Our Story
Family Owned.
Est. 1998.
Who We Are
From a Local Farm to
Your Kitchen
Ionian Food Imports was founded in 1998 by Nick Bakes. Nick started the company by importing olives and olive oil from Kalamata, Greece — building a business rooted in Mediterranean quality and authenticity from day one.
With a strong foundation in specialty products, Ionian quickly earned a reputation for reliability and quality. From those early beginnings, Nick expanded the business into fresh produce by partnering with local farms and growers around the world — growing Ionian into a full-range wholesale distributor trusted by restaurants, retailers, and foodservice operators.
Today, with over 28 years of experience, Ionian offers a complete range of fresh produce, meats, cheeses, dairy, olives, olive oils, and specialty items — a one-stop wholesale food distributor customers can rely on year-round.
28+
Years of Trust
What We Stand For
Our Values
Family First
Nick Bakes founded Ionian in 1998, and that family spirit has guided every decision since — integrity, quality, and genuine care for every client we serve.
Mediterranean Roots
We started by importing olives and olive oil from Kalamata, Greece. That heritage of authenticity still shapes every product we carry today.
Local & Global Sourcing
We partner with local farms and trusted global suppliers to deliver consistent quality, competitive pricing, and dependable availability year-round.
Hands-On Approach
We're not a faceless distributor. Every product is personally vetted, and every client gets the attentive service that only a family business can provide.
Sourcing Philosophy
Local Farms &
Global Partners
Ionian prides itself on sourcing high-quality products from both local farms and global partners. Through long-standing relationships with trusted suppliers, we provide consistent quality, competitive pricing, and dependable availability.
Our roots in Kalamata, Greece gave us a deep appreciation for where food comes from and how it's grown. That same respect guides every sourcing decision we make today — whether it's fresh produce from a nearby family farm or specialty olive oils from the Mediterranean.
The result is a full range of products — fresh produce, meats, cheeses, dairy, olives, olive oils, and specialty items — that our customers can count on year-round.
Our Journey
28 Years of Growth
Nick Bakes founded Ionian Food Imports, beginning with imported olives and olive oil from Kalamata, Greece.
Built a strong reputation for Mediterranean specialty products — quality, authenticity, and reliable service.
Expanded into fresh produce by partnering with local farms and growers around the world.
Grew into a trusted supplier for restaurants, retailers, and foodservice operators across the region.
Over 28 years later — still family owned, still hands-on, offering a full range of produce, meats, cheeses, dairy, olives, olive oils, and specialty items.
Ready to Work Together?
Whether you're a restaurant, supermarket, or country club, we'd love to become your trusted food supplier.