About Index Restaurant Supply
A Kansas City Family Business Since 1946
A Local Story That Started in 1946
Index Restaurant Supply has been part of the Kansas City foodservice community for nearly 80 years. Our story began in 1946 when Earl R. Juul, a hardworking meat cutter from a Danish family of butchers, decided it was time to build something of his own. Tired of being overworked and underpaid, he opened a small grocery and refrigeration business called Index Refrigeration Company. Earl chose the name Index because, like the index of a book, he wanted customers to be able to find everything they needed in one place.
Growing With Kansas City’s Restaurants
When Earl’s son, Earl J. Juul, joined the business in 1955, he saw an opportunity to better support local restaurants rather than meat lockers. This shift led to the updated name, Index Restaurant Supply, and set the foundation for our long-standing focus on supplying restaurants, chefs, and contractors across Kansas City with quality equipment and supplies.
A Family Legacy Four Generations Strong
The next generation continued the tradition. Donald Juul, Earl J.’s son, worked part-time through high school and while attending UMKC, eventually joining full-time in 1976. He and his father became partners, and after both Earl J. and Earl R. passed, Donald carried the business forward with the same dedication his family started.
Today, Index Restaurant Supply is in its fourth generation of family ownership, now led by Donald’s son, Christopher Juul, a graduate of the University of Missouri. Christopher continues the family commitment to honest service, dependable products, and strong relationships with the restaurants and foodservice operations that make Kansas City such a vibrant community.
Today, Index Restaurant Supply is in its fourth generation of family ownership, now led by Donald’s son, Christopher Juul, a graduate of the University of Missouri. Christopher continues the family commitment to honest service, dependable products, and strong relationships with the restaurants and foodservice operations that make Kansas City such a vibrant community.
