SYSCO@HOME
SPECIAL DELIVERY Sysco@Home becomes grocery game-changer BY WENDY KING I n early 2020, when the global pandemic started slamming economic doors shut — both literally and figuratively — some businesses met the challenge by unlocking new doors.
Food distribution giant Sysco had the staff, the infrastructure, and the know-how to adapt to new challenges — and it had food stocked in warehouses that needed a place to go. The key? Expand its customer base by launching grocery delivery and pickup service Sysco@Home. “Sysco is the global leader in selling, marketing, and distributing food and non-food products, supplying the greatest selection of fresh produce, meat, seafood and all essential supplies for restaurants, lodging establishments, health care, educational facilities and more,” says Kevin Penner, business resources consultant. “We’re also proud of the problem-solving and resources we offer, including help with menus, navigating social media, marketing plans, training — and anybody that buys from us can access those resources.” As an essential service in the food supply chain, Sysco doubled down to maintain access for its customers, especially those in health care. The company upped the safety ante and staff who could work remotely were sent home. Penner says the safety of all staff and customers was the priority. “The essential frontline workers, the warehouse workers and trucking literally never skipped a beat,” he says.
“We established a COVID task force designed to ensure all necessary safety equipment was available to ensure distancing protocols, mask use and daily temperature checks.” At the same time Sysco was reorganizing its workplace, restaurants were feeling the crunch. Some were closing, while most were trying to find alternate ways to serve meals at reduced capacity. As people switched from dining out to cooking and baking at home, grocery stores were challenged to keep up with increased demand for many goods. “We had a warehouse full of food and some of our customers weren’t able to order as much — or at all — and then on the flipside, the public were waiting in line to get groceries,” Penner says. “There was fear out there and with everything we were dealing with, it called for us to do our part and create another avenue to make these food products available to everybody.” The result is Sysco@Home. Householders can order grocery items online — bulk paper products, meat and produce variety packs,
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Food distribution giant Sysco made a pandemic pivot to create Sysco@Home. The online service lets householders order food and other supplies that normally would go to restaurants and institutions.
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WINTER 2020
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