, he quickly outgrew this location and moved to the Ballston Spa location for the following 22 years. After numerous expansions, he outgrew this location and moved again to the current location on Route 50 in Ballston Lake. There have been three additions and the second warehouse location is still in use today!

Over the years, By-George Food Distributors has gone through many changes and transitions. Now, we sell to and service hundreds of pizzerias, restaurants, delis, institutions, and taverns across the Capital District area. Over the years, George was always quick to point out that he's had a lot of help from family members and loyal employees with helping build his business. He also stressed the importance of the customer. Never take them for granted, be honest, and treat them how you would want to be treated. By-George Food Specialties is one of the last truly small independent food distributors in the Capital District area. We still hold the same old-fashioned values and would not be here without the loyalty and kindness of our customers. We strive to have, as George stated many times, "fair prices and good service." Bigger companies use price to sell but the smart independent companies know what goes into it. 

Sadly, in 2011, George passed away but the company continues to grow under the guidance of his daughter, Sue. The philosophy of George lives on: "I don't leave anyone without anything. If we make a mistake or somebody calls on a Friday afternoon, out of something, we take care of them". 

"Forget the Rest, Buy the Best"

~ George Walsh