Employee Bulletins
An end of year message from President and CEO John Lederer
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December 7, 2011
Dear Colleague:
Many of our customers are now focusing on the Holiday Season. Whether they are preparing catered receptions or feeding busy shoppers, restaurateurs are relying on US Foods more than ever. Fortunately, we are helping customers be more successful through our innovative new products and the best delivery and service team in the business.
This has been a year of triumphs and challenges for US Foods. For example, the company and the Teamsters reached an agreement Monday on a four-year contract for the two sanitation workers at the Streator, Ill. Division. The agreement ends all picketing activity by the Teamsters at US Foods divisions and the union is withdrawing the unfair labor practice that it filed against the company. The frank discussions that led to the settlement will enable the company and the Teamsters to focus on negotiating market-competitive and customer-focused labor contracts in the future without similar job actions.
While we were disappointed by the Teamsters’ recent attempts to disrupt our business operations and customer relationships, this experience brought out the best in our company as you and thousands of other courageous, dedicated employees made the US Foods core value of teamwork come to life and put customers first to ensure critical deliveries were made. These are hallmarks of a high-performance selling organization and a true winner in a very competitive industry.
With 2011 drawing to a close, this a good time to reflect on the great progress we have made to create a better food offering and easier customer service experience. We are successfully navigating a tough economy, competing effectively and starting to see strong momentum in our sales numbers. Our new brand is distinguishing and invigorating the company with fresh energy, exclusive new products and value-added services. We are winning new customers and investing in our future to become a better partner to our customer.
Let’s finish the year strong! By helping customers be more successful this holiday dining season, we’re demonstrating that US Foods is First in Food, Second to None. I am proud of how we have anticipated and responded to various hurdles, but even more proud of how we have come together as a team in these challenging economic times. That sustained effort will keep us strong now and produce unrivaled success in the future.
Thank you for your hard work and dedication.
Sincerely,
John Lederer
President and Chief Executive Officer
US Foods
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