Asheville, N.C. – Sept. 25, 2019 – Quality-first foodservice distributors guide chefs and restaurateurs to choose center-of-the-plate products that elevate their creativity and guest acclaim. These progressive distributors consult with customers to identify unique cutting methods, menu alternatives and specialty aging programs, all to satisfy guests’ tastes for first-rate cuisine. Because of this focus on delivering beef with superior consistency and quality, foodservice distributors in the United States and beyond were recognized by the Certified Angus Beef ® brand. Awards were presented at its Annual Conference, held Sept. 23-25, in Asheville, N.C., where meat processor, distributor, chef, retailer and cattle rancher partners gathered to explore merchandising and marketing solutions.
“Customization is the foundation of our distributors’ leadership, which starts with bringing top-quality beef to the table,” says Sara Scott, the brand’s vice president of foodservice. “In their own houses, chefs’ kitchens, our Certified Angus Beef ® Culinary Center and on family farms, the relationships are built on trust and fuel ongoing conversations that are driving today’s global foodie culture.”
Blue Ribbon Meats, Cleveland, Ohio, was honored with the Foodservice Dedication to Excellence award. Throughout nearly 25 years, the distributor has worked closely with chefs to guide their success with center-of-the-plate beef items, including the brand’s Prime and Natural products. The distributor provides a personal approach to business, where every meat order is custom cut, packed and delivered. Additionally, Blue Ribbon has invited chefs to the Certified Angus Beef ® Culinary Center in Wooster, Ohio, for hands-on beef cutting and culinary sessions, and to family farms to learn about beef quality from farm to table. Company trucks are adorned with the brand’s logo, making a statement of quality in the marketplace.
Buckhead Meat of Atlanta received the Foodservice Distributor Marketer of the Year award. The team helps staff and customers gain knowledge about what’s new and best for their menus. Monthly product briefings for staff allow them to learn about specific items. The team also has participated in hands-on training at the Certified Angus Beef ® Culinary Center in Wooster, Ohio. Special events featuring the branded beef have included a Special Teams for Special Ops gathering, dry-age taste test for chefs, and an on-farm experience for staff and customers to learn about the quality focus of family ranchers. Buckhead Meat’s commitment to quality led to the beef brand’s logo being painted on the building, signifying its focus on quality in the market.
Macgregors Meat & Seafood Ltd., Toronto, was honored with the Specialty Meat Company Marketer of the Year and Top Sales Volume Independent Specialty Meat Company Foodservice Distributor awards. The company excelled at supplying top-quality beef and specialty cuts to restaurants while guiding customer success through one-on-one visits. The team offered menu solutions for multi-unit chains, hotels and independent restaurants with a unique focus on the Certified Angus Beef ® brand. The branded beef and its Prime cuts are the focus in Macgregors’ Wickson Room dry-aging cooler. This year, an innovation kitchen began to host customer events, including a Butcher Battle and information session for fellow distributors. An on-farm gathering for staff and customers shared the pride of family ranchers to produce the best beef possible.
Del Monte Meat Capitol Meat Co., Ridgefield, Conn., received the Foodservice Brand Extension Marketer of the Year award. At Del Monte, the team is in tune to delivering the consistent, quality products chefs require for center of the plate, and offers a wide selection of the branded beef fresh cuts, including Certified Angus Beef ® brand Prime and Prime Natural. The team works hand-in-hand with chefs on specific cuts and beef aging, often in Del Monte’s own culinary center. Additionally, training for the sales team at monthly meetings and hands-on beef cutting sessions allow Del Monte to deliver real solutions to customers’ kitchens.
Sysco Columbia, S.C., received the Foodservice Value-added Products Marketer of the Year award. With team focus on customer success, Sysco Columbia guided restaurants, hotels and schools to select fresh beef cuts and timesaving menu items. Timesaving product selections included the brand’s all-beef frankfurters, Philly steaks and fully cooked prime rib. Hands-on meat cutting for the sales team identified specialty cuts for customers’ menus, as they guided restaurateurs to ensure the branded beef is recognized by patrons easily on the menu. These comprehensive efforts also led Sysco Columbia to receive the No. 4 Sales Volume Extra-Large Broadline Foodservice Distributor award.
Shuh Sen Co. Ltd., Taipei, Taiwan, was honored with the International Distributor Marketer of the Year award. Through education and customer service, Shuh Sen helped foodservice and retail businesses in Taiwan offer the top-quality beef. The company served customers from seven sales offices and five food locations, providing complete service from production to delivery, and an educational seminar shared information about the beef brand’s quality with customers. Additionally, staff from Shuh Sen participated in hands-on training programs at the Certified Angus Beef ® Culinary Center in Wooster, Ohio. The Shuh Sen team works closely with the beef brand’s staff to guide customer success and promotes the brand on every delivery with the beef logo on company trucks.
Shamrock Foods Co., Albuquerque, N.M., received the Foodservice Distributor Commitment to Integrity award. The Shamrock Foods team focused on delivering the branded beef with assured quality. Through training and daily interactions with chefs, Shamrock Foods identifies quality-minded accounts that are best suited for the Certified Angus Beef ® brand and provides menu solutions while guiding each restaurant to ensure the beef is identified correctly on menus.
Sysco Gulf Coast, Geneva, Ala., was recognized with the Foodservice Rising Star award. Sysco Gulf Coast excelled at delivering top-quality beef, including Certified Angus Beef ® brand Prime, to steakhouses and top restaurants in the region. Training was an important factor for empowering the team, and in turn, guiding chefs and restaurateurs with their beef menu offerings. The team brings a comprehensive, daily approach to ensuring customer success with the branded beef.
Additionally, these retailers and distributors were recognized for leading Certified Angus Beef ® brand product sales for the year:
Sysco Houston – Top Sales Volume Extra Large Broadline Foodservice Distributor
Sysco Charlotte, Concord, N.C. – Top Sales Volume Large Broadline Foodservice Distributor
US Foods – Knoxville, Alcoa, Tenn. – Top Sales Volume Medium Broadline Foodservice Distributor
Sysco Long Island, Central Islip, N.Y. – Top Sales Volume Small Broadline Foodservice Distributor
S Foods Inc., Nishinomiya City, Japan – Top Sales Volume Corporately Owned Specialty Meat Company Foodservice Distributor
About the Certified Angus Beef ® brand
World renowned for its exceptional quality and generous marbling, the Certified Angus Beef ® brand is the original brand of premium beef. It was created in 1978, and is still owned today by family ranchers who are determined to bring the best Angus beef to the table through a gate-to-plate network that also includes meat companies, retailers and chefs. Ten exacting standards ensure the beef’s superior taste and tenderness in every bite. For more information, visit CertifiedAngusBeef.com or follow the brand on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and LinkedIn.
