Foodbuy (www.foodservice.com), a group purchasing and data management services company committed to all segments of the foodservice industry, announced today preferred partner agreements with three national foodservice specialty distributors: Suiza Foods Corporation, PRO*ACT and National Linen Service, a business unit of National Service Industries (NYSE: NSI).
The partnerships will connect Foodbuy’s 8,000 member operators, including Morrison Management Specialists and Consorta Catholic Resource Partners, with Suiza Foods, PRO*ACT and National Linen Service’s distributors, expanding purchasing opportunities and cost savings for both groups.
Suiza Foods, with 82 plant locations, is the nation’s leading dairy processor and distributor. PRO*ACT, with 36 distributors nationwide, is a leading specialty distributor of fresh produce products to the foodservice industry. National Linen Service is the largest linen supply company in the United States, operating from 42 processing plants and 16 service centers located throughout 15 states. The company is a provider of 627 linen products and services, with an emphasis on the dining, healthcare and lodging industries.
Based on the terms of the agreements, Suiza Foods will provide Foodbuy operator members dairy products ordered through its member distributors. PRO*ACT will provide Foodbuy operator members marketing and/or volume incentives on produce ordered through its member distributors. National Linen Service will offer Foodbuy operator members preferred pricing if they use National Linen Service as their total linen services supplier.
Suiza Foods stated, “We are pleased to establish a partnership with Foodbuy and delighted to work with a company with a solid reputation for providing superior quality and service to its customers.”
“As foodservice distribution becomes more competitive every day, particularly in the produce business, our agreement with Foodbuy gives us an opportunity to prove our excellence to a larger customer base,” said Brad Young, director of client programs for PRO*ACT. “The Foodbuy agreement will expand the value we provide our members, while offering market-competitive pricing to Foodbuy members.”
“National Linen Service’s partnership with Foodbuy is a natural fit because our primary target markets are areas where Foodbuy has already secured noteworthy customers, such as Morrison Management Specialists and Consorta Catholic Resource Partners,” said Bud Self, senior vice president, National Linen Service. “For 75 years, we have delivered the industry’s best customer service to our customers. This agreement with Foodbuy will help us continue to improve our offerings to dining, facility services, lodging and healthcare customers.”
Suiza Foods’, PRO*ACT’s and National Linen Service’s distributors also will be able to take advantage of Foodbuy’s one-stop-shop of services — including an online community that provides a forum for sharing information, providing current news and trends, an employment center and e-Marketplace — that helps foodservice manufacturers, distributors and operators conduct business efficiently and cost-effectively via the Internet.
“I believe partnering with these industry leaders, Suiza Foods, PRO*ACT, National Linen Service, Supply America and Network Services, will strengthen the distributor’s value proposition to its operator customers,” said Mike Boyer, vice president of distribution services, Foodbuy. “In addition, these partnerships will allow Foodbuy to offer its members competitive market pricing, while diversifying our offerings in the dairy, produce and related perishables, and linen areas.”
About Suiza Foods
Suiza Foods Corporation, based in Dallas, Texas, is the nation’s leading dairy processor and distributor, producing a full line of company-branded and customer-branded products. National brands include International Delight®, Second Nature®, Naturally Yours®, Mocha Mix®, Sun Soy(TM), kidsmilk(TM), and fitmilk(TM). Regional brands consist of Adohr Farms®, Barbe’s®, Brown’s Dairy(TM), Broughton®, Country Fresh®, Dairymen’s®, Flav-O-Rich®, Lehigh Valley Farms®, London’s®, Meadow Gold®, Model Dairy(TM), Garelick Farms(TM), Oak Farms®, Robinson®, Schepps®, Shenandoah’s Pride®, Suiza(TM), Louis Trauth(TM), Tuscan®, Velda Farms® and West Lynn Creamery®, as well as Celta® in Spain. Suiza also sells products under partner or licensed brands in certain regions, including Borden®, Lactaid®, Foremost® and Pet®. Additionally, the company owns approximately 43% of Consolidated Container Company, one of the nation’s largest manufacturers of rigid plastic containers. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.suizafoods.com.
About PRO*ACT
PRO*ACT is America’s Produce Specialist, the leading specialty distributor of fresh produce to the foodservice industry. PRO*ACT leverages its vast resources to provide produce category solutions and value to foodservice operators across America. PRO*ACT highlights include 45 fresh produce distribution centers for foodservice operators across America with a National Procurement Office, Monterey, CA, National Client Programs and Services Office, Boston, MA and regional support offices in Naples, FL, Tulsa, OK, and Phoenix, AZ, and the PRO*ACT Specialty Division in Los Angeles, CA. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.proactusa.com.
About National Linen Service
National Linen Service is the nation’s leading provider of linen services with an emphasis on the dining, healthcare and lodging industries. It offers a unique array of inter-related services that together bring unparalleled value to its customers by providing all the services its customers need, including handling customer-owned goods, ancillary uniform service and providing dust control and restroom supply products from our Facilities Services unit. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.national-linen.com.
About Foodbuy
Foodbuy is a leading group purchasing and data management services company for the $150 billion foodservice marketplace. The company, which has more than $2.1 billion in aggregated purchasing power, offers foodservice operators, distributors and manufacturers a comprehensive suite of offline and online services, which include group purchasing, rebate and data management programs, an e-Marketplace, content and community, that optimize the way their organizations operate. Foodbuy is headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., and has a growing group of investors, including CMGI@Ventures, CMGI’s venture capital affiliate, and Morrison Management Specialists, Inc. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.foodservice.com or call 800-896-4442.
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