History of A.F. Wendling, Inc.

Wendling's Food Service has managed to maintain a positive image of dedication and commitment in the public eye for nearly a century. During Wendling's early days in the Charleston, WV community, Albert could be seen cutting ice from the river to cool the meats and then rafting the meats down the river for delivery in the spring. As time and technology progressed Wendling delivered meats in his Model-T Ford. In the lean years of the Great Depression, Albert suffered an even greater loss, his back was broken after being thrown from a cattle truck. Due to the Great Depression and the unfortunate circumstances, all of Wendling's efforts in creating a successful business were now in vain. Not one to dwell on unfortunate mishaps, upon recovery, Wendling simply decided to double his previous efforts and start to rebuild Wendling's Food Service with a renewed strength and determination. This pioneering determination was the hallmark of Wendling's establishment and sets the tone of the family operated business. Even during these difficult times, young Albert operated in the Charleston area to continue the business of providing his customers with a quality product and the signature customer service which has been a trademark of the business. Over the years, the Wendling family business has continued to grow and expand outside the Charleston area. After the business was passed down from Albert Wendling to his sons Fred and John in 1965, the business took on a new marketing strategy, which in 1969, led to the company's expansion into the north central region of West Virginia.

Realizing the growing need for a distribution center in the north, brothers Fred and John Wendling selected Buckhannon as the site for the much-needed facility. As a first step in the expansion process, a small supplier of meat and canned goods, formerly known as Mountaineer Sales, was purchased and incorporated into the Wendling family business. The purchase of Mountaineer Sales marked the beginning of a new Wendling's Food Service with a host of new supplies. Wendling's now offers over 5,500 items, which include a full line of food items, along with a wide variety of paper and cleaning supplies.

As growth continued for the Wendling family business, Fred and John decided to purchase a full line distributor in West Virginia, known as Mt. Clare Provisions. In purchasing Mt. Clare Provisions, the Wendling brothers decided that in order to run efficient operations they needed to consolidate the northern distribution centers. In 1976, a few years after the purchase of Mt. Clare Provisions, a new distribution center of over 27,000 square feet was built in Buckhannon, West Virginia, the company's present location.

Currently, Wendling's Food Service is at the threshold of an exciting yet challenging new phase. As quoted by Chris Wendling, current owner/operator, "We have existed for nearly a century in a market where our success is well noted, but in no way does this imply that we are content to dwell on the past accomplishments of the company. In fact, we are a team full of energy, enthusiasm, and innovative ideas that are committed to the improvement of customer service and satisfaction."