Foodservice industry and distribution business could make mutual prpgress when they join forces in responding to environmental uncertainty in an efficient manner. The purpose of this study was to examine the relational characteristics of domestic food service businesses and distribution firms in conjunction with the distribution channels and ensuing conflicts between them, to present possible alternatives on and how they should communicate with each other to achieve a satisfactory result. The relational characteristics and ensuing conflicts of food service businesses and distribution firms appeared to be significantly characterized by incongruities of target, role and perception. The types of relational characteristics that were triggered by the disagreement of roles and perception combined to decrease the intensity of the relational commitment. A satisfactory transactional relationship served to ease their conflicts caused by perceptual disagreement, and the soos of conflicts that were rooted in the discord of roles and of perception that increased the degree of relational commitment. As for relational performance, relational commitment, satisfaction with distribution channel and satisfaction with suppliers allowed them to maintain their relationship on a long-term basis.