KEENE, NH - As the demand for fresh produce increases, many grocers on the front lines are feeling the pinch to keep shelves well-stocked. To help alleviate some of the pressure, two industry leaders have teamed up. C&S Wholesale Grocers and US Foods formed a partnership to combat job and food insecurities as a way of mitigating the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on the supply chain.
“We are very excited about our partnership with US Foods, which will keep the food supply chain strong despite challenges resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Mike Duffy, Chief Executive Officer, C&S Wholesale Grocers. “We are taking the steps necessary to onboard and train members of US Foods’ workforce to ensure our warehouses are staffed and deliveries are on the road, enabling families access to food across the country.”
Due to the increasing restrictions imposed by the federal and state government in response to the coronavirus, American’s consumption behaviors have shifted, resulting in more grocery purchases and significantly fewer dine-out opportunities.
According to a press release, US Foods partners with approximately 300,000 restaurants and foodservice operators to help their businesses succeed.
“We are proud to be working with C&S Wholesale Grocers as its role in our communities increases in importance,” said Pietro Satriano, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of US Foods. “This partnership is an excellent example of the ways in which we are leveraging our distribution capabilities in new ways to support our nation’s retailers, and we value this important opportunity.”
The partnership will allow C&S Wholesale Grocers to alleviate a potential worker shortage stemming from increased food retail demands, while transferring US Foods personnel to similar job functions wherein demand is lacking in the foodservice industry.
“For more than 100 years, it has been our mission to keep communities fed. We are vigilantly monitoring this situation around the clock and are in constant communication with government authorities and industry associations to ensure that we are doing everything possible to make sure everyone has access to food,” said Duffy. “We’re thankful to have members of the US Foods team join us in keeping operations moving and store shelves stocked.”
Will this partnership set an example for others to follow suit? AndNowUKnow will continue to bring you the latest in the industry.
