U.S.FOODS co. ?

Anyone do business with this co.? there like sysco, and those types. i have a meeting with a salesman this a.m. to see what they can do for me . we'll see what there prices are.

Hi Buck, most Food service companies are about the same. I look for price, delivery schedule, time of delivery, how hard the salesman works for me, experience of drivers, and verity of foods. In the early days of my business I bought market specials, bread store, cash and carry and tried to get the lowest prices I could. The only reason most people need a food company is, they can spend more time running their business,or, and your buying thousands of dollars of food per week. The food service company only offers good prices if the volume of purchases are high, it all has to do with volume......Good luck...............BillyB

I have used US Foodservice for my main supplier for the last dozen or so years because of my salesman and his service of my account.  They don't seem to have as many bs ways to get you as some other companies.  Prices are very competitive except for aluminum and paper products- I have to buy those items from other suppliers because of large price differences

Herman

They are also going to have a minimum for delivery... I us them for one item that I can't get anywhere else.....My minimum is $500. Like Billy said, unless you are buying $1,000's weekly, you are going to do better at costco, cash & carry etc.....
 
I met with my rep once, never seen him again, I ALLWAYS have to call him with my order... I'm not worth his time.  Now Billy on the other hand probably has salesmen cold calling all the time trying to get his business.

chefbuba


They are also going to have a minimum for delivery... I us them for one item that I can't get anywhere else.....My minimum is $500. Like Billy said, unless you are buying $1,000's weekly, you are going to do better at costco, cash & carry etc.....
 
I met with my rep once, never seen him again, I ALLWAYS have to call him with my order... I'm not worth his time.  Now Billy on the other hand probably has salesmen cold calling all the time trying to get his business.

Hey Buba, lets just say, when the salesmen got my account, he also got "salesmen of the year" and  a trip to Hawaii. I have them call on me once a week, but most of the time I enter it on line, its easier for me .....................BillyB

heh heh...............never showed up. alrighty then ! say's alot about him and the co. of course he was supposed to bring in a few samples too. never called i was gonna call him but wifey say's uh noooooooooooooo! .H.C.G.F.H. P/M FOR TRANSLATION?LOL being of good christian faith I cant ....................................................

US Food and Sysco can KMA, I do biz with a smaller Co., Food Pro, that takes Great care of me, I'm not a HUGE account, but I'm big enough to always get new reps from those hellhouses calling on me, I relish throwing them out...SYSCO still owes me $380.00 from a screw up 8 yrs ago.

I use a local food provider also ... If I want something he doesn't usually carry he'll get it for me. I also like to chew the fat with him cause of his vast experience in the restaurant biz ... He currently has 6 restaurants and had a "chain" of about 20 pizza joints, so he knows the local market. So you might look around in your area for the local little guys, you can get great prices and better service.

I do have a c.b.i about 15 miles from here that offers many items, order today pick it up tomorrow. I was wanting u.s as they were the only ones that carry the hot dog bun i wanted. but i'll just see if i can order them thru the gal that told me about them.

well, well, well u.s. foods text me today said he was running late but hoped to be here by 11:00 as if I got the dates wrong i told him to go p.u.a.r. I can get everything i need at c.b.i

Not a smart move. You never know in todays times whose buying who out or merging companies. Something I have learned in this business is never burn bridges you may need them later.

porkchopexpress


Not a smart move. You never know in todays times whose buying who out or merging companies. Something I have learned in this business is never burn bridges you may need them later.

Burning bridges? I have numerous posts here regarding my old suppliers, left on good terms 10-15 years ago. They will not give me the time of day. I do not need deliveries, I will drive to the DC and pick up at "Will Call" and pay CASH. They all have told me, well, they haven't, except one, to go piss in the woods. 


Other than Gordon Foods! I had the store manager of my local GFS Outlet store actually deliver THREE LOAVES of BREAD to me today! Holy smokes! I could not believe it, and am still in shock. 


My advice, for what it is worth, call the manufactures of the product that you want to carry and hook up with some little guy. The service will more than likely beat the big boys by a long shot. 


My new motto, SCREW EM! I gave up, and am working locally with the little guys. I may pay a penny more here and there, but they earn it with REAL SERVICE. Enough said.


Mike

I got the H.C.G.F.H. but you got me with the p.u.a.r. 

--- up a rope

damn..........how'd I miss that

I have actually done some electronic troubleshooting inside a major facility of theirs in georgia, and it was a very clean, well operating facility.

I'm pretty happy with U.S. Foods. They have a local warehouse & I just email or text my order to my rep & pick up at will call later in the day. No question that I am a small account but my rep takes pretty good care of me...pricing and selection are both a damn sight better than Sam's. One of my best friends is the food buyer for one of their largest accounts & it never ceases to amaze me that his pricing is seldom that much better than mine...at least on the meats that I buy.

my rep called the other day and said they were nowcarrying amoroso rolls, and new england stlye hot dog buns. I think i can get around the 500 min. by ordering thru a friends resturant, save me going to orlando for the amaroso's

In one form or another I've been in the food business forever and out of all the Distributors that I've used (or worked for)........ Gordon Food Service stands out!  The quality of product and their service is just, well, OUTSTANDING!  I'm not going to use anybody else.

farmboy236


In one form or another I've been in the food business forever and out of all the Distributors that I've used (or worked for)........ Gordon Food Service stands out!  The quality of product and their service is just, well, OUTSTANDING!  I'm not going to use anybody else.

A good friend used to work for Gordon. Over a period of 25 yrs. he had also worked for US Foods, Sysco and another whose name escapes me. He always said that Gordon's was the best of the bunch.

Its all about your Rep. The fact is Sysco is the biggest foodservice co. in the US. US Foodservice is the biggest in the SE.
Sysco is like the walmart of food comapnies. They can offer the lowest prices if you push them there. My problem with Sysco has always been having a bad rep. They hire these attractive young folks to send in as eye candy to try and get your business. The problem is, they dont know food, and like to party. That leaves you with someone that cant help you with product and someone that isnt gonna be there to run grab you something when your butt is in a bind.
Also, you have to watch your invoices like a hawk with Sysco. Ive fired em several times for trying to slide by a HUGE price increase on a center plate item without telling me.

US Foods usually has a more experienced rep in my experience. My guy I had for years was a married 40 something, former restaurant manager. He had kids and bills, so he worked for me.

The smaller companies are usually great but the sad fact is they struggle to compete on prices.

Also factor in how far the warehouse is from your store. If the warehouse is 100 miles away, you can forget running to grab a few things yourself or your rep being able to.

Establish what you expect upfront from whatever company you go with. Get to know your Rep. I also strongly suggest sending out bid sheets to other companies periodically just to make sure the company you choose is being competitive.

Agreed the big boys have big prices yet more freebees for us little guys!  I use a local family owned oufit that carries just about anything I need at FAIR prices and only a few cents more than the big boys!  Low minimums, dealing with the owners, they have in house meat/poultry cutting operations.  Never a problem in 20 years!

With on line ordering, the salesman is less of a need for me. Pricing and  delivery driver have always been the top two for me.................Bill

BillyB


With on line ordering, the salesman is less of a need for me. Pricing and  delivery driver have always been the top two for me.................Bill

I never would let em get me on that. I like the face to face contact when I order. Thats way I can ask questions to my rep and get a heads up on things. A good rep will tell me when something is about to spike in prices and I should order the minimum, or when the are fat on something and I should stock up.
 
I guess Im old, I dont internet bank, do self checkout at stores either.
 

I have dealt with both in the past when I owned a restaurant in Phoenix. US Foodservice was all about my rep, Carlos. Talk about going above and beyond that guy earned my business, Sysco was crap and every rep I had sucked.
 
I relocated to Illinois and now I deal with Grecian Delight and a small company called Illinois Food Service, both are outstanding.

I've been using US Foods for the past 3 1/2 years as my primary source.  Once in a while I bring in Kohl Foods and Sysco to check prices and US has them beat almost every time on almost everything.  Between US and Sam's Club, my place is set.   Sales Rep is a pretty decent guy, much more knowledgeable and down to earth than the others in the area. 
 
With that said, in college my family and I ran a small sandwich shop about 5 hours from here, the US salesmen had some outrageous prices, and wasn't what I would call a friendly salesman.   So I guess it just differs from area to area.  However I find US foods products are much better quality than what I've experienced from Sysco.