After More Than Five Decades of Leadership, Thomsen Foodservice’s Longtime Leader Leaves a Lasting Legacy
Richmond, VA – June 25, 2026 – Legacy Food Group (“LFG”) is proud to announce the retirement of Edgar Thomsen, longtime leader of Thomsen Foodservice of Providence, Rhode Island, following more than 50 years of service to the family business and the foodservice industry.
Ed’s retirement marks the conclusion of an extraordinary career defined by growth, integrity, family values, and an unwavering commitment to employees, customers, and the communities Thomsen Foodservice has served for generations.
Founded in 1951 by Ed’s father, Thomsen Foodservice began as a supplier of juice products to bars and restaurants throughout New England. Although the company was family-owned, Ed’s path into the business was not guaranteed. A graduate of Brown University with a degree in Mathematics, Ed knew he wanted to join the family business. But only after considerable persistence on Ed’s part, was he finally able to join Thomsen Foodservice in 1973.
Over the next five decades, Ed helped guide the company through significant growth and transformation. Thomsen expanded beyond its original product focus, finding success in non-foods before evolving into a full broadline distributor in the mid-1990s. Under Ed’s leadership, the company achieved numerous milestones, including joining the buying group Pocahontas Food USA in 1996, and strategic acquisitions in the early 2000s that fueled substantial growth.
The company’s current facility, built in 1988, became a foundation for continued expansion. Over the years, the building was enlarged multiple times, including the addition of refrigerated and frozen storage capabilities that supported Thomsen’s growing customer base and service offerings.
Throughout its history, Thomsen remained a true family business. Ed worked alongside his siblings for decades, and when Legacy Food Group acquired Thomsen Foodservice in 2023, three of his sisters were still actively involved in the company.
“Ed represents everything that is great about independent foodservice distribution,” said John Miller, CEO of Legacy Food Group, “While delivering on steady financial results is important, Ed also built a culture centered on people, relationships, and doing the right thing. The impact he has had on Thomsen Foodservice, its employees, and its customers will be felt for years to come.”
Beyond business success, Ed is widely respected for fostering a workplace culture that emphasizes balance, family, and long-term careers. Many employees spent decades with Thomsen, a reflection of the environment he helped create.
“I’ve been fortunate to work alongside incredible people throughout my career,” said Thomsen. “The relationships we’ve built with our employees, customers, suppliers, and communities have always been the most rewarding part of the journey. I am grateful for the opportunity to have been part of Thomsen Foodservice’s history and excited to see the company continue to thrive as part of Legacy Food Group.”
As he enters retirement, Ed looks forward to spending more time with family and returning to the golf course following a recent recovery from rotator cuff surgery. And importantly, Ed remains a significant investor / partner in LFG, so he’ll be staying tuned.
“Ed’s legacy extends far beyond the walls of Thomsen Foodservice,” added Miller. “His integrity, leadership, and dedication to others have set an example for all of us. On behalf of everyone at Legacy Food Group, we congratulate Ed on an exceptional career and wish him the very best in retirement.”
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Continuing the Legacy . . .
Legacy Food Group is a dynamic holding company, established to unite high-quality regional independent foodservice distributors, and assist in their becoming high performance, owned Operating Divisions. By bringing together multiple distributors, Legacy Food Group creates macro-scale efficiencies and group synergies that come with shared resources while preserving the identity of each Operating Division that makes them unique within their local market.
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