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US Foods, Associates Donate $12M+ for Hunger-Relief Efforts

US Foods Holding Corp., one of America’s largest foodservice distributors, and its associates have donated more than $12 million in food, supplies and monetary contributions to address hunger-relief efforts across the country throughout 2023, the equivalent of approximately 5 million meals or approximately 225 truckloads of product, through its corporate hunger-relief campaigns.

“As a leading foodservice distributor, US Foods is in the unique position to harness the power of food to deliver a meaningful impact,” says Dave Flitman, CEO. “We believe in giving back to the communities where we live and work, and we are grateful to our associates who participated in a variety of our philanthropic activities throughout the year. Moving into 2024, we are excited to continue this important work through increased investments with hunger-relief organizations.”

US Foods served communities experiencing food insecurity with product donations to longstanding partner, Feeding America. In 2023, the company donated more than $12 million in food and supplies to more than 50 Feeding America network food banks across the country. Since 2007 the company has donated more than $170 million in food and supplies to Feeding America network food banks for hunger-relief efforts.

In addition, throughout 2023, the company demonstrated an unwavering commitment to community hunger-relief efforts through a variety of associate giving and volunteer initiatives. Highlights included a week-long “Spring into Service” program in which associates participated in various company-sponsored community service events, a companywide food drive for Hunger Action Month, and a month-long “Giving Gratitude” campaign dedicated to providing food to underserved communities during the holidays. Participation in these activities generated donations totaling $100,000 to support food banks and other hunger relief organizations supported by the company.

Additionally, this holiday season, US Foods is teaming up with new customers to support Giving Kitchen, a nonprofit that provides emergency assistance for food service workers through financial support and a network of community resources, through “Giving Back with US Foods.” For every new customer, US Foods will make a donation to Giving Kitchen, up to $100,000 through Dec. 30.

As part of the company’s overarching corporate giving commitments, US Foods also sustained its dedication to delivering a meaningful impact with its American Red Cross disaster relief partnership and US Foods Scholars Program. In 2023, the company donated $100,000 to the American Red Cross to support Hurricane Idalia relief efforts. The donation covered a range of emergency services, including the distribution of hot meals and comfort kits, the opening of shelters and the deployment of emergency response vehicles.

The company also awarded $360,000 in scholarships to students across the country pursuing degrees in culinary arts, baking and pastry, chef training and business management through its US Foods Scholars program. Since its launch, the program has awarded more than $1.7 million in scholarships to nearly 90 students to make a meaningful contribution to the restaurant and hospitality industry talent pipeline.

To learn more about US Foods its corporate giving initiatives, visit the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility Report at usfoods.com/csr.

With a promise to help its customers Make It, US Foods is one of America’s great food companies and a leading foodservice distributor, partnering with approximately 250,000 restaurants and foodservice operators to help their businesses succeed. With 70 broadline locations and more than 85 cash and carry stores, US Foods and its 29,000 associates provides its customers with a broad and innovative food offering and a comprehensive suite of e-commerce, technology and business solutions. US Foods is headquartered in Rosemont, Ill. Visit www.usfoods.com to learn more.

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ADM to Acquire UK’s FDL, Wisconsin’s Revela Foods

ADM, a global leader in human and animal nutrition, has reached an agreement to acquire UK-based FDL, a leading developer and producer of premium flavor and functional ingredient systems. ADM also is adding to its flavors capabilities with an agreement to acquire Revela Foods, a Wisconsin-based developer and manufacturer of innovative dairy flavor ingredients and solutions.

FDL, with projected 2023 sales of approximately $120 million, operates three production facilities and two customer innovation centers, all in the United Kingdom. The company’s approximately 235 colleagues, which include about 40 dedicated innovation specialists, have created more than 10,000 proprietary flavor formulations that enable accelerated speed to market. FDL’s customers span channels, and include a significant presence in the $900 billion European foodservice segment.

“Our ongoing investments to add to our flavors portfolio are helping power our strategic work to build a global leader in Nutrition,” said Calvin McEvoy, ADM’s president of global flavors. “FDL’s innovative and agile formulation knowledge, deep end-use applications expertise, and strong customer base make them a great addition to ADM’s global flavor capabilities. We are incredibly impressed by the FDL team, and we believe both companies will benefit from each other as we work to expand our reach in key channels, particularly foodservice.”

Eric Beatty, CEO of FDL, said, “We are excited to enter into this agreement with ADM. They’re an ideal partner for us, with global nutrition and flavor capabilities that will provide new opportunities to strengthen FDL’s portfolio of taste and nutrition solutions. In turn, the FDL team looks forward to helping add to ADM’s broad offerings with our diverse portfolio of flavor and functional ingredient systems, IP, and capabilities, as well as the entrepreneurial spirit and innovativeness of human talent that has enabled FDL to become a differentiated market leader today. ADM is synonymous with the best in animal and human nutrition, and together, we look forward to delivering new and innovative ingredient solutions to our global customer base in the food and beverage industry.”

ADM is continuing to add to its broad portfolio of flavor ingredients and solutions as it builds a global leader in nutrition. Since acquiring WILD Flavors in 2014, ADM has added multiple new offerings to its flavors portfolio through acquisitions, including dairy via yesterday’s announcement of Revela Foods; savory via Eatem Foods; citrus via Florida Chemical Company and Erich Ziegler Citrus; and vanilla via Rodelle. The company has also expanded its flavors capabilities globally with acquisitions like Flavor Infusion South America; organic investments like its Pinghu, China, flavor production facility and the expansion of its Berlin flavor facility; and its growing network of innovation centers spanning Europe, Asia, Latin America and North America.

The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions. ADM intends to complete the transaction by end of January.

Revela, with projected sales of almost $240 million in 2023, would add new capabilities to ADM’s global flavors portfolio in the $1.8 billion global dairy flavors segment, as well as the $3.2 billion savory flavors segment. Revela, a portfolio company of New Heritage Capital since 2019, has delivered rapid growth, driven by its innovative enzyme technology, which powers a broad range of clean-label dairy flavor formulations for multiple applications, from snacks and frozen meals to sauces, dressings, soups, seasonings and desserts. Revela’s approximately 400 colleagues operate three state-of-the-art production facilities in the U.S. Midwest.

“Revela has built a strong business around its unique range of dairy flavor ingredients and solutions for customers spanning major brands, retailers and food service,” said McEvoy. “ADM has a strong presence in the North America savory flavors segment, and we’re excited to work with the impressive Revela team to expand our opportunities there, bringing their technology and innovation together with our global capabilities to power our unparalleled range of ingredients and complete solutions for customers who are looking for great flavors and clean labels.”

“We are excited to partner with ADM to further Revela’s reputation as an innovative, turnkey provider of dairy flavor ingredients and solutions,” added Terry Schneider, Revela’s chief executive officer. “We believe joining the ADM family will allow us to offer even broader solutions to our customers and will provide our employees with even greater opportunities for advancement.”

“ADM’s integrated business model and unparalleled production and product application expertise power a portfolio of customizable, complete nutrition solutions that no other company can match,” said Ian Pinner, president of ADM’s Nutrition business. “Our flavors business is an important pillar of our Nutrition growth strategy, and we are continuing to add to our flavors pantry to ensure we remain the partner of choice for customers around the globe.”

The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. ADM intends to complete the transaction early in 2024.

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Football Fans (and Swifties) Can Munch on Mama Kelce’s Cookies

Introducing: Mama Kelce’s Cookies! Aramark Sports + Entertainment, the award-winning food and beverage partner at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City Chiefs) and Lincoln Financial Field(Philadelphia Eagles), has teamed up with Donna Kelce, the mother of Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce and Eagles center Jason Kelce, to bring her famous chocolate chip cookie recipe to football fans at both stadiums this holiday season.

Fans who attend games on Christmas Day in Kansas City and Philadelphia will be able to order the same sweet treat that Mama Kelce delivered to her sons on Opening Night of Super Bowl LVII, right before the NFL stars faced off as the first brothers to ever compete against each other in the Super Bowl.

The Aramark culinary teams will freshly prepare Mama Kelce’s cookie recipe for fans. All proceeds from cookie sales will benefit Operation Breakthrough based in Kansas City and the Eagles Autism Foundation based in Philadelphia, and Aramark will match the donation to each organization 1:1.

“I am so excited to work with Aramark to bring my cookies to Chiefs’ and Eagles’ fans on Christmas day,” said Donna Kelce. “In this season of giving, it means so much to raise money for two great charities through an old-fashioned bake sale.

“My chocolate chip cookies have been a staple in our house for a long time, so it’s very special to share the recipe that my sons love with fans during the holidays. It’s even sweeter because the Eagles Autism Foundation and Operation Breakthrough will benefit; usually, it’s just my boys!”

Fans will be able to purchase Mama Kelce’s Cookies in packs of two at the following locations:

  • GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium – Kingdom Lodge in Section 136
  • Lincoln Financial Field – HeadHouse Plaza, Club Markets, and Suite Level

And for those who can’t make it to one of the games, they can follow Mama Kelce’s recipe here.

“Aramark Sports + Entertainment immerses guests in the extraordinary everywhere we serve, which includes finding innovative ways to bring pop culture trends to life inside a sports environment,” said Alison Birdwell, president and CEO of Aramark Sports and Entertainment. “We could not be happier to partner with the NFL’s most popular team mom, Donna Kelce, to bring her famous cookies to fans and support two incredible charities during the holiday season.”

Aramark Sports + Entertainment serves more than 150 award-winning food and beverage, retail, and facility service programs in premier stadiums, arenas, convention centers, cultural attractions, performance venues, and unique entertainment destinations across North America. The company has received accolades for industry innovations and high-profile events like NBA All-Star and MLB at Field of Dreams. Learn more at www.aramark.com or on FacebookLinkedIn, and X (formerly known as Twitter).

Operation Breakthrough is a nationally accredited, not-for-profit corporation whose mission is to provide a safe, loving, and educational environment for children in poverty and to empower their families through advocacy, emergency aid, and education.

The Eagles Autism Foundation is dedicated to raising funds for innovative autism research and programs. By providing the necessary resources to doctors and scientists at leading institutions, the foundation assists those currently affected by autism as well as future generations.

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