HOUSTON, Oct. 06, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sysco Corporation (NYSE: SYY ), North America's leading foodservice distribution company, recently honored its suppliers that met or exceeded the company's exacting standards as part of the 2016 Sysco Supplier Excellence Awards program. The awards, presented at an industry dinner in Houston, recognize the commitment, support and partnership of suppliers by category and area of accomplishment.
Recipients of Sysco’s 2016 Supplier Excellence Awards were chosen from more than 1,300 eligible suppliers worldwide. Winners were selected based on key business performance measures as prescribed by Sysco's U.S.-based distribution companies and the company’s corporate Merchandising, Quality Assurance and Supply Chain departments.
Michael Foods Inc., headquartered in Minnetonka, Minn., was recognized as Supplier of the Year, Sysco’s top supplier recognition, and awarded for the highest level of performance in areas such as sales growth, profitability, Sysco Brand sales and overall support of Sysco and its customers. Michael Foods’ President and CEO, Jim Dwyer, along with Michael Elliot, Vice President and General Manager of the Commercial Business Group, accepted the award.
The complete list of 2016 Top Supplier Awards (not in ranked order):
Gold Supplier Award recipients:
| Product Category: | Company: | |
| - Grocery & Commodities | Conagra Foodservice | |
| - Poultry | Butterball | |
| - Beverage | Coca-Cola North America | |
| - Beef | Cargill | |
| - Foodservice Supplies | Handgards, INC. | |
| - Dairy | Michael Foods, Inc. | |
| - Seafood | Devi Seafoods | |
| - Bakery & Convenience | Campbell’s Foodservice | |
| - Produce | The Garlic Company | |
| - Canned Goods | Red Gold, LLC | |
| - Frozen Fruits, Vegetables & Potatoes | Bonduelle Americas | |
| - Pork | JBS |
Additionally, several Gold-level specialty category winners were named, including:
- Supply Chain Partner Award - Alpha Baking Company, Inc., of Chicago, Ill., for collaborating with Sysco to improve Sysco’s end-to-end supply chain, including inbound purchase order fill rates, market freight rates, pick-up allowances and availability, and overall support and participation in Sysco Supply Chain initiatives;
- Sustainability Partner Award - Sea Watch International, Ltd., of Easton, Md., for emphasizing the importance of a responsible supply chain to enhance Sysco’s corporate social responsibility goals;
- Cutting Edge Solution Award for Innovation - National Frozen Foods Corporation of Seattle, Wash., for creating a unique, differentiated and exclusive product solution for Sysco customers;
- Emerging Supplier Award - Barfresh Food Group, Inc., of Beverly Hills, Calif., for clear commitment to sales growth and developing strong relationships with Sysco associates and customers;
- Heritage Award for Diversity - Mann Packing Co., Inc., of Salinas, Calif., for meeting and exceeding Sysco’s expectations set forth for minority, women-owned and diverse supplier partners; and
- Broker of the Year - KeyImpact Sales & Systems, Inc. of Odenton, Md., for high-level performance in the areas of case growth, target close rate, and overall support of Sysco operating companies and their Sysco-dedicated team. This is the first year Sysco has awarded the Broker of the Year award.
Silver Supplier Award recipients:
| Product Category: | Company: | |
| - Grocery & Commodities | Sovena USA | |
| - Poultry | Mountaire Farms | |
| - Beverage | Red Bull | |
| - Beef | Tyson Fresh Meats | |
| - Foodservice Supplies | Ecolab | |
| - Dairy | Schreiber Foods, Inc. | |
| - Seafood | High Liner Foods | |
| - Bakery & Convenience | Alpha Baking Company, Inc. | |
| - Produce | Mann Packing Co., Inc. | |
| - Canned Goods | Pacific Coast Producers | |
| - Frozen Fruits, Vegetables & Potatoes | Conagra Foodservice | |
| - Pork Heritage (Diversity) | Fresh Mark, Inc. County Fair Food Products |
Bronze Supplier Award recipients:
| Product Category: | Companies: | |
| Grocery & Commodities | Lyons Magnus, PepsiCo Away from Home, McCormick for Chefs, Stratas Foods, Bay Valley Foods, a Treehouse Foods Company | |
| Poultry | Sanderson Farms, Inc., Mar-Jac Poultry, Inc., George’s, Perdue Foods LLC, Koch Foods | |
| Beverage | Nestle Waters North America, Keurig Green Mountain Inc., PepsiCo Away from Home | |
| Beef | JBS Swift Beef, American Foods Group, Lower Foods Inc., Dan’s Prize | |
| Foodservice Supplies | PACTIV, Heritage Bag Company, NCCO, WNA | |
| Dairy | Saputo, Leprino Foods Company, Wells’ Enterprises Inc., Land O’Lakes, Inc., Emi Roth USA, Inc. | |
| Seafood | Beaver Street Fisheries, Inc., Arista Industries, F.W. Bryce, Inc. Nissui Global Links Company, Trident Seafood Corporation, Paul Piazza & Son, Inc. | |
| Bakery & Convenience | General Mills Convenience & Foodservice, Rich Products Corporation, Flowers Bakeries, McCain Foods, Dianne’s Fine Desserts, Inc. | |
| Produce | Tanimura & Antle, Potandon Produce, Church Brothers Farms | |
| Canned Goods | Agro Sevilla-U.S.A., Inc., Lakeside Foods, Inc., Oregon Cherry Growers, Traina Foods, Teasdale Foods | |
| Frozen Fruits, Vegetables & Potatoes | Penobscot McCrum, McCain Foods, Simplot Food Group, National Frozen Foods Corporation, Jasper Wyman & Son | |
| Pork | Clemens Food Group, Tyson Foods Inc., Nathans Famous, Hormel Foods Corporation | |
| Heritage (Diversity) | Ruiz Food Products |
About Sysco Sysco is the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments and other customers who prepare meals away from home. Its family of products also includes equipment and supplies for the foodservice and hospitality industries. The company operates approximately 200 distribution facilities serving approximately 425,000 customers. For fiscal year 2016 that ended July 2, 2016, the company generated sales of more than $50 billion. For more information, visit www.sysco.com or connect with Sysco on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SyscoCorporation or Twitter at https://twitter.com/Sysco .
Media Contact: Neil Russell Vice President, Investor Relations & Communications 281-584-1308
