C&S, US Foods partner to tackle retail-foodservice imbalance

C&S Wholesale Grocers Inc. and US Foods Holding Corp. have partnered to combat job and food insecurities amid the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact 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 of 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.”

US Foods, one of America’s leading foodservice distributors, partners with approximately 300,000 restaurants and foodservice operators to help their businesses succeed. However, increasing restrictions imposed by the federal and state government in response to the coronavirus are reshaping American’s consumption behaviors, resulting in more grocery purchases and significantly fewer dine-out opportunities.

“We are proud to be working with C&S Wholesale Grocers as their role in our communities increases in importance,” said Pietro Satriano, chairman and CEO 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.”