At this time last year, we at Refrigerated & Frozen Foods decided to put our annual Foodservice Distributor of the Year Award on hold. The COVID-19 pandemic precipitated unprecedented shutdowns in foodservice—restaurants, hotels, schools, caterers, stadiums, and other volume venues—leaving behind thousands of shuttered businesses. To put it lightly, there was very little to celebrate in foodservice last year.

Golden State Foods (GSF),  has appointed Justin Vannoy as GSF corporate vice president and president, Liquid Products North America (LPNA). Based in Conyers, Georgia, Vannoy will lead the planning and execution of a strategic business plan to satisfy GSF's financial and operational objectives, including customer growth, product quality, food safety, associate safety, and succession planning. His role will also focus on broadening the capabilities, technologies, and markets in which GSF supplies dressings, sauces, syrups, and toppings.

Sysco has announced a limited-time offer for fresh Summeripe Peaches to its customers. These peaches are grown with sustainable farming in mind and have been perfected through an innovative all-natural ripening process to ensure they are perfectly ready to eat when they are delivered to customers.

Legacy Foodservice Alliance has announced Keany Produce & Gourmet, in Landover, Maryland, is the newest distributor member of the Richmond-based supply chain organization.

Tractor Beverage Company announced its beverages are now available at many locations operated by culinary management company Elior North America. Elior North America’s Cura Hospitality, Aladdin Campus Dining, Lexington Independents, and Corporate Chefs companies are now offering Tractor’s Certified Organic, Non-GMO and All-Natural beverages. 

Sysco reported Q4 sales of $16.1 billion, an increase of 82.0% year-over-year. Gross profit also rose 86.2% during that time to $2.9 billion, reflecting the current rebound of foodservice as pandemic restrictions were gradually lifted throughout 2021. The overall numbers for fiscal year 2021 show a decrease in sales (-3%) and profits (-5.5%), since foodservice was still struggling to come back from Q1 to Q3 due to shutdowns for most of 2020.

Gathered Foods, makers of Good Catch plant-based seafood, has partnered with Dot Foods, North America's largest food industry redistributor. This partnership will enable Good Catch products to be available to a broader set of foodservice accounts and businesses in more locations, making the brand more accessible across the country.

New Wave Foods announced a distribution agreement with Gordon Food Service that provides direct access to New Wave Shrimp, the innovative new plant-based shrimp, to any operator or foodservice customer east of the Mississippi River or in the Southwest. Ordering plant-based New Wave Shrimp is now even more turnkey for independent and chain restaurants and foodservice providers that work with Gordon Food Service.

Kellogg's is expanding their existing partnership with Sodexo to deliver plant-based Incogmeato by MorningStar Farms Burger Patties at more than 3,000 locations. Sodexo, a leading provider of catering, hospitality and food retail services, already serves the Spicy Black Bean Burger by MorningStar Farms. The company is excited to meet the increasing demand for both plant-based and meat-like options.

US Foods has launched its latest Summer Scoop, focused on the theme of “Dining Out Is In Again”, with 18 on-trend, versatile, profit-driving products designed to reduce back-of-house preparation and skilled-labor demands.