Order guides
per restaurant.
Foodservice distributors
Software for foodservice distributors: order guides, catch weight, routes and the books in one system
OrdersRestaurant order guides and contract prices
ProteinsCatch weight on every invoice line
LotsFEFO picking, FSMA 204 records
RoutesAI route planning and delivery windows
BooksGeneral ledger and statements in the same system
Restaurant order guides, contract pricing, catch-weight proteins and many small drops, on one record.
Short answer: Foodservice distributors deliver to restaurants, schools, hospitals and caterers, so their software has to handle order guides, contract pricing, tight delivery windows, catch-weight proteins and many small drops a day. Foodline AI is food distribution software for foodservice and broadline distributors: a branded ordering store for your accounts, catch weight and lots, AI route planning and proof of delivery, and the general ledger, in one system.
Updated
Foodline AI for foodservice distributors, compared
Vendor facts come from the pages linked in each row, checked October 2026. Products and pricing change, so confirm each point with the vendor.
| Foodline AI | QuickBooks plus add-ons | Ordering app on top (Pepper, Choco) | NECS entrée | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Order guides and contract pricing | Per account, in the B2B store (ecommerce + ERP) | Price levels; order guides need an add-on | Yes, in the app | Yes |
| Catch-weight proteins | Built in (catch weight software) | Needs an add-on | In your ERP | Built in |
| Delivery windows and routes | AI route planning from cutoffs, windows and capacity | Separate routing app | In your ERP or a routing app | Optional modules (necs.com/version5) |
| Accounting | General ledger, financial statements and bill pay built in | QuickBooks | Your ERP or QuickBooks (usepepper.com, Choco ERP integrations) | Built in (necs.com/version5) |
| AI | Included at no extra charge | Varies by add-on | AI order capture (Pepper Order Agent, choco.com/us/orderagent) | Not the focus of the pages reviewed |
What foodservice distributors need
Contract and tiered pricing,
with specials that start and stop on a date.
Delivery windows
that the route actually respects (route planning).
Catch weight
on proteins and cheese, billed by the actual pound.
Credits
for shorts and refusals, tied to proof of delivery (proof of delivery).
Route density,
so many small drops still make money (route density).
How Foodline AI runs a foodservice distributor
- 01Restaurants order in your branded store or send order sheets that Order Agent turns into draft orders (order intake).
- 02Orders are checked against stock, credit and cutoff, then picked FEFO by lot.
- 03AI route planning builds the runs; drivers work stops in the Foodline mobile app.
- 04Invoices carry actual weights and post to the general ledger.
Frequently asked questions
What software do foodservice distributors use?
Usually an ERP or accounting system plus a separate ordering app and routing app. Foodline AI combines ordering, inventory, catch weight, routes, proof of delivery and accounting in one system.
Does Foodline AI support restaurant order guides and contract pricing?
Yes. Each account orders from its own order guide at its own contract prices in your branded store.
Does it handle catch-weight proteins?
Yes. Catch weight is built in: count and actual weight on every line, invoiced on actual weight.
Does it plan delivery routes?
Yes. AI route planning builds runs from cutoffs, delivery windows, capacity and cold-chain rules.
See it run on your own numbers.
Thirty minutes. We load a slice of your catalogue and show you the routines firing against your real order history, not a canned demo.
Book a walkthrough