Acorn Distributors was founded in 1976 by Al Wachter as a small restaurant supply company, under the name of Acorn Paper and Restaurant Supply Co. The company was then located on the northeast side of Indianapolis.
Although the company had always been successful, the real growth did not occur until the mid 1980’s, when Acorn became a member of the Network Services Co. and the Allied Buying Co. Membership in these buying and marketing groups improved Acorn’s buying power, industry contacts and the ability to sell to national and regional chain accounts. Acorn soon became a major distributor to all types of customers: hotels and motels, hospitals and nursing homes, industrial and retail accounts, government agencies, school districts and universities, and, of course, restaurants. The product line also began to expand to include janitorial product supplies as well as food service. In 1993, to reflect a more diverse product line, Acorn Paper and Restaurant Supply Co. changed its name to Acorn Distributors, Inc.
Acorn continued to grow and in the year 2000, moved to another location located near the Indianapolis Airport. In September, 2007, Acorn continued its growth with the acquisition of Cottingham Paper located in Columbus, Ohio and then acquired Unisan Columbus in 2022. In 2018, Acorn built a facility in Columbus, Ohio and in 2023, Acorn built another larger headquarters in Brownsburg, IN at 1625 W Northfield Dr.
In 2005, Jennifer Rosenberg, Al’s daughter, became second-generation owner of Acorn allowing Acorn to apply for Women Business Enterprise certifications in Indiana and Louisville. In 2023, Acorn obtained its Women’s Business Enterprise National Council certification granting national WBE status for the company.
Years of providing excellent customer service, quality product lines at competitive prices and the cultivation of a strong team of employees has given Acorn Distributors, Inc. a strong foundation to continue growing in the future.