UFPC Signs Agreement with NuCO2 Inc. to Supply Bulk CO2 Systems and Service Yum! Brands’ U.S. Company Stores
Louisville, Ky. — Aug. 16, 2002 —
Unified Foodservice Purchasing Co-op®, LLC (UFPC®) today announced an agreement with NuCO2 Inc. to provide its bulk CO2 systems and services to Yum! Brands, Inc.'s company-owned restaurants in the U.S.
UFPC is the world's largest purchasing cooperative and the purchasing arm for Yum! Brands restaurants. NuCO2, based in Stuart, Fla., is the largest provider in the U.S. of bulk CO2 systems and services for carbonating fountain beverages. Yum! Brands has more than 5,000 U.S. company-owned restaurants, including A&W All-American Food Restaurants, KFC, Long John Silver’s, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell.
NuCO2 expects to start installing the systems immediately. The multiyear agreement also calls for NuCO2 to be designated as the restaurant chain's preferred supplier to franchised stores. NuCO2 currently provides bulk CO2 systems to Yum! Brands U.S. restaurants on a regional basis.
“We are very pleased to partner with Unified Foodservice Purchasing Co-op,” said Michael E. DeDomenico, Chairman and CEO of NuCO2. "It represents our unremitting emphasis on delivery, service and prompt responsiveness to customers, which we have made the hallmarks of our business. In addition, our system provides an easy, highly economical and efficient approach to supplying carbonation that helps create quality soft drinks."
“This agreement reflects the mission of UFPC to provide its members with high-quality products and great service at the lowest cost,” said John Inwright, UFPC's Senior Vice President, Purchasing.
UFPC is a purchasing cooperative, which acts as a supply chain manager for corporate- and franchisee-owned KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell restaurants in the United States. UFPC is headquartered in Louisville, Ky. In addition to the equipment refurbishment division in Pensacola, Fla., UFPC has hubs located in Dallas, Texas, and Irvine, Calif.
NuCO2 Inc. is the largest supplier in the U.S. of bulk CO2 systems for carbonating fountain beverages. Substantially all of NuCO2’s revenues are derived from the rental and product delivery to bulk CO2 systems installed at customers’ sites, which currently number approximately 70,000. NuCO2 is a pioneer in the use of and the nation's leading supplier of bulk CO2 systems for carbonating fountain beverages.
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