Restaurants order their raw products from companies like Sysco, called broadliners. In New England, the big broadliners are Sysco, PFG, US Foods, and some other ones that are smaller in size.

If Sysco’a delivery drivers aren’t driving, then restaurants aren’t getting raw product to make their dishes, which means they don’t have dishes to sell to the public. Also, many restaurants are contracted with their broadliners, so it’s not like a Sysco customer can just pick up the phone and call PFG and place their order.

Source: 12 years managing restaurants