06.17.2009
PRO*ACT’s 70 distribution centers to supply fresh produce to global hospitality and food service company’s 150 U.S. locations
BUFFALO, N.Y. (June 17, 2009) – Delaware North Companies today announced it has awarded produce specialist PRO*ACT a national contract to supply fresh produce for its U.S. food service operations.
PRO*ACT is being featured on AndNowUKnow.com, the video news website of the fresh produce industry. Click the link to watch the And Now U Know video.
Terms of the contract were not disclosed, but Delaware North estimated that PRO*ACT will be supplying 500,000 or more cases of fresh produce annually once the contract is fully implemented. Delaware North operates restaurants and concessions at U.S. sports venues, entertainment destinations, national and state parks, hotels and airports – more than 150 locations in all.
PRO*ACT, based in Monterey, Calif., sources and delivers fresh produce for the food service industry though 70 distribution centers – primarily established local and regional produce distributors – across the United States and Canada. The company requires third-party inspections of all its distributors, shippers, processors and growers to ensure their operations meet food safety standards and are fully qualified to become PRO*ACT supply chain partners.
“Working with PRO*ACT will enable Delaware North to streamline our produce supply chain and potentially increase our use of sustainable and regionally grown produce,” said Michael Reinert, vice president of supply management services for the $2 billion global hospitality and food service company.
In addition, PRO*ACT offers Delaware North increased supply chain visibility and traceability – the ability to trace the supply source to the point of origin, providing an important food safety assurance to clients and guests, Reinert said.
“PRO*ACT has instituted a tracking program with its suppliers and distributors that allows products to be tracked from farm to fork and for quick response. If there is a potential problem, we will have a very good chance of knowing and trusting that produce we have purchased is unaffected and safe to serve to our guests,” he said.
Reinert said the national PRO*ACT program will also help ensure Delaware North’s locations are leveraging cost benefits associated with the large-scale volume the company will be purchasing regionally and nationally.
Some Delaware North locations were already working with PRO*ACT, and Delaware North’s Sportservice baseball accounts, including eight in the Major Leagues, began using the program when the season started in April. The PRO*ACT program is being rolled out to Delaware North’s other locations through the summer.
PRO*ACT’s 70 distribution centers are able to supply 90 percent of Delaware North’s locations, and PRO*ACT is identifying new distributors to eventually provide 100-percent coverage for the company, Reinert said.
PRO*ACT is being featured on AndNowUKnow.com, the video news website of the fresh produce industry. Click the link to watch the And Now U Know video.
About PRO*ACT
PRO*ACT is America’s leading distributor of national and regional brand fresh produce to the foodservice industry. PRO*ACT streamlines the produce supply chain, offering significant cost benefits and an easy, one-call solution to source the freshest produce from more than 70 third-party inspected distribution centers across the United States and Canada. PRO*ACT provides
category cost management through commodity contract pricing, in-house consultation services and integrated produce program distribution management. For more information, visit www.proactusa.com.
About Delaware North Companies
Delaware North Companies is one of the world’s leading hospitality and food service providers. Its family of companies includes Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts, Delaware North Companies Gaming & Entertainment, Delaware North Companies Travel Hospitality Services, Delaware North Companies Sportservice, Delaware North Companies International and Delaware North Companies Boston, owner of TD Banknorth Garden. Delaware North Companies is one of the largest privately held companies in the United States with revenues exceeding $2 billion annually and 50,000 associates serving half a billion customers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. For more information, visit www.DelawareNorth.com.