UFPC Launches New Smallwares Program
Louisville, Ky. — Sept. 24, 2003 —
Unified Foodservice Purchasing Co-op®, LLC (UFPC®) announces the launch of a new program called UFPC Smallwares Connection. The program is a result of a strategic alliance between UFPC Equipment Sales (a division of UFPC) and The Wasserstrom Company of Columbus, Ohio. The alliance gives operators of A&W, KFC, Long John Silver’s, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell a one-stop shopping opportunity for all smallwares and replacement equipment items.
The UFPC Smallwares Connection combines the best practices of two businesses — UFPC Equipment Sales and The Wasserstrom Company. The UFPC Smallwares Connection began business operations on July 7, 2003. According to Dale Holden, Vice President, UFPC Equipment Sales, the new Smallwares Connection program is ready for business with a well-established smallwares stocking distributor — allowing aggregation of volumes that will create cost savings to restaurant operators.
“The launch of UFPC Smallwares Connection shows that UFPC continues to look for ways to add value for our members,” Holden said. “Our customers are asking us for one-stop shopping and the new Smallwares Connection program will deliver that opportunity via telephone or the Internet,” he added.
“We're excited about the opportunity to form this alliance with the equipment sales group at UFPC,” said Rodney Wasserstrom, President of the Wasserstrom Company. “We have worked with UFPC for many years. This alliance allows us to enhance this relationship and continue to bring a high level of service to their members.”
UFPC is a limited liability corporation which umbrellas five national purchasing cooperatives. They include A&W National Purchasing Co-op, Inc., KFC National Purchasing Co-op, Inc., Long John Silver’s National Purchasing Co-op Inc., Pizza Hut National Purchasing Co-op, Inc. and Taco Bell National Purchasing Co-op, Inc.
UFPC manages the supply chain for all Yum! Brands, Inc. and most franchise-owned A&W, KFC, Long John Silver’s, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell restaurant outlets in the United States. UFPC has a headquarters in Louisville, Ky. and hub offices in Dallas, Texas, and Irvine, Calif. UFPC also has offices located in Pensacola, Fla., and Wichita, Kan. UFPC negotiates volume purchases of equipment, food, packaging and other supplies from manufacturers and suppliers for purchase by operators and distributors who supply their restaurants.
The Wasserstrom Company of Columbus, Ohio, is the second largest national equipment supplier to the food service industry. Wasserstrom’s chain store accounts now include over 100 nationally known multi-unit food service operators. With over 100 years of experience, The Wasserstrom Company is a supplier to quick serve, casual dining, full serve, hospitality, health care and supermarket segments of the food service industry.
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