US Foods Holding Corp., Rosemont, Ill., announced US Foods Direct, the company’s exclusive e-commerce platform.

US Foods Direct is integrated into US Foods’ online ordering platform, providing operators with more than 40,000 specialty products. US Foods Direct also gives operators easier access to hard-to-find ingredients, such as specialty spices, seasonings, herbs, pastas, flours, sauces or oils, and on-trend items such as plant-based proteins, dairy-free or vegan alternatives and gluten-free products.

“As diner preferences evolve, so must operators’ menus. That can be difficult when operators are looking for niche, specialty products that are harder to source,” says Nick Underhill, senior director, corporate strategy. “US Foods Direct helps operators address these challenges. Whether it’s fine quality olive and balsamic oils from Europe, milk alternatives made from rice, oat or hemp or a specialty pasta that stars in a new best-selling dish, operators can now source the specialty products they need with the click of a button.”