Steve Hoschler's


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February 5, 2010
Friday

restaurant encourages bathroom sex

china taxes U.S. chicken

shackleton's whiskey found

Happy Birthday
John Chapman (Sysco, West Coast Florida)
Steve Hoschler (InsideFood)
Fonzie Lewis (formerly of USFoodservice)
Garren Lisicki (VP of Operations SYSCO, San Diego, Calif.)
Scott Odell (Sysco, Sacramento)
from the 3rd

tyson posts profit

Happy Birthday
Carolyn "Double G" Hopkins (Sara Lee School Queen)
from the 2nd

FBI arrests SK foods owner

February 4, 2010
Thursday

kellogg $ disappoint

Happy Birthday
Dennis Lathan (formerly of USFoodservice)
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

sara lee $

re:  7689:  "Nice try......Wrong, Try again. Now get back picking, FASTER,FASTER, Lets go. !!  LOL."
7695

BK $ up

Happy Birthday
Art Fronstein  (Shamrock, Phoenix)
Fred Guibara (FS guru)
from the first

January 30 & 31, 2010
The Weekend!

Happy Birthday
Theresa D'Amico (Sysco, S.F.)
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

chef's hat argument leads to stabbing

re:  7689:  "Nice try......Wrong, Try again. Now get back picking, FASTER,FASTER, Lets go. !!  LOL."
7694

re:  SYSCO L.A. HISTORY LESSON:  "Here is a history lesson for Sysco LA.  Many years ago a man named Bruce ran a foodservice company and it was good.  Bruce had a philosophy, surround yourself with people that are smarter than you in the organization.  The organization had guys like John Kao, Jim Piegtal, Ken Light, Ken Dermer, and Scott Bower.  These people did a great job and built the company to what it is today. 
    He also had 3 people running sales.  Each one of them was very different but all of them brought something good to the table.  Tom, John and Phil were very competative people and this worked out well.  One day a decision had to be made and Tom was chosen to lead sales.  John got pissed and went to US and his people were scrambling around trying to find a new leader.  Not long after Tom results were not good enough (because Phil kept wispering in Dan and Saul's ear, "that's my job") and soon after he went to US.  His people all scrambled and a lot of them left to US Corona where they are now Happy.  This left Phil to run the empire.  Phil ran the place like Saddam Hussein .  If you weren't with him you were banished.  Phil is now gone and all of his minions are now scrambling and looking for a place to run.  Clive was Phil's MINI ME and he couldn't survive without him.  Andy is now the man in charge and there is no more division. (other than Gordy and Kevin upset that they didn't get the promotion)  I think it is great to see some old faces who built this company come back and help take this place to the next level.  Saul and Dan keep doing what you are doing and let some of the people who really put thier lives into this company come back and thrive.  Sysco is still King in So Cal and that is a fact."
7693

Happy Birthday
Bill Smith (USF Cleveland)
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

re:  SYSCO BOSTON:  "come on Gary, the drivers are punching in customer numbers and THAT is screwing up the times ?? you can do better than that."
7692

Happy Birthday
Cindy Miller (Carlisle Foodservice)
Dan Murphy  (VP of Sales & Marketing at Iceland Seafood)
from the 29th

re:  USF SAN DIEGO:  "The division loses another long-term customer and the downward trend continues.  Without the Fullerton the numbers would really stink. Who’d believe just a few years ago this division would look to “little” Fullerton for survival?  The downward spiral started with increased pads and forced conversions, but really accelerated with the SoCal plan. While employees are let go for poor performance, the individual who conceived and implement the plan remains.  Some peoples you know what really doesn’t stink.  The really problem is the harder they try to cover up the problems the more problems they create and the worse things get.  It all reminds me of  Nixon “I’m not a crook”.  The lips are moving so you know its a lie.  Wake up corporate! Look with your own eyes and don't listen to what you're being told."
7691

Happy Birthday
Heather Dunaway (Sysco Corp.)
from the 28th

re:  SYSCO RALEIGH:  "Say anything about what? About the fact that Sysco Raleigh is not taking orders on super bowl Sunday because the president wants to put more money in his pocket and doesn't really give a damn about the customers or about the fact that management was to chicken- - - - to address the subject with the sales force in person. Get your complaining butts out their and "charge what you're worth". "Your the best". And don't forget that old classic "we are not too expensive". If the geniuses in management knew how many people were looking to leave they would be shocked. Glad I'm gone."
7690

Happy Birthday
Chris "The Dominator" Bernardi  (FSA, Spokane)
Alice Felts (long-suffering wife of USF's {N.C.} Linwood Felts)
from the 26th

January 23 & 24, 2010
The Weekend!

clark in trouble?

Happy Birthday
Joe Aguirre (Dir. of Transp., Sysco FS of Columbia)
Kevin Sheridan (Hallsmith/West Coast Florida Sysco)
Belinda K. Taylor (USF, Deerfield, Payroll)
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

mc d's $ menu big hit

re:  SYSCO BOSTON/GET A LIFE:  "Hey Zentz its time to move on. Its been a few years since you have worked there but yet you still wake up every morning, grab the wife and sit down and read everything that's going on at Sysco Boston.  Is your life that boring ? You can't find anything better to do? Oh yeah here's a tip. Try hitting spell check on you computer before you send you comments.  Everybody knows its you. The only one with a fourth grade education.  Time to move on with your life.  Believe it or not nobody remembers who you are, nor did they care when you worked there.  Smoke another one. ( Burnout )."
7689

re:  SYSCO RALEIGH:  "Isn't anyone going to say ANYTHING. Really?"
7688

re:  USF PHILLY:  "USF Philly sure does not need a person like Ernie running that branch. 
    This man has a drinking problem. Can you believe the way he acted towards the ladies at the retirement party. The ladies at the party were surely upset with his behavior. Can someone please explain to him that he needs help."
7687

Happy Birthday
Adam Elsass (USF, Cleveland)
Glenn Spaulding (Sysco, L.A.)
from the 22nd

January 21, 2010
Thursday

starbuck$ profits triple

re:  HALLSMITH:  "Post 7685, So you're happy about Brian Sheahan getting the boot ha, Be careful, You may be next. Sysco still goes around canning who ever they want. The thing is, They never fire the right person. D-mac is still dragging his fat ass around the building ha, See what I mean, Kiss a little more ass Denny. That place goes threw more changes, But nothing gets done. I say, Fire everyone in the building, Because they're all a bunch of cry-babies."
7686

Happy Birthday
Ken Colgan (Bruce Foods)
from the 20th

January 19, 2010
Tuesday

putin nixes our chicken

Happy Birthday
Steve King (Superior Food Sales, L.A.)
Claude St. Jean (Transportation Dir., Hallsmith/Sysco)
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

kraft finally snags cadbury

January 16, 17, 18, 2010
Slim Whitman's Birthday Weekend!

murder motive:  tacos

pizza guy punched

nanny state update:  NJ requires calorie count on menu

Glen Bell      Glen W. Bell Jr., an entrepreneur best known as the founder of the Taco Bell chain, has died. He was 86.      Bell died Sunday at his home in Rancho Santa Fe, according to a statement posted Monday on the Taco Bell Web site.      The Irvine-based company did not release a cause of death.      "Glen Bell was a visionary and innovator in the restaurant industry, as well as a dedicated family man," Greg Creed, president of Taco Bell, said in the statement.      Bell launched his first restaurant, called Bell's Drive-In, in 1948 in San Bernardino after seeing the success of McDonald's. His restaurant sought to take advantage of Southern California's car culture by serving hamburgers and hot dogs through drive-in windows.      The World War II veteran next helped establish Taco Tias in Los Angeles, El Tacos in the Long Beach area, and Der Wienerschnitzel, a national hot dog chain.      Bell launched Taco Bell in 1962 in Downey after cutting ties with his business partners and quickly expanding around Los Angeles.      He sold the first Taco Bell franchise in 1964. In 1978, Bell sold his 868 Taco Bell restaurants to PepsiCo for $125 million in stock.      Taco Bell is now owned by Yum! Brands and is the largest Mexican fast-food chain in the nation, serving more than 36.8 million consumers each week in more than 5,600 U.S. locations.      Bell is survived by his wife, Martha, three sisters, two sons, a daughter and four grandchildren.      A private funeral is planned.

re:  BOSTON SYSCO:  "Our 5 day 8 hour work week is working fine, haha. I never did say thank you Load farquaad for taking a benefit not only from me but my family, we are family. Small nights we just about finish on time. what will be the call this summer 5 11 hour shifts?  Your night manager is working 4 day work week staying six hours each night smoking.  Take the time do the math Load, that equals 24 hours when we hump cases most likely 5 12's this summer, I guess its called screw the working man. The Chinese twins roy the midget and opie still make the calls if not they will cry or sit the the lunch room. Now that Brian Sheahan is gone, this does give Brian more of a chance in modeling leather aZZless chaps for GQ magazine."
7685

re: CCOKIES - "KKR/CD&R selling USF So Cal to Sysco? Stranger things have happened. Maybe then Jon would get his wish to be Sysco."
7684

re:  BV:  "Regarding the comments about Bob Vasta,
     Nice comments Garry about your Dad,
     Before you start taking shots at Nick or anyone else at Corona the Author of Daddy N Me Cookies is not coming from Corona, Sysco LA, USFSD, USFLA, Goldberg or even Inland Empire foods (AKA Vasta Land) You idiot, look in the mirror it's called Karma! (That's right what comes around goes around)
     Here are the facts,
1.    When Bob was a DSM at Webb no one on his team had any respect for him just ask anyone on the team. He treated everyone like a number just ask Mark Harris!
2.    Bob never got along with his co-workers even when one saved his life. (BS you are to blame) from what I've been told you should of let him flop on the ground like a fish or put a hook in that mouth and thrown him over board.
3.    The best was don't park in his assign spot he would make you move your car.
4.    The guy is a egomaniac just ask anyone who has work for him. I will agree he was a good rep at one time, but (that was 25 years ago)
5.    Bob what comes around goes around, all the people you have screwed over the years you are finally getting what's due to you! You have chase more people away from Webb, USF SD, and Sysco that were quality people than Tiger Woods at the 19th Hole bachelor party
6.    Than there's the great son Garry, let's see Bob came off the streets and gave his entire route to Garry and set up the Pillsbury dough boy for life. Garry even reported to  Bob at Webb; isn't that a conflict of interest.
7.                  Bob, maybe JJ and FJ can use you remember you built the Inland Empire to the power house it is today. I bet you can turn around LA too!
     Enough about the past Bob, put the Motor home in Drive, turn up the radio and plug in the easy back oven and hit the F-in rode!
     Roses are Red Vilots are Black get this F-in guy off my back!
 Sincelery
DNMC
Daddy N Me Cookies"
7683

Happy Birthday
Betsy Carleton (USF, Cleveland)
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

re:  SYSCO BOSTON:  "Want to save some money on tires? Teach the old high-rise guy who is now a yard man how to hook up the air lines when he pulls a trailer away from the door. There is enough rubber on the ground back there to keep Tiger Woods safe for a year."
7682

re:  SYSCO BOSTON:  "I pulled into a parking lot and it took 80 seconds to back next to the building. The Xata screen took 35 seconds to finish it's 'Please Wait...' screen. That left me 5 seconds to get get 40 cases off the back of the truck because the manifest told me it was a 2 minute stop. How many departments is Gary Nunes going to destroy before someone walks him out the gate? Every trip is scheduled to finish before noon because the system is not working. Houston we have a problem.
7681

re:  SYSCO BOSTON:  "sysco boston: how ironic, d-mac had a hand in getting rad fired with help from his buddy fat pat and know he has some of the same responsibilities as rad  when he got fired. hope you have better luck than rad, make sure you dot your  eyes and cross your T's. don't let the door hit  you in the ass when you get fired. and make sure you enjoy your family know you hear!!!!"
7680

Happy Birthday
Bob LeVine (Pacific Spice Company)
Vicki Toth (DSM - Kraft Foods)
from the 15th

re:  HALLSMITH SYSCO:  "Hey guys...How's things going (not too good) from what I've been hearing. Anyways just wait, I'm sure the powers to be will come up with something else too screw with ya all. The only thing I miss from that place is the paycheck, Other than that...Life is much better now that i don't have them crawling up my ass everyday.  The Patriots must be eating Sysco food today, Because they're stinking up the joint today."
7679

re:  SYSCO BOSTON:  "sysco of boston,     hey d-mac you might want to start practicing answering some of these questions that might be coming from Lord F.  "Dennis what did you do last night?  or  Can you tell me one thing that you did to benefit this company?   let me help you, the answer you should not give him is "nothing"  it might not help your career."
7678

re:  COOKIES:  "Re; The First family of IE (Vasta’s)
     According to this week in the “ Wall Street Journal” a very large announcement  will be coming out of Sysco LA. What could it be; opening new facility in Inland Empire, buying USF in Southern California, or the Vasta’s have been chosen to appear on the next (Biggest Loser TV show) my money is on the last. Bob, I can’t wait to see Garrey with his shirt off I bet $100 he has Man Boobs?
     Just think about the Story line how the first family of IE started foodservice in So Cal, make sure you empty your pockets before you get on the scale their could some Cookie crumbs in there!
     Don’t forget to park the Motor home on the street and leave the lights on!
 Sincerely,
Daddy N me Cookie Author, AKA Sysco employee"
7677

kraft still fighting for cadbury

re:  SAUL:  "Saul, now the burdensome “monkey is off your back” exactly what are you going to do now? My advice is to polish up that 28 year old resume of yours and be prepared to actually start working for a living."
7676

re:  VASTA:  "My guess is that the person with so much hatred directed towards Bob Vasta is obviously Nick Abbley or one of his clones. Doesn’t matter which because they all share the same brain. I happen to of worked for Bob for a long time and he has a great work ethic and knowledge of the business. If he had inherited a team at Sysco that was not a bunch of vindictive a -----s , obvious from the fact that they went running back to Nick and US Foods after sabotaging Bobs district. The sad part is that once again it’s another indictment of the lack of leadership at sysco  by  allowing this to happen. They always run scared of the few malcontents and adopt special policies to cater to those few whilst at the same time ignoring the real needs of the faithful who are the real fabric of that company. PS , Nick if anyone has lost everything from their moves it would be you!
Brokerman."
7675

re:  HALLSMITH SYSCO:  "Hey guys...How's things going (not too good) from what I've been hearing. Anyways just wait, I'm sure the powers to be will come up with something else too screw with ya all. The only thing I miss from that place is the paycheck, Other than that...Life is much better now that i don't have them crawling up my ass everyday.  The Patriots must be eating Sysco food today, Because they're stinking up the joint today."
7674

Happy Birthday
Dan Carroll (Middendorf Meats, St. Louis)
from the 14th

January 13, 2010
Friday the 13th Comes on Wednesday This Month...

re:  SYSCO BOSTON:  "how are the 5 night, 8 hour shifts going? you better hope Lord Farquaad does not make you guys stay there until you do the job right. about 90% of the night crew would be there 24/7. you don't deserve a day off."
7673

kraft earnings up

January 11, 2010
HappyMonday!

holocaust heroine passes

re:  SHAMROCK DENVER:  "Everybody wants to hire another Sysco manager to fill our open position. Why do we not promote someone who has been here?"
7672

re:  VASTA:  "Donde es el Vasta ? Lost his luxurious district at USF. Lost his District at Sysco. Lost his DSM position. Lost his dignity. Lost all respect from his peers. And now can't even gain the business back lost to the 'Boys' that left his district at Walnut. What a Fricking 'Has- been'! Just throw in the towel Dude and call it quits! Maybe he can run 'Will-Calls' for the I.E. in a Van! Pathetic waste of skin and $$ $ !!"
7671

nanny state update:  NYC gets into salt regulation

January 9 & 10, 2010
The Weekend!

There's a new arrival on the Birthday Page.  Add a friend's name (or your own) and see them honored on their special day.

smoke flavor dangerous

food industry "too secretive"

re:  MAINES:  "I hear that there are the usual bad changes at Maines.  Elias is gone, Sam is out, I guess it was a bad year and we’ll see a lot of Maines guys knocking on the competition’s door for a job."
7670

Happy Birthday
Lt. Colonel Donald E. "MaDDog" Belsey (formerly Hunt-Wesson Foodservice)
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

re:  VASTA:  "What ever happen to first family of the Inland  Empire (The Vasta’s)
     Everyone has been asking where is the award winning author of  “Daddy n Me Cookies”
     The simple truth is I having been enjoying my Xmas gift that I got on Shopping network (aka Wal-Mart from the wife), the 2009 version of  “Daddy N Me Easy Bake Oven” this thing really Kicks A**; Thanks Bobby Boy.
     Ok, it’s a new year  so what’s the latest on the Pillsbury Dough Boy  (Garry Vasta) and the Donkey proctologist  (Bob). Let’s see Bob was DEMOTED to a TM not a surprise, congrats to Sysco it only took you  little over a year to figure him out and it took USF San Diego 12 years (A for effort). The story Bob is telling everyone on the streets is like a scene from Barney the Dinosaur (I love you but everyone hates me). Bob it’s time to hang up the Bar coded order guides and call it a career the business has past you by, get into the Motor home recline the chair, plug in the Easy bake oven,  turn up the Music and drive around the neighborhood  and sell some F-in Cookies! (5 for $1.00) and tell all the kids how your family started foodservice in California. I guarantee you will be a big hit. Oh, and Bob all the bashing  you did on USF LA/Corona look into the mirror who’s laughing now (WE ARE). Sysco that’s half the battle what about Fat Boy we are all watching our clocks, Garry is already trying to cut a deal to come back to Corona you may need to add a couple more Cookies to his deal (not English Bay).
 Sincerely Yours friends at Sysco LA"
7669

Happy Birthday
Jason Denison (Sysco, San Diego)
from the eighth

re:  7456/SAN DIEGO:  "As I heard it when he was here at La Mirada he was moved around and give assignments where he could do minimal damage.  He moved over to the region when it was discovered he was the region’s spy.  Good Luck USF San Diego!"
7668

re: OBSERVATION/7460 - "I've doing this over 25 years. This job was more fun when there was more competition. You could make a good living and not have to worry about trying to get every last item from an account so you could hit the gross profit number and get paid. Restaurant supply DSRs didn't have to worry about spoiled milk or rotten produce.
    Most reps are unhappy with all the non-sales things they have to do nowadays. Useless meetings, clueless managers, and endless reporting of the most insignificant things has taken the fun out of the job. Add to this shrinking margins and customers who know nothing except "what's your price?" make it a struggle to grow your business. Formerly loyal customers going to Costco, Sam's Club, and Restaurant Depot. Credit policies that would make a Mafia loan shark envious. God forbid, your customer is one day past their terms.
    But this is a new year. I'm trying to have a more positive outlook. I'm working on some new customers. We'll see how things pan out."
7667

re:  SYSCO BOSTON:  "sysco of boston      hey my lord, now that you have made some drastic changes to the warehouse why don't you take a hard look at your management team,  there are to many of them on third shift that do absolutely nothing  all d-mac does is audit hi-rise boards,  let sos do its job  he is useless cut the dead weight"
7666

Happy Birthday
Bourbon Bellon (Bellon Sales Associates, Indianapolis)
Mary Wartick (a.k.a. Dairy Mary, USF Albuquerque, NM)
from the seventh

re:  BOSTON WAREHOUSE HOURS:  "sysco boston. speaking on behalf of everyone in the building, we would like to say that we were pleasantly surprised on the hours we worked the first day of our five eight hour days. ( it was between 9 to 10 hours first day.) way to go tom t. maybe they should do something about the supervision in the building, do we need that much supervision? wait i know they need them to do audit's all night and sit on their ass in the office and do their fantasy sports on line. from know on they will be called the audit patrol. to everyone please try to enjoy your family, ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!!!!!!!!"
7665

re:  BROKER AGREEMENT?:  "Im planning to represent a brand would you have a standard broker agreement I could look at?"
7464

re:  SYSCO LONG ISLAND:  "Im looking to find out if Sysco Long Island is still on the radar? I read hat they are moving it to Central Islip. I googled the address, it was a residential area."
7463

Happy Birthday
Chris Carpenter (Regional Manager, Pate Dawson Company)
from the sixth

January 5, 2010
Tuesday

re:  PHILLY:  "Philly will be in trouble if Ernie takes takes over. Did you folks see that picture of him as a future president. Sure hope they send him to a nice location, maybe Kentucky I think would be fine. He has no skills when it comes to handling the sales force. In fact  he has more negative energy than positive about him.
I would never take him out on a sales call, especially to one of my national accounts.  Tom , please don't leave us."
7462

nestle nixes cadbury buy

January 4, 2010
HappyMonday!

re:  PFG/NORTHCENTER:  "Now that the second quarter is history did Bill and the Boys make their goal? I think not!!! Bottom line might have been made with all the savings made in salaries not being paid to all those who have left or who were let go. So what excuse is to be used now? Low morale is killing the entire staff. I guess that Richmond is happy not making sales figures because the VP of Sales has not made a budget in such a long time and the excuses and promises just keep getting redundant.
    Who do you blame next???"
7461

Happy Birthday
Marty House (PFG, Little Rock)
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

re:  OBSERVATION:  "Why are so many people in our industry so unhappy?  I spent 40 years in the foodservice business, mostly on the distribution side, and never was an unhappy as the majority of you complainers.  If you like this business you need to make the best of what you have chosen as a career.
    This news and comment section would not have much to report if there were no complainers.  It is a good format for communication, but all the stuff is just like watching the evening news on TV where everything is very negative.
    Get with it in a positive way or find another source of employment.
    May the New Year improve your outlook on the foodservice business.  Good luck!"
7460

New Year Weekend
2009 - 2010

Happy Birthday
Vance Allred (former VP Sales Alliant Foodservice, now with Cereal Ingredients, Inc)
January 1st

re:  7447:  "Yeah the team of MG and SP really know what is needed for their pockets first. LEGACY FS ALLIANCE is a for profit company. What were they thinking when they did not establish themselves as a member owned Co-Op, like UniPro and FAB, who at least realize the importance of taking care of the ones that brought them to the dance so the group as a whole will survive, and can compete as closely as possible against the buying powers of USF and SYSCO.  Giving  this new nonmember owned group a year at the most to die out. Putting members first is the only way and that is being a member owned co-op first and foremost. It would be in the best interest of all independents to form one large co-op and my bet is that will happen with UniPro at the helm."
7459

p & g rejects cat paw dusters

re: USF PHILLY/7455 -  "Don't you know? This is part of KKR/CD&R's master plan. They can't wait for McGettigan to leave. KKR will put the most inept, worthless person in charge, forcing anyone with integrity to leave. Look at La Mirada. Our prez has gotten rid of anyone who wasn't willing to follow his vision of being Sysco Junior. KKR will destroy USF division by division. Be afraid! Be very afraid!!"
7458

re: 7452, 7453, 7454 - "Jon wants to be Sysco so bad, he can taste it. If Jon took a quick left, Fred would break his nose. Mike and Robert (aka Dumb and Dumber) do their stupid act at the sales meetings. Nobody respects them or even listens to them. Battle of the Beef? STAR-D. We haven't any kind of decent management here in years. 
    We've hired who knows how many people from Sysco. They've all told us how Sysco operates. Jon, Fred, Mike and Robert continue to think that cute slogans and fancy powerpoint presentations can motivate the salesforce. Meanwhile Sysco drivers use bar code scanners to check in their orders, and print out clean invoices on the truck.  We have a warehouse receiving crew that can't tell the difference between frozen and refrigerated products.
    2011 is the 100th anniversary of S.E. Rykoff & Co. It's hard to think of all the poor decisions that landed us here."
7457

re: USF SAN DIEGO - "I figured out what's wrong with San Diego. Two words: Boyd Malloy. He was a waste of space at La Mirada, and he's evidently doing a bang-up job at Webb. So much for USF's senior management training program."
7456

colorado minimum wage drops

re:  USF PHILLY:  "Corporate Help!!!!!  You can't let McGettigan retire.  If that pompous ass Ernie ever takes over this place will really go to hell. Ernie is a Corporate Climber who abuses everyone at this Branch.  He is HATED by everyone but tries to act like a big shot.  I don't understand how Mcgettigan puts up with him.  Please---Please don't let this happen."
7455

re:  7452 & 7453:  "The only broadline distributor charging a fuel surcharge in So Cal is Useless Foods of La Mirada. They need the extra $$ to put to the bottom line since Jon & Fred are loosing people and business. They'll never make their sales plan for 2010.
Secondly, regarding 7452, Rob was a useless pile of donkey dung and Andy who knows'. It seems out of the 3 regional Sysco has, he was the only one who could speak logically and has a decent appearance.
    Don't get your panties all bunched up. Sysco wouldn't hire Fred, Jon, Robert or K-Mart Mike to load trucks. I laugh in your face if you think Sysco wants to be like Useless. You'll never get a new system and you'll continue to do exactly what you've been doing for the past 100 years. Failing. You'll be sold and you'll start all over again with false hopes and promises.
    I just heard they found a bunch of 10 key adding machines and rotary phones from the old Rykoff building. Jon's trying to cut and save money.
    Good luck at your failures to get into the 20th century. Still getting those green bar reports?"
7454

re:  FUEL CHARGES:  "I would like to ask the group a question. Which distributors have fuel surcharges and which do not. How much is your location charging."
7453

mmm mmm mmm ... ammonia treated beef

re:  7450:  "Neither Rob or Andy were anything special with us and are simply being recycled over at SYSCO which is a gain for us.  Our leaders are set on making us like SYSCO while the big secret is that managment at SYSCO has been in awe of our greatness and wants to make SYSCO like us.  Maybe we really are not that bad and just need to have Jon, Fred, Mike and Robert apply for jobs at SYSCO.  They will take them too and that would be a great thing for us.  Oh great ones please apply and find your happiness at SYSCO like Rob and Andy.  We are getting better, are better without them, will be better without the Fab Four and with patience it will happen.  Our systems will be fixed when someone buys us and until then we go to work with what we have and you know my New Year wish."
7452 

re:  APPETIZERS INC:  "To Anon 7436:  Since Heinz totally screwed this business up they have now sold that part to a company out of Wisconsin headed up by Pat O'Ray.  I believe their company is called "Golden Country."  This new company is already off down the path of screwing things up.  They have taken away their direct reps; the people that made "Appetizers" the great company it once was.
    They have withdrawn all of their programs.  I guess they do not realize there is competition in this category.  Heinz screwed it up so bad and lost a lot of business and now Golden Country will definitely lose a lot more.
    Stupid, stupid, stupid!  Why would any company purchase a company that was very successful and then try to change it all around (referring to Heinz)?
    Oh, well...Happy New Year!"
7451

re:  SYSCO L.A. VS. USF L.A.:  "Just an observation...  Why can people leave US Foods and do well, while we have recruited some strong people from them and they die here or are forced out.    Andy Moreno was considered a loser by Jon and Fred and is now VP of Sales at Sysco at LA.  Rob Resnick is the VP of Sales at Sysco Ventura.  Ernie Saucedo was a DSM at US, now he is doing well at Sysco LA.  It doesn't matter if you like or hate these guys they are holding strong positions with the number 1 company in the Industry.  Maybe we should listen more to the Sysco people than fight them.  Alan brought a lot of business from Sysco and I know he could be difficult to deal with but I think he really wanted to improve this place, but we were able to wear him down until he went back.  Maybe Jon, Fred, Mike, and Robert are the losers.  US LA will never succeed until these four people are gone.  We have a policy in our management of keeping weaker people around for job security.  Jon keeps Fred who is weak and Fred keeps Mike and Robert who are only there because they outlasted everyone and say yes to everything that comes out of Fred’s mouth.  Mike and Robert were awful on the street.  There are still customers who talk crap about them and their lack of follow up.   We also have the weakest DSMs and now they can hide behind their computers instead of taking some of the heat from my customers.  We say Sysco has great systems, when are we going to improve our system..."
7450

Happy Birthday
Michael Bennett (Sysco, Central Florida)
Ed Blumenthal (Ex Sysco South Florida Guru of Non-Foods)
Mike Crispi, Jr. (USF, Livermore)
Gary Raybould
December 31st

December 30, 2009
Wednesday

Happy Birthday
Steve Ingermann (VP of Ops, Sysco East WI)
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

kraft so awa$h in cash they can sponsor explosion

tavern on the green dead

re:  KRAFT INSANITY:  "Has the Kraft CEO totally lost it's mind - or is she going to fund this project from her multimillion dollar bonus or cut more employee benefits to fund this project while at the same time trying to raise funds for the Cadbury take over? Prime example of throwing away good money . Just what in hell is going on at Kraft? I have not seen a Kraft rep in months? Have they gone broker in food service? does anyone have a clue?"
7449

kraft & cadbury still dancing

December 29, 2009
Tuesday

Happy Birthday
Tom Jones (Sysco L.A.)
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

re: USF SAN DIEGO/7446 - "Get a clue, 7446, KKR/CD&R doesn't care what goes on in any of the USF Divisions. Read the comments about Albany (the poster child for dysfunctional companies), La Mirada, Philadelphia and others. If they won't come out to fix La Mirada, what makes you think they give a s**t about San Diego? USF Clifton Park is being sold to PFG. Doyou think they'll stop there? They will make more money from selling off bits and pieces of USF than if they fix the problems and turn everything around."
7448

re:  LEGACY FS ALLIANCE:  "It is about time that a new Distributor Group came on the scene that addresses today's needs. We won't mention names, but you know who is way too big, and thinks they can take care of every distributor in America. In truth, they are stodgy and slow, and only focused on the rebate needs of the huge distributors, like PFG and Ben E. Keith. Mid sized independents need someone to look out for them and help them to compete. Hooray for Legacy."
7447

December 28, 2009
HappyMonday!

pilgrim's pride exits bk

re:  USF SAN DIEGO:  "News flash---the division’s long time produce buyer left the building this week for Sysco.  He was the only buyer respected by the sales force.  He was passionate about produce and an asset to the division!  This division doesn’t need to fire people, the good ones leave on their own to go work for Sysco, i.e. it's reverse Darwinism at this division.  Despite the BS, the reality is nothing good has happened at this division in the last several years.  When is someone at corporate going to wake up and realize there is a problem?  HELLO is anyone listening or is this just a company of monkeys, “Hear no evil, see no evil, and speak no evil”.  By the time corporate figures out this division has a problem it will have already circled the toilet bowl.  What’s the point of regional and corporate overhead if they can’t even identify a problem before it’s too late?  Here’s a challenge to all the KKR/CDR Ivy league morons, come out here and find out how many GOOD employees and customers have left and determine if the BS you’re hearing is consistent with reality.  If you think it is please let us know so we’ll know it time for the rest of us to leave.   Will the last Joseph Webb employee leaving the building please turn out the lights!"
7446

Happy Birthday
Scott Baggett  (Vice President Sysco New Mexico)
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

re: USF SAN DIEGO/7440 - "The people at Sysco San Diego must be laughing their asses off at this move. Does senior staff come to work on the short bus?  Is USF San Diego the next Division to be sold?"
7445

"Land of the Free" ... ca bans restaurant transfat

Christmas Weekend
2009

Happy Birthday
Jay Aldy (Holmes Foods, Inc.)
Charlie Hochman (John Sexton & Co....Charlie will be 84 in 2009!)
from the 26th

usf layoffs

re:  LA. VS L.A. - "A couple of other reps left the same time Alan Michaelson did. One left because most of his route was Alan's old customers. Why the other left, I don't know. He was here less than a year and was writing maybe $20,000 a week. One of Susana's biggest accounts has a three-year contract with USF. She had nothing much except for the Cuban chain. Lots of once-a-month customers and credit problems. Corky left before he was fired. He didn't open one account while at Walnut. He didn't take much when he left USF anyway."
7444

chefs #1 in unhealthy list

re:  PFG SPRINGFIELD HIRING:  "PFG Springfield is looking for Qualified Sales people. Paul G, please ask around Sysco Albany I know for a fact, there are many looking to get out."
7443

re:  PFG:  "So Paul G will be with the new Performance Group location in Albany. Go get em Paul.You will have the support of the sales force."
7442

re:  ALLENTOWN'S NEW COMMISSION SCHEME - "That's just brilliant! Raise your prices to make more money. Don't worry if your customers start to question why their prices are jumping. Don't bother complaining to management when your orders start to shrink and your competitors' products start showing up on your customers' shelves. You obviously aren't cut out for this business. Sounds like a Bernie Madoff is your Division President. I hope this isn't part of KKR/CD&R's new strategy."
7441

Happy Birthday
Joe Hurtado (Sysco Los Angeles)
from the 24th

December 23, 2009
Wednesday

re:  USF SAN DIEGO:  "Stupid is as stupid does!  News flash the division rehires a sales manager who left and went to a customer only to move the business to Sysco.  Yes that’s right the guy stabs his own division in the back and get’s rehired after pulling a Judas Iscariot.  How dumb or desperate is this? LOL.  Seem to unbelievable to be true???"
7440

December 22, 2009
Tuesday

re:  L.A. VS. L.A.:  "Who cares about Moreno.  He did nothing accept kiss Jon & Fred's ass to make them feel good.  We know who paritially filled that void once he left.  I heard Vasta was demoted to a sales rep and got no support from his boss.  Corky just did not perform and never took much from us.  I have not heard much about how Suzanna is doing and I heard rumblings we either lost another one to them or are bout to. 
Anonymous"
7439

Happy Birthday
Brian Crowe (VP of Sales, Del Monte Foods...a self-made man!)
Jim Lankford  (Sysco West Coast)
Scott Lesner (Sysco San Francisco)
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

re:  LORD F:  "Post 7428....I always thought Kevin McTampon a.k.i. McAlpine was the real Lord Farquaad. Have a nice Christmas my fellow X-Sysco co-workers."
7438

December 21, 2009
HappyMonday!

fs meets marijuana (officially)

re: 7427/SO BAY SAM - "Well, it's nice to hear that stupid decisions are not the sole province of JJ and FJ. Now you know how we felt at La Mirada when all the Nestle's products were hidden because Nestle's decided not to pay marketing (extortion) money to USF. If you give me a list of your customers, I will be more than happy to get them what they need. "
7437

re:  APPTIZERS:  "Who bought Appetizers & Inc from Heinz?"
7436

re:  USF CLIFTON PARK:  "It's official, USF CP will become a PFG house by the end of the 1st quarter 2010. I have a little birdie, that has stated the deal is done and blessed. Sysco Halfmoon, look out PG is coming back to town. How ironic, the area that PG built,coming back to conquer once again."
7435 

con-agra $ up

December 19 & 20, 2009
The Weekend!

If you'd like a Christmas or New Year message posted, please email with the SUBJECT LINE OF "CHRISTMAS."  You can use this link.  NOTHING NEGATIVE WILL BE POSTED IN THE GREETING SECTION.

re:  ALLENTOWN'S NEW COMMISH:  "Allentown's new Commission Plan  ...Here is a recap of last weeks sales meeting:
    Our new plan is better. It really is guys and gals. It really is better. We had to start bumping up our pads to offset the more money we are going to give you but we promise the new plan is better. We have run all of the computer models and this new plan will pay you more money.
    Lets say however that you happen to be in the SILENT minority and maybe you will not be making more money no problem just gets your margins up. Our new plan is better it really is. And if you can't get your margins up right away we will work with you for a few weeks. Just get your margins up!  If that doesn't work? We will deal individually with you. Our good sales people really should have no problem with this. The rest of you. Well maybe you should look for new careers. "
7434

re:  PFG NORTHCENTER:  "Hey 7419 keep on guessing and I am sure that the person you are referring to will get a good laugh out of the fact that once again you are clueless as to who is keeping you in check. The last time I heard that person is working with a number of volunteer groups raising money and awareness about the hungry, the homeless and those in need of services provided by hospice. I will advise him of your ill will towards him and I am sure he will find it in his heart to forgive you and your mean spirit. Now back to the fact that this just goes to show that you are not a leader nor will you ever have the respect of the sales force because you continue to bad mouth people behind their backs. I am sure that you would find it hard to find someone in the sales force that has something bad to say about that person.
Greg when you are confronted with a possible formation of a union within the ranks and if you only knew of how many people are worried about their jobs since all they hear from management is lies you might wake up and realize that you have a very big problem on your hands. Tell your employees that what is being written here is not a lie. It seems as though your VP of sales is trying to make a mockery of the truth in an effort to quell the truth.
Have a wonderful Holiday!!!"
7433

Happy Birthday
Terry Castelluccio (USF, Phoenix, AZ)
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

re: 7424/GRAYLAND - "Please fill us in on this guy. Is he a foodservice guy or some know-nothing put in place by our new masters? How many people have left Corona since he has been there?"
7432

re:  THE PLOWBOY:  "7423....best post ever.  thank you"
7431

re:  SYSCO SAC:  "Dear Santa, here is my Christmas list for 2010:
    A new VP of Sales with a new message.
    A new Director of program sales with complete sales and program knowledge.
    A president with blinders off for the VP and Program person.
    Since Christmas is a time for giving. I want to give Ana a class on rudeness and how to receive and then answer her phone.
    I want to give Brett a new job somewhere far far away.
    Please Santa come see us in Sacramento! Merchandising really could use your help with these request."
7430

Happy Birthday
Frances Fox (Procurement VP, Premier)
Cappie Hose (Exec VP, Grant Hanson Metro)
from the 18th

re:  LORD F:  "Lord Farquaad is the comically short-in-stature, ruthless ruler of the huge castle of Duloc. Several times in the film it is commented that, in Duloc's towering height, Farquaad may be compensationg for something."
7429

re: LORD FARQUAAD  - "7422, ask you grandkids to see their Shrek DVD. Lord Fahrquar is a little runt with delusions of grandeur."
7428

re:  SYSCO L.A.:  "What "genius" at Sysco LA decided we needed to switch our jams and jellies to Welch's brand ? This is about the least preferred brand out there.They put Knotts and Dickensons in the back of the book,available only by special request.This inane action has "ticked" off a lot of my customers who have bought Knotts ,Smuckers,and Dickinsons forever.During these tough economic times,do we really want to have our customers looking to our competitors for these products.Welch's must of made them a "hellva deal"on their products in order to get them to switch.
    As a long time loyal Sysco employee,and stock holder,it worries me that poor decisions like this are being made.
P.S. Great decision on the changes to the "Hot Shot" procedures.It was about time !
So.Bay Sam."
7427

Happy Birthday
Stephanie M. Posada (Packing/UPC, Premier Foodservice of America)
from the 16th

December 15, 2009
Tuesday

If you'd like a Christmas message posted, please email with the SUBJECT LINE OF "CHRISTMAS."  You can use this link.  NOTHING NEGATIVE WILL BE POSTED IN THE GREETING SECTION.

re:  LA MIRADA:  "USFoods is number 2 for a reason. Sysco pays some expense money US none, Sysco has a retirement programs US nothing, Sysco deals with #1 manufacturers US deals with #2. Amazing. Just wait til they eliminate dart for win cup ( ala Alliant) or drop Hormel for Sonny’s pork palace. It’s in the pudding."
7426

December 14, 2009
HappyMonday!

Happy Birthday
Ed Blankenship (USF Phoenix)
Keith Dougherty (Monarch Foods)
Bill Hayes (Sysco Driver in KC)
Rocky Rotella (Rotella's Italian Bakery)
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

re:  SYSCO BOSTON:  "you people inside the warehouse are spending way too much time in the bathroom. so by order of Lord Farquaad, adult diapers will now be handed out with every triple pallet jack. a payroll deduction for the diapers will be taken, but it will be at cost and your 5th day will be free.
PS the Huggies will cost you more."
7425

cadbury fights kraft

December 12 & 13, 2009
The Weekend!

re:  7417:  "The president or whatever is title is at Corona, Grayland.  The guy's ego is too big to be stuck at that back water division.  He's the guy responsible for implementing the "SOCAL" plan and theoretically JJ reports to him."
7424

re:  DRIVERS AND COMPLAINERS:  "As a retired driver with over 40 yrs experience in wholesale delivery, I think I qualify to comment on "Your first goal should be to do a good job."  Nearly all the drivers I have worked with bend over backwards (sometimes it feels the other way) to satisfy and help our customers as best we can. Now with computers routing trucks for the most efficient delivery times everything should simply fall off the back of the truck. Until the trucks loaded late, invoices are not printed, extra heavy traffic for some unknown reason, chef walks away to answer the phone (rude) in the middle of checking your order, (usually some salesman trying to get his order, but the phone is more important than the person standing there) no lunch delivery, usually an hour to hour and half (would have been there in time but truck was late loading), stop your delivery to move the truck so some car can back out, drive around the block however many times looking for a place to park, (every notice how many cars are parked in loading zone?), and the list goes on and on.  Plus if you take into consideration all the company and management regulations required, it's a wonder the truck gets emptied every day. Lock your truck, close the back door every time you leave the truck, surprisingly this adds upon to a lot of none productive time over the coarse of the day.  Have the invoiced checked and signed. Most of the stops I made, invoices were rarely checked. I was careful in picking the order, and digging product out for stop 4 on the 6 and 7 pallet. Chefs don’t have extra time and neither did I. Now throw the DOT regs on top of that with a supervisor looking at every minute the computer logs during the day, your more concerned with loosing your job over driving one minute longer or clocking in before a full 10 hours pass from your clock out. You know state laws require a break after 2 hrs and a lunch between 4 and 6 and a second break after that. So if you start at 5 your suppose to stop at 7 for a break, between 9 and 11 for lunch. I've now stopped and taken a break and lunch during prim delivery hours and now I'm at a stop that doesn't receive at noon. But that's not my problem! Most drivers don't do that, we work until the trucks empty, moving stops when we have to, then take some time to eat afterword. So please think twice before harping on your drivers.
The Plowboy"
7423

Happy Birthday
Betty Lawrence (Sysco, L.A.)
Kelly Polechko (formerly Hunt-Wesson)
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

re:  BOSTON SYSCO:  "Being an Ex- employee at Hallsmith-Sysco of 20+ years I have to laugh my ass off at all the crying that still goes on there. This, That, & everything, Now it's losing the 4/10 work week. I for one would be pissed, But now....I don't care. All you can say is, "If i had the chance to vote Union, I'd say yes."  Well pal, It's too late now, So SUCK IT UP BOYS, You had your chance for a union.
    Keep up the good work Chuck F. (AKI) Lord Farquaad, Which by the way...I don't get that name."
7422

re:  IFH:  "All of us here at IFH are just waiting on the next ax to fall.  You can hear a pin drop in the office. Everyone is afraid to say anything, while "Junior Samples Davis" yacks it up with his boy Rick.
    This used to be a great place to work, a family owned company. They used to say nobody ever was layed off. Now, it will be interesting to see who is left standing.
Everyone is looking elsewhere. Better get out before they kick us out.
    MDI folks, you gotta be loving this.
    A lot of good people are gone thanks to MDI and Davis."
7421

re: DRIVERS AND COMPLAINERS - "It's easier to replace a sales rep, than a driver or warehouse worker. Sales reps are "at will" employees. If they haven't met their benchmarks as far as growing their business and getting on commission, they can be let go. Some people aren't cut out for outside sales. It's a lot harder to get rid of union people. They literally have to kill someone to be fired. There are drivers who work at their own pace, regardless of the schedule they have to meet. There are warehouse people who don't work as hard or as fast as they should.
    They have to written up several times before they can be terminated."
7420

Happy Birthday
Lynn Battista (PFG/AFI, Elizabeth, NJ)
Alexander Garcia (USF...& 19th Yr. USF Employee in 2004)
Tony Presutto (Nasco gourmet Foods L.A.)
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

December 11, 2009
Friday

re:  PFG NORTHCENTER:  "Hey 7411, I will cut you some slack since you have been un-employeed for 5 months. I hear Maine's may be looking for a beverage specialist. All I know is I am not living off the system, I am contributing to the fund that allows you to troll this site and talk smack about others."
7419

Happy Birthday
A. Michael Elges (Foodservice Legend )
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

December 9, 2009
Wednesday

re:  HALLSMITH:  "I gotta tell ya, Reading all the news about you're troubles with Chuck F. @ Hallsmith cracks me up. All of us (x-employees) are loving it. Now he's taking away the 4/10's work week from you guys, I'm sorry to hear that, But what are you going to do. Now to the guy or guys crying about not having the Union to watch you're backs, Well tough sh t !!! You had your chance & you blew it, So now....Just suck it up. hahahaha. PICK, PICK, PICK. !!!"
7418

December 8, 2009
Tuesday

re: WHO'S COMING TO LA MIRADA? - "7410, if you know something,  please tell us. Should we start updating our resumes? Calling our buddies at Sysco, Goldberg or Roma?"
7417

re:  VASTA:  "The word coming out of Southern California what ever happen to the award winning Author who wrote about Daddy N Me Cookies (AKA Bob Vasta)
     We need an update it's be too long are you still alive. Please let all of us know what's been going on!
 Sincerely
 Sysco LA"
7416

Pearl Harbor Day
2009

re:  DRIVERS AND COMPLAINERS:  "It's amazing how so many complaints are entered from drivers and other disgruntled sales reps.  Don't you understand that the reason a company exists is to make a profit.  If a company doesn't make money, there will be no place to work.  Poor management is not the same as cutting costs.  If a salesman, after being given time and training to learn the job, doesn't make it; then the rep has to be replaced.  The same goes with a driver.  They need to be productive and do the job in a profitable way.  Messages from drivers make it sound as if the company exists so that the driver can work.  It doesn't work that way.  Sorry about that.  Your first goal should be to do a good job."
7415

Happy Birthday
Jerry Dugan (PFG)
John Kohlman (Kohlman Sales Company)
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

December 5 & 6, 2009
The Weekend!

re:  SHAMROCK:  "Re: Garry Pushback Shamrock Foods Co ( Arizona ) There he goes again trying to make Regional, Someone is going to Cabo and Pushback is prying open that persons office trying on the desk which is tooooo big for pushback. Pushback got to realize, everyone is not a mini pushback. Does this man ever sleep; we guess not, he waits for 7a.m. than starts calling everyone. Remember, a vote for pushback, is a vote for perfection.
To soon to worry"
7414

re:  BOSTON SYSCO:  "Once again Lord Farquaad took  our family time away by throwing us penny's not worth a trade off. This guy has done nothing but find ways to make our jobs more miserable. We just lost our 4/10 program to work 5 days? big deal we gain another sick day with two holidays but lost 52 days off. If I had my chance over again I would have voted in the union. So tell me fred mr family man. How do you allow the lord to take something as big away when the night manager Chris and his side kick work 4 days and can't be found when there. I see take from us and pad the guys that do nothing but eat pizza and smoke allnight a 4 day week.
shrek"
7413

Happy Birthday
Joe Buckner (RSM PYA/Monarch, Raleigh, NC)
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

re:  FASTA THAN VASTA:  "Ol' Bobby Boy took another hit with 1/2 his district quitting! Looks like M.A.'s are leaving Fasta than Vasta!"
7412

re:  PFG NORTHCENTER:  "Hey # 7395 learn proper grammar before you send an e-mail to this site.!!! The word is scientist which you are not!!! And we all know that companies have been known to give up areas that are not profitable. How is Northcenter doing with regard to their goal this fiscal year? When was the last time you did make a goal?"
7411

re:  LA MIRADA 7399:  "If you’re unhappy with J.J., I can guarantee you’ll be unhappy with the region’s publically appointed replacement.  If you think things can’t get worse, they can.  If you think J.J.’s ego is big, there is one bigger. If you think J.J. has ADD, you haven’t seen anything yet.  As hard as it might be to believe, in less than a year after J.J. leaves you’ll be praying to have him back…there is someone worse waiting in the wings!"
7410

Happy Birthday
Larry "Skippy" Kutno (SYSCO West Coast Florida)
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

re:  7391:  "In response to 7391, stop your complaining and get to work.  I am a driver for Halfmoon, and proud to say so.  I'm sure you are one of those drivers in the mornings that seems to know it all.  With the economic uncertainty of today,  be glad you have a job.  If you have to dig for product, separate product for your upcoming stops, and dig.  I'm sure corporate has better things to do then to listen to you.  If you are so unhappy with your job, leave; maybe we could get some of the better drivers back from layoff."
7409

re: LA MIRADA/7389 - "That's brilliant, Jon. Cut inventory to the bone. Especially, this time of year. Combine that with a purchasing department that is understaffed and clueless. Is it any wonder that half the sales force is at the warehouse everyday doing will calls.? Any volunteers for Jay's position? Let's pick someone who knows NOTHING about COP! Then you can fire that person when they screw up. If anyone from USF Corporate or KKR/CD&R reads this site, they will see how screwed up USF is. Pick a division: La Mirada, Alabany (an Inside Food staple), Philly, or Boston. They all have major problems. Good luck to KKR/CD&R taking this pig public or selling it off in pieces. Do you think anyone else wants our problems?"
7408

re:  CAREER WITH SYSCO:  "I just retired after a wonderful 27 year career with Sysco.  You can say what you want, but Sysco did not get its leadership role by sitting on its behind.
    Employees who seem to be dissatisfied with Sysco do not want to work to achieve top results.  If you are in sales and do not have the goal of taking out the competition, you will not make it.  You need to have the passion that shows you want it all.  Believe me, there are an awful lot of sales people who are very successful because they are of the old school, which says:  "You work hard and you get rewarded."
    The world does not owe you a living.  You must work hard to make it happen, and you can become a very wealthy employee.
    After 40 years in the foodservice business the distribution side is still the money-making side of foodservice.
    If you are one of the complainers, you need to find another occupation.
    Good luck."
7407

Happy Birthday
Mike Nicholls (Herspring, Inc., NorCal)
from the 3rd

December 1, 2009
Tuesday

giant burger appears on lawn

Happy Birthday
Pete Allison (formerly SYSCO WEST COAST FLORIDA)
Donald Patch (former driver and sales associate for S.S. Pierce, Kraft, Alliant & USF)
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

November 26, 27, 28, 29, 2009
   Happy Thanksgiving

re: USF SOCAL/CINDERELLA - "Unfortunately this fairy tale will not have a happy ending. There is no Prince Charming coming to see if the glass slipper fits. The is more like Friday the 13th. Jon is Jason killing off anyone who dares to have an opinion other than his."
7406

re: USF-LA JON'S MESSAGE 11/25/09 -  "Jon, great message! If we're doing so good, how about re-hiring Mike, Chris J, Saundra and Kris O?"
7405

re:  7388:  "re:  OLD ALBANY USF SALESMAN: Yes, Ed Carpino is still around. He works for Sysco, not sure if he covers Dutchess."
7404

re:  ED CARPINO:  "Ed Carpino is working for SYSCO Albany, a much better company with far better service than US Albany.  Speed, and Taggart, you both suck, you pieces of...!"
7403

re:  REINHART:  "Rumor has it that Rob “Waldo the Wingman” Waldman will become General Manager and Jeff Gitomer will become the new sales manager at the Shamokin location by first quarter 2010.   Can anybody verify this rumor???
Anon"
7402

re:  USF BOCA:  "Could it be true ? B. Hill FINALLY let go ? What about the one who covered him all those years G. Baldino ? Sounds like the end of an era . Anyone with info please share.
BUSTED IN BOCA"
7401

Happy Birthday
Tom Buckingham (old SER, Fresno)
J. W. Teager (old SER - Fresno)
Jerry Viviano (Hitchin Post Meats, Kansas City)
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

re:  FSA:  "whats going on with fsa ??"
7400

re:  LA MIRADA:  "Jon, thanks for the crappie lunch today and the even more difficult to swallow was the even less tasteful explanation  on the lay offs and Jay & Brent leaving. Jon your just a bad leader. I have seen people come and go and your the reason. You can't focus on the basics or even stay focused for more then 10 min, you have ADD. You force us to reduce our inventories every year then after we do we start shorting customers then you throw us under the bus. YOU are the boss, YOU are responsible for what goes on. You know Harry does not know what he is doing as does everyone in the food community. Jon GET it or GET OUT. We have to have inventory for our customers period. We USF corporate doesn't see through you I don't know. I can only hope your days are numbered. please remember you only have 7 buyers, yeah 7, GET IT? we can only do so much!
- Anon"
7399

re:  USF SOCAL:  "Cinderella is a well-known classic folk tale embodying a myth- element of unjust oppression/triumphant reward.  In the modern-day USF SOCAL take on the classic story of Cinderella, the plot involves the LA, Corona, and San Diego divisions with region playing the part of the step-mother.  In this adaptation of the classic story, the first act begins just after the implementation of the “SOCAL Plan”.  LA, playing the part of Cinderella, is given the burden of making the plan work, while the favored ugly “sisters” sit around getting fatter and uglier.  Resented by her step family for you beauty, Cinderella is dressed in rags and forced to do the dirty work, “Growing Sales and EBITDA”, while the sisters do nothing and demand Cinderella’s assistance.  With the passage of time, continual harassment and negative propaganda, the USF community forgets about Cinderella’s original beauty and even believes she is the source of the “families” problems.  Hoping to avoid responsibility and receive the KKR reward, Cinderella isn’t taken to the ball by her “family”.  Like pigs with lipstick the family goes to the ball leaving Cinderella behind.  Fortunately, as fate would have it, Cinderella’s fairy godmother, i.e. someone with a brain at Corporate, hasn’t been deceived by the propaganda, and Cinderella is transported to the ball in her original beauty.  The story ends, as it should, with Cinderella getting the reward and her step family being called out and receiving their just reward….  Here’s to fairytales coming true."
7398

hotels falling behind on payments

re:  BOSTON SYSCO BABY:  "First I would like to say congratulations to mike m for his newly born baby. Someone please tell me that he didn't name the baby Chris?"
7397

re:  SYSCO BOSTON:  "OH sysco boston sit down and shut up u had a chance to go union and u blew it big time and now u r sysco's bitches they will do  with u as they  please and u will like it."
7396

re:  PFG SPRINGFIELD/NORTHCENTER:  "Some rocket science posted that. Here is a news flash, DOT regulations limit the number of hours a driver can be on the road. When there is more then 9 hours distance between Springfield and the northern most part of Northcenter, the hours don's add up. That is like saying Sysco is going to close Westbook and service Mass, NH and Maine out of Hallsmith... go back to collecting un-employment."
7395

Happy Birthday
Marie Kouri (USF, Denver)
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

November 25, 2009
Wednesday

sysco closing warehouse

nestle buys vitality

re:  7374:  "That would be Saul on both counts. Haag is the Lamest Duck we have ever had in L.A..
Anon"
7394

Bill McClain      We are sad to report that Bill McClain has passed away.      Bill was very active in the foodservice industry, having retired from Master Foodservice (Uncle Ben's Foodservice) where he was the Southern Regional Sales Manager for over twenty years.      After his retirement he worked in the brokerage business in Georgia.      Bill will be greatly missed by his many friends and co-workers.

re: NOV 13 ALLENTOWN - "This site is read by the senior management of most foodservice companies. Hopefully USF Corporate and KKR/CD&R will be visiting La Mirada soon. Maybe they're working their way West. Cleaning out management as they go. Let's hope we don't have to wait too long."
7393

re:  MAINES:  "This is a copy of the email I sent to Maines Paper and Foods after  I was let go as the beverage specialist of the last 7 years.  I have deleted specific names so that you may make it easier to post.
    For 7 years I bled Maines.  I sold, coffee, juice, I correctly priced the coffee my first day on the job, I increased the equipment /service profit, I redesigned the packaging, I made Maines into a coffee distributor.  I asked to be promoted because I wanted to make my career with Maines.  I created maines retail coffee package. I wrote up a job description for a Maines Specialist Director.  I tripled the foodshow sales.  I wrote a 10 page specialist beverage business plan for 2009 while everyone else wrote 2 pages.  Customers loved me to the point that they gave me a free nights stay in their inn.  I made sure account managers had everything they needed.  I closed 4 accounts in the last 2 weeks for 1 single account manager.  I get sh!t canned because Brown (vp of purchasing) has hired the US Foodservice Beverage Specialist because he needs a job and its his buddy, while I'm still employed as the Maines Beverage Specialist,  the new guy will be starting Nov. 30th.  No severance package, no thanks fred, you quadrupled our beverage business and we called you the golden child while you were here.  No opportunity for another position within Maines because I have been such a loyal soldier for 7 years.  I have free lawyers, so I am either going to get a severance package or I am going to cost Maines a lot of money on legal fees because it won't cost me squat.    Am I burning bridges , probably, but when you get banged up the ass for nothing but loyalty and devotion, who cares.  Matt I know you had nothing to do with this.  John I believe you didn't either.  But when you dedicate yourself to a job and this is how you get treated it's BS.  I don't know what Browns problem with me is but I was the best Maines dedicated loyal employee in the company.  Now because the dumb asses that canned me didn't remember to shut down my email, I get to send this all over the company.  Yanowiak, Bednar, Zehner, Chunco, Howland, Bell, Serino, Waselewski, Ambrose, Edwards, Blackman, Reese, Bresee, Powell, Primelo, Jabbour, Manos, Fowler, Weisblatt, Moses, Johnson, Harvey, Mcelligott,  Wygal, Burnette, Distaffen, Herr, Lee, Ross, Forkey, Deesch, Smith, Lasskorn, Thompson, Reardon, Perri, Hizney, Lane, Faulkiner, Aboud, Feldman, Natalie Zehner, Kos, Rozen, Rizzo, Rolo, Brown, Green, Mosher, Yermakova. Niche, Colon, Petrone, Kimball, Dorey, Damon, Greer, Levielle, Sculley, Shakelton, Verbeck, Ladym, Moriarty, Michele Bressi, Grannis, Hitchings, Bennett, Radicchi, Smith, Powell, Dietrick, Piasta, Mcglaughin, Harvey, Ciccone, Koslowski, Murray, Craig, Sadallah,  Kagan, Spangler, Teeter, Crawford, Frederick,  Lello, Blackman,.  If I forgot your name I sincerely apologize.  I didn't have my phone list once they took my computer.  I thoroughly enjoyed working with all of you and I sincerely hope I made you more income.  I was not told why I was let go at all, no reason whatsoever,  but Im sure Mr. Brown can answer that.  I would do anything for Maines and did for 7 years.  Above budget and selling items that I didn't get credit for.  If any of you have any employment leads for me at all I woud be very appreciative.   Thank you all for the last 7 years and I wish you all success.
 F*C*
Also If it matters I am more than happy to work for Maines, as long as they understand what a loyal, dedicated employee is.  Not a pay off your friends, past their prime, unmotivated, money grabbing, I need a job employee.
 Mr. M and Mr. L, thank you for the opportunity to work for Maines. You lost a loyal, hard working, dedicated, employee.  Feel free to check around on that, I was dedicated to Maines!"
7392

re:  SYSCO HALFMOON:  "Sysco Halfmoon. Where is corporate. Why are you not up here doing your jobs. We  have a very inept management team here. They love to push the blame down to the union. Wake up, it's not the union.  Management routes the trucks.  Almost daily we are routed to stops not open yet. We have had these accounts for years people. How long does it take to sink in thru your big heads to correct the routing issues.  Then the day will be much smother with a lot less complaints. It puts drivers behind and pisses off customers and ma's. Example. Why route a driver to an account at lunch when you know the customer will be mad. Remember the customer that threw hot oil on a driver for coming at lunch. People get pissed at your lack of routing skills and take it out on the drivers. Then as an ma we need to once again try to calm the customer down. Stop and think, why are so many drivers behind?? Maybe because we are so far off with times and distance.   CORPORATE ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS LOOK AT THE MANIFESTS. Upset customers start to look elsewhere.  Our trucks are loaded by People on abc pay and routers can't route properly.  So why would a driver want to pay for everyone elses lack of  care and dig all day and wait for places to open at their own expense. Abc would be crazy  or just a way to get them off a drivers back. Get your corporate butts up here and help.  Sysco cares, Yea right, Only about their own personal check. not the company.It's funny how no matter what time you walk out back there is management smoking instead of working.  Here's an idea, Get to work fixing your own problems and stop pushing them onto the people you work with. Ma's and drivers could make a great team if it started with a trans department that listed to their output and acted on it for more than a week or two.  WHERE ARE YOU CORPORATE, Stop believing their lies on the phone, come up and answer the phones in trans for a couple of days, thats how you find out the problems."
7391

USF shuts branch

re: USF WEST/JOHN BALDI - "Respect and integrity" at US Foodservice? Not that I've ever seen."
7390

re:  USF CLEVELAND:  "Well it never fails for the Cleveland division. Towards the end of the year and each department let someone go so that the division can make its number for the year. A little advice for corporate, quit hiring traveling VP'S and Presidents, then your company can run like its suppose too. This action has happen for years and something needs to be done, oh wait the drivers will vote in a union coming up. BYE BYE HG, AW and OS. Go screw up another company."
7389

re:  OLD ALBANY USF SALESMAN:  "I use to have a salesman that worked for U.S.foods about 6 years ago, he worked in Columbia county and in Greene county. his name was Ed carpino, I was wondering if he still worked for a food service company if so could someone direct me to which company he works for. I plan to open up a catering hall in dutchess county and hope to use him if he is still selling.
Thanks Rob"
7388

Thought for today:  Who is Your Real Friend?
This really works!  Try it:
Put your dog and your wife in the trunk of your car and close the lid.  After one hour, open the trunk.  Which one is really glad to see you?

re:  CHENEY BROTHERS:  "Okay Folks, there is smoke, yet to see any fire.  Cheney owes my company a 5 figure balance and we are getting a major run-a-around over payment.  The money has aged way past terms and all we get are stall tactics and “please fax the invoices”, again, and again.
    Then they have the gall to get upset when we have to hold future shipments until payment is made.  “A simple clerical error” we are told but it should not take weeks to clear up a clerk’s error and cut a check.
     This account is so close to collections and they still seem to behave as if nothing is out of kilter.
     Any other suppliers having the same problem?
 “Anon”
7387

re:  USF LA MIRADA:  "After another round of layoffs(inside) JJ comes out in the newsletter to tell us how empowered we are. What a crock! You’re only empowered to ask who has to ok this before I sh(* all over it."
7386

re:  7376:  "I'm always serious. It's part of my charm!
JOE FRIDAY"
7385

Oscar Rosales      Oscar Rosales, owner of Sangria Restaurant, in Hermosa Beach, California, has passed away.      Oscar was a great chef and a great friend.      He was also involved with Towne Restaurant in Manhattan  Beach, and Sutra in Orange County.      Left behind is his loving wife Gladis, and his 18 year-old daughter Angelique.      Oscar will be greatly missed.

re:  JNS FOODS:  "Hard to believe NuCo would be involved in a JNS, I compete against them on a bunch of school and correctional bids. Do not beleive the owners of NuCo would put their company in competition with distributors."
7384

re:  USF PHILLY:  "Whoever put on  the last posting was right that corporate US Food has killed Philly. TheY were wrong about one point,  It wasn't 45,000 cases a week in sales given away.  Its 45,000 cases A NIGHT !!!!!!  What a diaster   New York will never make up for what was sent.  Already rumors that they are screwing up accounts all over the place!  NICE JOB CORPORATE!!!"
7383

re:  USF POMPANO BOCA:  "Can it be true?All USF Pompano employees layed off effective Jan 8, 2010.Tenured warehouse personnel offered 5K and 90 day insurance extension instead of utilizing your best in BOCA. Any word on Boca layoffs or is it all just in Pompano?Certainly couldn't hurt moving guys up the road, as word has it the group in BOCA can't get  the cases out nightly by themselves.With rumors of CBI struggling ( talk about incompetent OPS groups ) why wouldn't you load up your best in one building ?
Perplexed in Pompano"
7382

November 24, 2009
Tuesday

heinz $ off 16%

Happy Birthday
Sandra Larson (School FS, Fremont, CA)
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

November 23, 2009
HappyMonday!

re:  CHENEY BROTHERS:  "Why all of the sudden interest in Cheney Brothers?  So what if they picked up an 8% sandwich chain account to complement their “other” sandwich chain @ 9%.  By the way Cheney, good luck with the Kahala Group!  How are you going to service Georgia, all the way to Atlanta….??
      The rumors here in Florida have them purchased by one National Distributor then another, but why the new concerns from the vendor community?  Is Cheney not paying their invoices on time?  Is Byron taking too much money out for personal pleasures…….inquiring minds want to know!
 “Been Around the Block” "
7381

re: USF PHILLY/7372 - "The people who destroyed Philly are the same bunch of morons (as opposed to Jim Miller's Gang of Idiots) who can't decide how divide Southern California between La Mirada, Corona and San Diego. Business is transferred from La Mirada and then we get blasted because our numbers are down. KKR/CD&R are not interested in helping USF grow. They are only interested in how much they can squeeze out of the next bunch of suckers. To this end, they will continue to force USF to reduce headcount, regardless of how it affects our ability to do business."
7380

November 21 & 22, 2009
The Weekend!

please forgive me for not updating the site this weekend...a good friend died and I have the priviledge of making her funeral arrangements today...life goes on

Happy Birthday
Tim Reha (Delivery Associate, Sysco, Iowa)
Howard Toby (SYSCO, L.A., Non-Food Guru in Huntington Beach)
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

re:  BOSTON SYSCO:  "Houston has to be proud of you Lord Farquaad. You have broke the record for number of injuries and there is still time to add to it. Even have some out because of psychological damage. The youth of today are a soft bunch. Not like you and Fat Pat. No matter how many cases are selected, they can always do more. Loading a truck? They can go faster. And drivers? DOT says they can work 16 hours. Take advantage. Keep pounding away. The gold statue is being built in Lakeville right now. You are everyone's hero."
7379

tyson loses money

re:  NOV 13 ALLENTOWN:  "How much more of this crap do you expect us to buy into ... Your lips move one way and your words say another ... Why was corporate there today? Would they have been there had we not placed our posts using this forum ... Morale continues at an all time low ... The strong get stronger and the rest of the team is being discarded ... Currently the sales force is taking bets which of the staff will be gone first .... Steve, Jeff, Ky or Wayne ... Then again what do you need Randy for if the sales force has been reduced to its current size ,,, How many layers of management do you really need ..."
7378

Happy Birthday
Jeff Lang (Classic Wines of California, Palm Springs, CA)
from the 20th

November 18, 2009
Wednesday

more on PWC...

PWC screws taxpayers and soldiers

Happy Birthday
Marty Black (Great Texas Broker)
Craig Cummings (Ex-Sysco LA and Denver)
from the 17th

re:  USF WEST:  "Here’s to one last hope someone at Corporate recognizes the leadership John Baldi could bring to the organization and they bring him out of retirement.  The region needs someone with his respect and integrity.   JB is a leader.  Swallow your pride and ask for help!  I’m sure you’ll receive a big THANK YOU from a lot of people."
7377

Happy Birthday
Jim Nunan (Specialty Brands Inc.)
from the 16th

November 14 & 15, 2009
The Weekend!

re:  7360:  "Seriously, Joe.
Anon"
7376

re: USF/7362 - "Sounds like this was written by somebody's DSM. Or a TM being sarcastic. Nobody I work with has a "stay at home day." Most of the people I work with only do Linc with a gun to their heads. 90% of what's entered is complete BS. In this economy, being down 12 cases from one week to the next isn't that big of a deal. Maybe part of those 12 cases was toilet paper or smallwares."
7375

There's a new arrival on the Birthday Page.  Add a friend's name (or your own) and see them honored on their special day.

re:  DENNY PREVOST:  "RE: DP Denny Prevost.  I'll give you another WTF. What idiot hired back Jay Liddicote?  Couldn't make it at Sysco, so he went to U.S.  Couldn't make it there so he went into to business with an old customer.  The customer wised up and sent him packing.  Now he's back at Sysco L.A.  WTF ???
(ANON)"
7374

re:  PFG SPRINGFIELD:  "Paul G going to Springfield is just the thing PFGNorthcenter needs to do and that is going out and getting talent instead of golf partners for Bill Bolton. I worked with Paul and he is an outstanding person to work for and with. It is strange that not so long ago he was trying to recruit people from Northcenter to Sysco. Springfield is putting a team in place to take over Northcenter and rid Blackstone of the dead leadership in that location. Have you made a budget yet Bill?
    Northcenter gave Kirk and Jamie their awards this year to keep them from going back to Sysco. It seems that they have had their fill of the famous DSM. Greg you have a mess and a morale problem!!!"
7373

re:  USF PHILLY:  "USF- Philly Its hard to imagine but those people who run this company destroyed the Philly branch. Tom spends 15 years building an organization that is used as a model around the country and these people cover their mistakes by taking 45,000 cases/ week away from it. Wow you guys in Perth Amboy look Great, nice job fellows. Now it is the sales forces job to go find new business so no more dedicated Philly people do not loose their job."
7372

eat more...it's ok

re:  MAINES/ALBANY:  "I hear say that Maines is about to make a big move to re enter the Albany NY market.  Six new TM’s to be hired, going after the high end accounts that are dropping from US.  All this to back up their national account business in the area."
7371

re:  USF BOCA:  "re: USF Boca - yet another round of layoffs at this miserable op-co and JP survives again!!!  How can the most useless, most unethical person in the building continue to make the cut?  Other than chasing business out of the building, what does he contribute?  We find money to pay washed up Sysco reps $120K plus per year but continue for fire the good hard working folks that actually move the cases.  Also, how does RW survive this mess??
ANON"
7370

re:  USF ALBANY:  "Albany has been a complete failure and an embarrassment for long enough, don't you think?  Speed gets in front of managers and tells them that Syracuse is a big market and "we're going to" do this and "we're going to" do that, and where are we today?   He inherited about $20,000,000+  from the Pittston closing and single handed turned it into a debacle and lost just about every single one of the 30 or so reps that came over and the the $20,000,000.  One of them, a big writer doing about $100,000 a week, and no one went to see one single customer.  Every customer went to the competitor that hired the rep.  But if you ask Speed, all the reps needed to go-give me a break!  The turnover in this company has been a damned disaster over the years.  There were about 8 reps in Syracuse recently and now there are 3 with no manager.  Oh I forgot, the manager, another turnover left to sell ice cream-it's an embarrassment.  Maybe he'll get the used car salesman, now a US Foods Albany DSM, to cover the area-very nice guy but....  Who's accountable here?"
7369

human kabobs?

re:  CHENEY FLORIDA:  "Any manufacturers or brokers no what's going on with Cheney Brothers. People are saying they are in a trouble but think it is all BS. Need some feedback from anyone who thinks I am wrong or thinks I am right. Great customer and company to do business with would be a disaster if Sysco is left without Cheney to compete with in Florida."
7368

re:  JNS ENTERING FS:  "JNS a large supplier to goverment is planning on going after Florida foodservice distribution and they owned by a foodservice broker called NuCo, can any spell conflict!"
7367

re:  FLORIDA DISTRIBUTORS:  "I am a foodservice broker and have found out that JNS Foods ( primarily a goverment supplier of food) will be selling large operators in the state of Florida at discounted goverment prices. What I found out was NuCo a Florida broker actually is the owner of JNS Foods, something they have kept quite for obvious reasons. Does not seem right for a broker calling on distributors to be competing with them as well. I admit to be a competitor of NuCo but still seems unethical.
concerned222"
7366

Memorial Day
2009

re:  KRAFT BUYING CHOCOLATE EGG:  "OK  So Kraft wants to buy a Chocolate egg or lay a Giant Egg! Which is it or are they both one in the same? Rumor has it Kraft has inked a deal to sell Maxwell House to Sara Lee  If the Chocolate Egg deal is completed in
    Kraft's behalf and   if Sara Lee is willing to accept the international tax consequences of such a deal. If Kraft is  not selling the coffee division to fund such a yummy deal  what division would be the next best????  Oscar Mayer? Let's hope for all the good folks in food service over at Kraft that the Chocolate Egg deal melts totally away and food service jobs are secure once more until Irene gets another warm fuzzy feeling  for another so called yummy deal. Irene  you need to listen to Warren if you really wish to retire from Kraft as CEO. If this Cadbury pursuit were such a hot deal  not melting in your hands  Nestle would have already had the egg in their basket. Hey - if you miss your shot on Monday - make a commitment to sell two more major brands and go back to the table in 6 months. Then Kraft can be a major contributor to the unemployment  stats in the US while rolling in the chocolate from the UK
ANON"
7365

re:  SYSCO HALFMOON:  "When will be enough ? Sysco Corp posted a 18% gain in profits vs. the same quarter a year ago. Lets see they continue to cut back. No Holiday Turkey or pie for the workforce. Eliminating different options for healtcare . Ray S couldn't manage his way out of a paper bag !  Paul G goes to PFG Springfield, you know it's a matter of time before he come knocking in the upstate market. How many MA's will he take along with him to the new company ? Tom T works his ass off, but is coming up empty, personally I can't wait until Sysco HM get's a taste of it's own medicine, Ray S shame on you. Gail Allen would never of managed the economic downturn the way you have. All I can say is Come 'on man ! You suck"
7364

re:  NORTHCENTER BUDGET:  "So did PFGNorthcenter make their sales budget? How is the Bolton crew doing Year-to-Date? What a sorry excuse for a management team. Greg stop the bleeding and make some serious moves. You will bleed this once fine location to death. Alan Ryan must be devastated and when your big guns in sales decide to leave you have no one to replace them and than you will watch the big accounts either leave in droves and or you will be forced to lower your cost  to keep the business. Morale is sinking!!!"
7363

Happy Birthday
Vince DeCorpo (Founder, International Pacific Seafoods, Inc.)
Jeff Hicks (C&M Foods, Reno)
Dalton Iroselti (retired military, Sometimes FS Writer, DECEASED)
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

November 10, 2009
Tuesday

Happy Birthday
Dale Gerritsen (GBC)
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

re:  USF:  "on my weekly call with my boss, he informed me that one of my accounts was down 12 cases from the previous week.  i quickly jumped into action and sent my "SOS" form in so that my senior management could formulate an action plan to salvage the account.  i pondered the situation at length and decided to get dressed and go see the customer.  normally this was my "stay at home and do linc and reports day", but i felt that this was way to important and a face to face with the account would be best.  on the way to the customer, i stopped and pulled up linc and checked my reports.  i am glad i did, i was able to pinpoint the exact items that were not purchased last week, meanwhile my boss had called them to schedule a cbr.  once i arrived at the account, i pondered how best to handle this delicate situation...why were they buying from a competitor.  after some small talk, i just asked them why they hadn't bought film and dry pinto beans from me last week and he reminded me that he had bought in on these from my d2g flyer a couple of weeks ago!"
7362

Happy Birthday
Michael Pucci (SYSCO, San Francisco, Marketing)
from the 9th

November 7 & 8, 2009
The Weekend!

re:  MICHAEL FOODS:  "Trying to find out what is up with Michael Foods now that they have a new President and COO in place now....  What direction are they going????  I buy from them, not by choice, but because we service too many contract accounts that spec them....  From what I have heard from my Michael Foods Rep/Regional (who is not happy and is looking) things are NOT good there....  From what (s)he have told me the Big Money Investors of Michael Foods are wanting their money and wanting to get out as is Ostrander....  Word on the street is that they will likely be broken up and sold off in pieces....  I have met and dealt in the past with Elliott who is a empty suit and I have not been able to understand how he got to where he is today....  He must have something on his bosses....  Does anyone have a clue as to what is going on there???"
7361

re:  SOCAL 7353:  "Corporate got it right when they tied a can to Les Wong's tail.
    Les worked at Sysco Walnut in the 90's. He was another one of those pukes from the grocery industry who was going to reinvent the wheel in foodservice warehousing and transportation.
    He couldn't find his ass with a swat team & a search warrant, and was a towering jerk to boot.
 JOE FRIDAY"
7360

kraft bids for cadbury

re:  7352/SPEED:  "The clown is at US Albany.  The place is a complete mess.  It's nothing less than chaotic with employee turnover worse than the turnstiles at Grand Central Station.  It almost looks like the policy of US Corporate is to chase out good long time employees and replace them with inexperienced people because it's been happening in Albany for an awfully long time without any consequences to management.  So much for the "retention pillar."  What a joke!"
7359

re:  IFH:  "RW wont last now that  Dave is gone. RS got GD's (MR MDI) ear and got Dave fired. RS is on a mission to be Pres and will run over anyone to get there.
Hopefully corporate will sell us to someone who knows foodservice and not just retail.  Word is we have been shopped but our earnings are not attractive enough to entice a buyer."
7358

re:  USF BOCA:  "   Is Chuck Donelson still at Boca Raton,if not,where is he at now?"
7357

unsafe sysco trucks

re:  SOCAL 7353:  "Les Wong’s position was “eliminated” by the region to bring in a political appointee.   Who knows what the region sees in him…no one else can stand him.  If you understand politics and CYA are the bases for decisions in SOCAL you’ll be able to interpret what’s going on.  Palm Springs business was moved from LA to Corona, so that Corona can show year over year growth in 2010 even though they’re losing business. Same thing is happening in San Diego.  I know it’s hard to believe corporate can’t read though this to realize if the sales go up less than the amount of business transferred you really lost business.  Beyond this is the whole stupidity of transferring business at the beginning of the busy season, oh well what’s one more dumb decision.   San Diego will never get a new warehouse.  The territory forced on them by the SOCAL plan is too small to support the warehouse they have.  There’s no way anyone would spend the $ on a new warehouse.  San Diego will become the next Portland; maybe in 2013 when KKR bails out and the new owners take over. San Diego and Corona are run by political appointees and LA isn’t.  Corona and San Diego are failing, but it wouldn’t be politically correct for them to take the blame, so by default LA either needs to make up for their shortfall or take the blame.  Once again politics and CYA are running SOCAL, not intelligent business decisions. Corporate either doesn't care or has bigger issues, i.e. having Monarch increase the pads."
7356

re:  OLD NEWS:  "The comments about Speed, the Dragon Lady, and the location are old stuff.  It has been going on for years.
     The place is dysfunctional and the competence level of management is at the bottom of any standard of measurement.  Why Speed tolerates the Dragon Lady is a total mystery to everyone that is there now and the hundreds that are not there now.  Of course, Speed likes things in his own image and that may explain the relationship.  The bigger mystery is why corporate has tolerated this dysfunction and this level of competence.  These people are just totally nasty, hateful, and distrustful.  People have been saying they will be let go, they can't last for years.  Get used.  They're there and they will be for a while yet so those of you still there, get used to it and work hard, keep your eyes open, and have your back covered."
7355

re:  DP:  "Denny Prevost???? WTF!!! Another example of great vision! The Guy couldn’t open a paper bag when he was with us last time, now he is in our business development team??  I heard he was fired at Denver, another example of no matter what you do or how bad you are you will always have a home at Sysco LA. Heck we will pay you even more second  time around. Joe did you approve this one?? Enquiring minds would love to know."
7354

Happy Birthday
Bobbi McDonald (SYSCO, Portland)
from the 6th

November 2, 2009
HappyMonday!

Happy Birthday
John Brinkman (Custom Food Products, CT)
from the 5th

re: USF SOCAL - "Sysco and our other competitors must be laughing their asses off at the debacle that is USF SOCAL. Despite all of JJ's and FJ's pronouncements, business still sucks! The latest move was to transfer the Palm Springs people from La Mirada to Corona. All that means is a shorter drive for will calls. Corona still has to bring in a lot of the products that those customers were getting from La Mirada. And La Mirada gets Ruby's. WHOOPPEE!!
    Who hired the guy running Corona? NO SALES EXPERIENCE!?!? Corporate had JJ fire Les Wong so they could bring this clown in. The Sysco reps who came over haven't brought much of their business with them. With so little to differentiate USF and Sysco, why would a customer switch? 10 to 1 most of the Sysco people would go back there in a minute if Dan and Saul would have them.
    San Diego should be moved to a new facility so they can grow. Though with all the experienced people gone, what would be the point? Sysco San Diego (haven't heard much about them lately) will probably have to expand to handle all the new business they're getting.
    Until someone has the balls to come out here and straighten things out, we will be in a downward spiral. Why should La Mirada get the blame for losses in Corona and San Diego? Isn't each division supposed to stand or fall by their own numbers?"
7353

Happy Birthday
Mike Barr (Sysco, Dallas)
from the 4th

re:  PERFORMANCE LETTER:  -  "I'm dying to know which company this clown works for. You mentioned "division" in your post. USF refers to their branches as divisions. Is he one of ours? If so, where?"
7352

Happy Birthday
Chris Caselnova (AFI Foodservice)
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

October 31, November 1, 2009
The Weekend!

serious sauerkraut

re:  BOCA USF:  "OMG JP still there ?Are there any other long timer's still @ this district or did they all go the way of all the good OPS people and bail out on the sinking ship of GB & BH. Whatever happened to the merger of BOCA/POMPANO ? Did the big guys figure out there was nobody in the back @ BOCA capable of running the show ?If they merge you better bring someone in because the GB/BH regime can't get it done here.Sign me,
CYA BOCA STYLE"
7351

re:  CLEVELAND:  "Does anyone out there know of the sales myth of AL Cleveland??  Salesmyth is a new term being bantied around by the "talking heads" at our DC."
7350

Happy Birthday
Greg Godwin (Regional Manager, Pate Dawson Company)
Ken Kallusky (USF L.A.)
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

re:  PFG/SPRINGFIELD:  "Is it true that PFGSpringfield is looking into the posibility of taking over PFGNorthcenter? There large warehouse can handle the increase in business and Blackstone can save money by eliminating sales management as well as countless office people. With sales lagging and morale low at Northcenter this move makes perfect sense. It would also be a way to rid upper management at Northcenter."
7349

re:  IFH:  " IFH Florence and Hickory.  It looks as if the kingdom is crumbling.  Corporate office woke up and fired 50% of their problems, but they have left the other 50% in florence named R.W.  It is a shame that so many good people have left the company, but it is encouraging that the people in Hickory are finally realizing what has been happening the past 3 - 4 years."
7348

re:  USF ALBANY:  "Hey Speedy-what are the chances that you'll tell the axman KM to do an exit interview with Beth Lamay and Bob Gallerie?  You are a piece of...!"
7347

re:  7322/REINHART:  "Well last Fridays sales meeting certainly did not produce any earth shattering news despite what you wrote. The report card for prospects is just another smoke screen to shield management from the real issues. Low morale, inept sales managers and out of stocks are still the norm. Manipulation and deceit reign supreme. Rhiny must be rolling in his grave.there is nothing done at a professional level at this location.  I cannot believe that corporate would send out senior management people for something as rudimentary as this report. Something else must be happening and since Christmas is around the corner maybe we are in store for a big surprise gift. By the way, I do not know who you were alluding  about not being here any more but I am still here.
Anon Frank E. Footer"
7346

re:  SYSCO BOSTON:  "Whats going on at Sysco Boston drivers were first told no raise in June, now we are going out buying two new generators, purchasing snow plowing equipment which we already had and sold!!!!!!!!  Now they are looking to buy property to build a new warehouse but no one seems to know whats going on but its in the newspaper???What are you hiding???? And now they are looking to lay off warehouse!!!!!  And they are continuing to put more and more cases on the trucks, and yet they tell us business is really slow and bad !!!  So tell me who is really paying for all this stuff."
7345

re:  ALLENTOWN:  "Allentown continues to fall ... Our VP Steve N. left a mass voice mail to all of us stating our commission plan will change yet again. This time it will be on par with the other USF centers in our area. (Our costs will not be the same but our commission plan will be) ... The bottom line of his message was those of you who are currently on commission are making money because your margins are up. The rest of you who are on guarantees sell at lower margins. Therefore everyone will be moved to commission or fired!"
7344

Happy Birthday
Jens Burks
Allen Hood (D.D. Reckner Co., Cincinnati, OH)
Irving Myer (USF, Overland Park, KS)
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

re:  7339:  "SOCAL is almost at the point of no return.  What’s a commissioned TM?  There have been so many turnovers in San Diego I doubt there are 5 full commissioned TMs.   The division went from having a seasoned sales force two year ago to having nothing but rookies.  Sysco recruits the seasoned TM and the division hires people with no prior foodservice experience.  It doesn’t take much intelligence to figure out which hiring strategy has the best chance of success.  Corona’s a mess.  They’re trying to combine TMs from LA, SD and Sysco and despite getting millions of street business from SD and LA they continue to lose business.  My guess is no one is on full commission. The former Sysco guys haven’t brought over the business need to be on full commission and it’s been two years since they came over.  The division is lead by a guy with ADHD, no sales experience and an ego the size of Texas.  No one really knows his position; is he the Corona division president or “zone” president for SOCAL. Who reports to whom in the whole SOCAL plan?  LA is expected to make up for the failures in SD and Corona.  SD and Corona are “favored” ones, while LA has become the bastard child.  SD and Corona are praised for their “performance” and LA is signed out for criticism. Their giving national business to SD and more street business to Corona but continue delivering in both areas.  What’s the logic and where is the cost savings?  Who got the benefit and who got the shaft?   There’s more to the sad story, but this is enough to make the point…IT’S NOT WORKING!"
7343

re:  PERFORMANCE LETTER:  "Bill, We think that your idea of handing out performance letters to the sales force is so good that we have written one for you.  Here it is.  Please print, sign it, and give it to anyone at corporate that gives a crap (we know it's hard to find someone but it give it try):
     Bill, you have had a free ride a lot longer than anyone else has ever scammed their way thru this business in a long time.  To your credit, you have managed to deceive not just your subordinates but your superiors as well.  You have had numbers severely manipulated, thanks to your ability to intimidate the VP of Finance just in time for end of month, quarter, and yearly closings  and thus making your bonus.  Congratulations!  Additionally, the division, much at the expense of good business practices, good employees, and good customers, has turned in a good EBITA number each year.  Further, no one in the history of food service has been able to pull the wool over the eyes of corporate for as long as you have.  Finally, you are to be commended for these acomplishments many times over. On the other hand, here are our practical issues with your performance.  You have deceived employees by making many promises that you had no intention of keeping.  You have also cut out all support for sales thus making it almost impossible to perform the sales function other than complete order taking and giving product away which, by the way, any monkey can do including you.  Consequently, morale is lower as compared to any other division in all major distributoion houses in the country.  You have to be the absolute worst judge of talent on the face of the planet.  Come on, Gib Rowe, Chris Taggart?  Oh I forgot, you did mention to the corpotrate guys that John O'Carrol made you hire Gib Rowe.  Well, you could have stood up and said you didn't agree from the get go-did you?  No?  Well, then you're just as big an idiot as you said John was.  You have managed to gut the building of talented and loyal staff at all levels if they had an opinion different from your own just to either replace them with complete morons, such as J.B. in procurement.  We do understand the KM thing and all that but come on, business is business.  On the HR side, you have personally instructed KM not to conduct exit interviews in order to avoid any information which points to your incompetence in managing a division.  It's funny to see how you avoid personally incriminating paper trails and on the other hand initiate papeerwork on sales reps that struggle as a direct result of your ineptness.
ANOTHER ONE GONE!"
7342  

re:  KAISER AND LEE:  "what ever happen to Tim Lee and mark Kaiser of usfs ?"
7341