I find this discussion interesting because it explores the problem of trying to buy from what used to be smaller distributors that got bought up by PFG - Performance Food Group. As Bill noted, PFG doesn't want to do cash-and-carry, at least not in the Northeast and Middle Atlantic areas. For people trying to clone a food item using Roma products, this is a challenge. Back in 2014, I wrote about scoring some Roma private label cheese made by Leprino at a PFG-owned cash-and carry called IFH ChefSmart in Winston-Salem, NC. IFH was owned by PFG at that time. This story from the local newspaper indicates ChefSmart was closed down in August, 2018:
https://www.journalnow.com/business/chefsmart-will-close-aug/article_51a794c0-853d-11e8-bf2e-6f0c64acbf22.htmlNote that the article indicates that Winston-Salem was the only location of a PFG-owned cash-and-carry.
Then ScottVinzant wrote about TPC Cash & Carry in Davenport, IA. I found this interesting, so did a desktop study. Web articles from 2002 indicate PFG acquired Thoms-Proestler Company of Rock Island, IL. From the link that Scott provided and a Youtube video made by Rock Island television station WHBF:
it seems PFG owns TPC Cash & Carry in Davenport directly. So the manager of the store in Winston-Salem was not correct in saying his was the only cash-and-carry that PFG owned.
It is my opinion that the only items you will be able to buy or order in Davenport are ones stocked in the Rock Island warehouse.
If I was in the market for a Roma item, my current plan of attack is to find a friendly restaurateur who buys from PFG. Since Roma seems to have been gobbled up by PFG, that means there are lots more possible establishments who, for a little payola, might be inclined to order something from PFG for you than when Roma only sold to the Italian places. It has to be cheaper than flying to Davenport. In my neck of the woods, Carroll County Foods used to do cash-and-carry. Now, that PFG branch in New Windsor, MD won't give me the time of day, as NepaBill so eloquently put it.