Rapids Wholesale is a family-owned foodservice equipment supplier serving operators across the country. We carry a catalog of 10,300+ products spanning cooking, refrigeration, smallwares, and bar equipment, backed by two showrooms in Iowa and Minnesota where you can see and test equipment in person before you buy. Beyond the catalog, our team includes industry-trained account managers who've worked in the breweries and kitchens they now supply for — so you're getting real experience, not just a sales pitch. And when a project calls for more than equipment, Rapids Contract & Design handles full-service planning, installation, and renovation, from concept through opening day.
Our Story
Rapids started in 1936 when Harry Ribble left Pabst Brewery to invent and patent the world's first direct draw beer dispenser — a solution nobody else had built yet. That same instinct for solving real problems carried the company through its first printed catalog in 1938, into a full foodservice supplier by the 1970s, and eventually into showrooms across Iowa and Minnesota. Along the way, we added full-service design and installation through Rapids Contract & Design, so operators could turn to one partner for equipment, planning, and everything in between. Nearly 90 years later, we're still doing what Harry started: building practical solutions for the people who run commercial kitchens every day.
Every foodservice business runs a little differently, and we've spent nearly 90 years learning what each one actually needs. Bakeries need the right ovens and display cases. Bars and breweries need dependable draft systems and glass storage. School cafeterias need equipment built for volume and durability. Delis and sandwich shops need efficient prep and display setups, and convenience stores need reliable, low-maintenance gear that runs all day, every day. Whatever kind of operation you're running, chances are we've helped someone just like you get it stocked, built, and running smoothly — and we can do the same for you.
Full-Service Design & Renovation — Rapids Contract & Design
Some projects need more than equipment — they need a plan. Rapids Contract & Design partners with you from the earliest concept sketches through final installation, handling space planning, equipment specification, and turnkey build-out along the way. Whether you're opening a new location, reimagining an existing kitchen, or managing a K-12 cafeteria renovation, our design team makes sure every detail works together before the first piece of equipment ever ships.
What our customers are saying:
