Imperial Dade Acquires Arizona’s Excell Direct
Imperial Dade, a leading North American distributor of foodservice packaging supplies, industrial products, and janitorial supplies, has acquired Excell Direct, LLC. The transaction represents the 91st acquisition for Imperial Dade under the leadership of Robert and Jason Tillis, chairman and CEO of Imperial Dade, respectively. Financial terms of the private transaction were not disclosed.
Founded by Stewart and Crystal Leary, their tireless work ethic and customer first approach has helped Excell become a premier distributor of foodservice and janitorial products in Arizona. The company commands an exceptional reputation in the market and operates with the same hyper focus on customer service as it had when it was founded. By leveraging Imperial Dade’s market leading platform, Excell’s customers can expect the same exceptional customized service coupled with an even diversified offering of products and solutions.
“I enthusiastically welcome Stewart, Crystal and the entire Excell family to Imperial Dade. This is a perfect fit without our growing organization and we are excited for this next chapter of profitable growth,” said Robert Tillis. “Imperial Dade continues to expand its presence in Arizona, and we are looking forward to continuing together in our mission to organically grow and provide unmatched customer service across North America,” said Jason Tillis.
“On behalf of Excell Direct, we are thrilled to be part of Imperial Dade. They share the same relentless focus on delivering the best service and product offering to the customer. We look forward to the next chapter together and strengthening our vendor relationships,” said Stewart Leary, CEO & president of Excell Direct.
Founded in 1935, Imperial Dade serves more than 120,000 customers across North America. Since Chairman Robert Tillis and CEO Jason Tillis assumed their roles in 2007, the company has grown both organically and through acquisitions to become a leader in the foodservice, packaging and janitorial supplies industry. For additional information, visit www.imperialdade.com.
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Legacy Food Group Hires Laurie Bergman as CFO
Legacy Food Group has hired Laurie Bergman, a highly experienced financial executive, as chief financial officer.
With a distinguished career spanning over two decades, Bergman has a proven track record of success in both private equity-backed and public companies, with significant accomplishments in mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and financial operations.
In her previous roles as CFO of Liquid Environmental Solutions, a leading provider of turnkey solutions for non-hazardous liquid waste management, as well as her many leadership roles at UGI Corporation, a fortune 500 energy marketer, Bergman oversaw finance-related activities, including growth strategy, corporate financing, and managing the relationship with the private equity sponsor and corporate boards. Both LES and UGI successfully integrated numerous acquisitions, many of which were family-owned regional businesses.
“I am delighted to join this innovative platform, which is built on the foundation of successful, long-standing operators. Their expertise and commitment to excellence are the backbone of our business. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to our growth and success in a dynamic and important industry.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Laurie as our new chief financial officer,” said Steve Push, CEO of LFG. “Laurie has a tremendous background in finance, strategic growth, and value creation. She understands the foodservice industry with her strong prior experience, and her proven track record in mergers and acquisitions, finance, and strategic planning make her an invaluable addition to our leadership team.”
Bergman holds a master of business administration and a bachelor of business administration from Temple University. She is a certified public accountant and a certified management accountant. Additionally, she serves on the boards of Arq Inc. and QNB Corporation, bringing her expertise to audit and strategic planning committees.
Bergman’s hire reinforces Legacy Food Group’s commitment to investing in a world class leadership ream, and to driving growth and operational excellence for its divisions through strong financial leadership. Her experience in M & A, corporate financing, and strategic initiatives will be crucial as LFG continues to expand its footprint to new markets and acquire new divisions.
Legacy Food Group is a holding company created to acquire high-quality regional independent distributors that will become owned operating divisions. By knitting together multiple distributors, Legacy Food Group will achieve macro-scale with micro-market nimbleness, preserving the differences that work for independents while achieving synergies that can greatly benefit members.
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McLane Unveils Innovation Kitchen at Texas Headquarters
McLane Company Inc., one of the nation’s largest distributors and an industry-leading partner to retail and restaurant brands nationwide, recently held the grand opening of its Innovation Kitchen at the company’s headquarters in Temple, Texas.
Designed for customers as a full-scale replica of the complete c-store experience, this state-of-the-art space showcases how cutting-edge retail foodservice equipment and products seamlessly fit into various footprints and counter spaces while exploring the world of McLane Fresh, Emerging Brands and CVP private label brands. From visualizing how a range of products and equipment integrates into their store layout and planograms to sampling products and exploring marketing materials, customers will gain valuable insight into how McLane’s offerings can elevate their retail product mix and boost customer experience.
Beyond the showcase experience, the space will serve as a dedicated hub for development and innovation, allowing the McLane Fresh team to conceptualize and test new menu items that cater to evolving consumer trends and customer requests. Customers will be invited to sample these creations, ensuring that McLane remains at the forefront of product innovation and collaboration and delivers data-informed solutions tailored to their needs.
“We are excited to unveil the McLane Innovation Kitchen, a space that embodies our dedication to innovation, collaboration and a world-class customer experience,” said Vito Maurici, McLane customer experience officer. “This facility showcases our commitment to setting new standards for excellence in the industry and underscores our role as a trusted partner in our customers’ success. Through this platform for product testing, creation and display, we have the opportunity to engage with customers at every stage of their retail foodservice journey.”
The Innovation Kitchen provides something to satisfy every craving, with offerings including Cupza!, McLane’s award-winning beverage line, Central Eats grab-and-go products for every daypart, Prendisimo pizza and made-to-order options.
McLane offers customizable solutions for retail and restaurant customers, from ordering and fulfillment to equipment and in-store merchandising, aimed at eliminating barriers to entry for smaller retailers and solving logistical challenges for large chains. More information on convenience store solutions from McLane is available at mclaneco.com/cstore-solutions. To learn more about McLane and its retail, restaurant and e-commerce solutions, visit mclaneco.com.
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