It’s Personal
Your success is our success.
Passion meets Community
Leverage Buying Group was created out of a series of events that proved two potential competitors were, in fact, stronger together. The story begins on the 1800 block of Capitol Ave in Midtown Sacramento with four guys; two are partners/owners of Paesanos and the others of Zocalo. These restaurateurs would become allies in their passion for good business, great food, and strong community, so much that they launched the Handle District business alliance, which has helped make Midtown the dining destination it is today.
In 2008, their commitment to community opened another door when the industry was facing one of the worst economic downturns to date. Leverage was able to help the independent restaurant community by securing their members competitive pricing typically reserved for large chains. Four community focused businessmen created a program which has grown from Sacramento to all of Northern California, and is spreading its way to independent restaurants across the country.
Owners
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Meet the team
Joel Wilson
President
Joel Wilson, a Bay Area native and Cal Berkeley grad, joined Leverage in 2022 after more than a decade in the healthcare industry, where he honed his skills in relationship-building and team leadership. In 2024, Joel was named President of Leverage Buying Group. His track record in growth, innovation, and problem-solving makes Leverage confident in its continued role as the ideal partner for food operators for years to come.
Outside of his passion for the food industry, Joel enjoys spending time with his wife and three sons, trying new restaurants, watching Bay Area sports, and camping. He also coaches several of his children’s sports teams.
Julie D’Amico
Vice President of Member ServicesJulie D’Amico learned unmatched work ethics and service values from growing up on her family’s farm in Illinois. In 2019, she joined Leverage Buying Group as Vice President of Member Services after great success in food distribution sales. Julie is happiest offering personalized service to each of her members which is indicative of the homegrown values that she and Leverage share.
When Julie is not visiting local members or traveling to meet members in person, she enjoys creating her next DIY craft and entertaining friends and family in her home. Put Julie on your speed dial and know that you have a genuine, personalized support system for maximizing your business’s success.
Mission and Values
Our mission is simple. Leverage is here to save you time and money. We believe that by supporting our members to achieve the best total cost of goods we enable their success and longevity. At Leverage nothing makes us happier than to see restaurateurs achieve their financial goals, which is why we are laser focused on finding the savings in each operation using data analytics and real-world applications.
Our values come from years as small business owners and operators — strong business ethics, personalized service, and effective strategic planning.
