re:  BEK:  "BEK Looking Up? Mr Hallam III is a class act, as well as the rest of BEK corp. You still will not meet market share as needed to be successful. Maybe 5722 is right. Cube is pissed. After your new owners break apart BEK, USF and Cube will rule!!!! Many ex Cube and USF employee's will come full circle... Good luck to all..."
5750

Happy Birthday
(Bunge Foods)
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

re:  USF ALBANY:  "There really aren't too many people left in Albany. Outside of the skeleton crew in the office you really don't have a lot more to cut back on. Pretty soon the only ones left behind to turn the lights out will be Mirarchi and Speed. All interested: please vote on who will turn the lights out in the end. Will it be Mirarchi or Speed? My vote goes to Speed. Both, Mirarchi and Speed bolt out before sundown, you know vampires, but we know who the real boss is.
    We had the "Fry-on" thing going for a while. How about the Speed/Mirarchi "Last Man Standing" thing? Every vote counts!"
5749

Happy Birthday
(Retired, Sysco Ventura/L.A.)
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

re:  5739/ALBANY:  "If you don't like the subject, don't read it. Albany and Boston, keep the information coming. It's about time Chicago and hopefully CD&R and KKR heard what's going on. These people run the company like it's their own personal playground."
5748

Happy Birthday
(InsideFood "Man of the Year, 2001")
(Steiner-Wolff Sales and Marketing)
(Sysco, Hampton Roads)
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

re:  SYSCO S.D. DRIVER APPRECIATION:  "I'm curious, I work for sysco san diego and some of us are wondering what other drivers in the other houses got for driver appreciation week. So far , we have gotten 2 granola bars ( single packages held together with a rubber band ) , an apple, a bag of pretzel, a bag of trail mix and ic cream sandwiches and its only wednesday. Oh I almost forgot the o.j. and sysco brand danishes in the morning. If it was the sales staff they would have a catered breakfast. "
5747

FDA finds more salmonella

re:  USF ALBANY:  "Ive been with the company for sometime now and am ashamed on what is going on in procurement. Pricing, Out-of-stocks, Quality is horrible especially in the perishable arena and when I talk to Durr or Brewster all I get is were working on it. The blind leading the blind"
5746

fs dist calls it quits after 100 years

re:  SYSCO CHARLOTTE:  "Rumor is down here in the Longhorn state that a trip to SYSCO Charlotte is coming up. We hear those hillbillies have been disturbed by a bunch of Idiots from down south of them.....We shall see.....The Local Teamsters talk too much up there and corporate has caught wind. Good luck boys... All Ears Here...."
5745

food co-op rejects produce irradiation

re:  SYSCO SAC:  "To all of you in Sac preparing for retirement ask the several who have been asked to "RETIRE" if their plan worked for them? We are being forced out and asked to retire or we won't get our monies due to us. Delmer you and Brett are the worst management team I have ever worked under. Associates in every department have commented that you and Brett have turned SYSCO Sac into a company that cares only about the numbers. If you start caring more about the people the sales and the MORALE will soar. We are heading to our awards banquet and several of us are going because we feel we HAVE to or else. Please let us have one night of fun and one night of no more Berglund. Use Russ or Mark PLEASE! Brett and others will be heading to Hawaii soon and I wonder what he did to deserve the trip? Houston I wonder how you would like working with the conditions we are under? Delmer was a great CFO and Brett was a lucky DSM and MA but neither are great motivators. Gary we all wish you well and will miss your smile. "
5744

Happy Birthday
  (USF, Livermore)
from the 29th

re:  SHAMROCK:  "Watch out Sysco Denver. Shamrock has their eyes on several more of your your people and potentially one to replace the departing JA.
5743

Food poisoning turns deadly in Oklahoma

re:  SYSCO L.A. BIZ REVIEW:  "Did anyone know that the Business Review(BR) team members make upwards of 100K a year.Yes, 100K. WOW!! All they do is carry in a book and go over numbers. The only people who do anything in that department is the Culinary department and Protein Specialists. We should save SYSCO their salaries and make our DSM do the Biz Revs., they can pull up all that info off of SOLAR,besides they are bonused on it. Why should I respect or do a BR with any BR member who doesn't do squat and then comes into my account and acts like they know everything. Most of the BR members, with the exception of 1 or 2 (maybe) did not grow at dub/dub, make any clubs(torchbearer,Chairman), or have any seniority with SYSCO. They got hired because they were washed up MA's, their DSM wanted to get rid of them or they were Clive's pet.Then they lecture me about not having all the Business. Gimme a BREAK!!!BR got paid on stuff that I sold to my account! and had nothing to do with them or the BR Dept.. Do a BR, they attach their name to it, and they get a bonus, quite a big bonus (whether they helped or not),Now for all u MA's who don't know, watch what you say to a certain someone who works in that department. That BR member is like the Perez Hilton of SYSCO...if u don't want anyone to know.....don't tell them. Quit hiring more BR people, it's not necessary, that's what are DSM should be doing in the first place. Hire some more Drivers or purchase a new truck.~CW, I got news for you... My BR person always wants to end early at 2 or 3 & never wants to book a review on Friday, I wonder why? I wish I could do nothing for a 100K a year.
Signed~
SYSCO Biz Review Insider"
5742

Happy Birthday
(Sysco, L.A.)
from the 28th

re:  DASH OF REALITY/NOT COMMON SENSE:  "bring back DB?? you are definitely drinking the koolaid. CS, class act guy and a great team for JG.
I expect that you are either a recently dismissed or TM order taker. I am number 1 if not number 2 on the Boston streets and I am a PRIME VENDOR. Insulting if you think you are less. No order taking, just a decade in the trenches and making a difference in our street presence. ANYONE can sell chicken, it takes more to be a consultant. Step up or Step out, no room for negativity as it only breeds negativity. Move over Cube."
5741

USF driver shoots friend, kills self

August 27, 2008
Wednesday

re:  USF EVERETT:  "Another Friday brings another round of resignations. John when are you going to get it? You and your "team" has slashed everything to the bone to make your bonus. You stand in front of us and ask for more GP$ when you are in the mood to attend a sales meeting. Well where is our sales support? Nobody from Peabody returns our calls unless they are from Everett originally. Our produce guy answers his calls late in the day because he spends all day in the coolers since you fired our Produce QA in another budget stretching move. Mis picks are out of control. Trucks are running late out of the barn every day even though your fair haired OPS VP hides it well by fudging his reports. We are the foodservice joke of New England. We once owned the Cape. Now your team only pays attention to Prince Charming on Nantucket. Must be nice to get return phone calls from staff members huh Jay.
    John every department has good people actively seeking employment elsewhere. How do you expect to hit your number when you are replacing veteran TMs lost to the competition with recent college grads? You just don't get this business! If we service the hell out of our customers the GP$ will follow as we will have a happy customer base. Let's face it moving from Buffalo to Boston was like stepping into the deep end of the pool without your swimmies on. Can't wait until they can your butt and we get a real sales oriented President so we can take back our customers.
SOX FAN"
5740

re:  ALBANY & BOSTON USF:  "Someone in Chicago should ask what do both USF Boston and Albany have in common, it is there zone president"
5739

BEK looking up                                              

August 26, 2008
Tuesday

Scrimp on ingredients = more profit (duh...)

Happy Birthday
(Western Canada Sales Manager, Lamb Weston)
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

COI shutdown

re:  USF ALBANY:  "Good Lord, you almost need a web site just for the cry babies at USF Albany
Get a life!!!
anon"
5738

re:  SHAMROCK:  "Who will be the new owner? Grapevine is showing Kent M wanting out. Plus a divorce is in the future for Kent. Norm won't let it go but Norm is losing his control. Management has had their range so far but the budget is a farce. Have fun at Scamrock."
5737

Smithfield lo$$

August 25, 2008
HappyMonday!

Happy Birthday
(Sysco, Sacramento, retired!)
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

re:  PFG/FLA:  "PFG FLORIDA
    Does anyone know whatever happened to Garrett Cropsy after he was banished to Little Rock and then fired by one of his best friends? I heard he is trying to sell fish. The guy was a complete blithering munchkin who acted like Napolean and destroyed a sales force. He and his fellow idiot Ed Garton. Anyone know where Eddie boy went to?
STILL STRUGGLING IN TAMPA"
5736

There's another one found on the Lost & Found page.

re:  USF ALBANY:  "Speed's P and L ought to look much better next month with the recent layoffs this past week. The exercise Speed found out about years ago is that when you REDUCE COST ( fewer employees ) who happen to be at the top of their pay grade ( 23+ years ) a POSITIVE DROP THRU takes place which then has a dramatic effect on the bottom line.
    In other words, to make more profit ( BONUS ALERT at second quarter results in late July ) you're not going to have to sell additional product ( JUST MANAGE COSTS ) or in other words , have your existing employees work a minimum of two + jobs till they drop.
    Is it possible that by this time next year that 30 people will be working ?
    or, will replacements be coming after the year end BONUS CUTOFF ?
The morale crusader"
5735

re:  USF ALBANY:  "Regarding all the BS about B.S. It's useless. Even IF and after he is dumped, as someone previously said, he will get a big bonus parachute and then another job with a big raise and a guarantee. He should be blackballed after this fiasco just like he should have been after screwing up at several other jobs he had. No one will look at the mess and the carnage that is left. It will be excused and overlooked. This is SAD but TRUE!"
5734

re:  SYSCO:  "is it true that Sysco in implementing a new policy. When an employee is injured and they conclude the fault was employee negligent they will be terminated? is this not against the law?"
5733

August 23 & 24, 2008
The Weekend!

re:  DASH OF COMMON SENSE:  "Substitute Boston for Albany and Glynn for Speed and you're looking at the same scenario.
Two (Peabody & Everett) once proud barns now combined are only a third or fourth tier player in the New England market. Are we the prime supplier for any street accounts?
    Bring back Craig Smith and Dave Baily and lets move cases and stop firing good people. The only way these people are making their bonuses is cutting expenses without any regard for our customers or long time employees.
SOX FAN"
5732

re:  5720/USF ALBANY:  "It's pathetic. It's obvious to everyone that doesn't have his head in the ground that there's a big problem with no end in sight. Maybe Albany needs a new coach."
5731

re:  USF ALBANY:  "Sounds like "Six Sigma" is alive and well in Albany. But the re.re.re.re. hiring of people (hired for the fourth time) for a management position (DSM) is contrary to good business practices. Where was Human Recourses with all their excellent record keeping? Where is succession planning? Where is the training? Guess the old adage of "the expert is always next door" is well respected at USF Albany. Order takers are always welcome."
5730

re:  6720/ALBANY:  "What's happening at US Albany is cost cutting and ass saving. Can't get it done any other way."
5729

re:  SYSCO L.A.:  "You know the real question at Sysco LA is : How much longer does Sysco keep those nonperforming U.S. Foods sales reps around that they brought over a year ago? I am talking about Gruntz and Thomas. My god how much business can they inherit and still suck? Saul has to realize he was sold a bill of goods by Gruntz who has proven to be one of our worst investments. As a senior MA this truly concerns me, as I know we are paying the salaries of two individuals who are undeserving.
    I hear even drunk Nick won't take them back. How sad! Come on Saul pull the trigger."
5728

Happy Birthday
(Nevada & California Food Legend...to say the least)
(USF, Illlinois)
From the 22nd.

August 21, 2008
Thursday

Sysco denies online grocery venture

Happy Birthday
(USF, Houston)
(VISTAR, Livermore, Food Legend, Member of the Kleidon Family Singers, Pond Care Expert)
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

Mars raises candy price$

re:  USF ALBANY:  "Sounds like "Six Sigma" is alive and well in Albany. But the re.re.re.re. hiring of people (hired for the fourth time) for a management position (DSM) is contrary to good business practices. Where was Human Recourses with all their excellent record keeping? Where is succession planning? Where is the training? Guess the old adage of "the expert is always next door" is well respected at USF Albany. Order takers are always welcome."
5727

FDA: don't clean up veggies...irradiate them

re:  ALBANY EXIT INTERVIEWS:  "Good luck on exit interviews. Albany doesn't like incriminating paper trails.
    Speed is Nimble
Speed is Quick
He Cheats & Lies But Nothing Sticks
    Plant his Words & See Them Grow
Then, Watch them Waver So...."
5726

re:  5719/BONUS:  "Just hit the numbers no matter what. It doesn't matter that he gutted Albany and mortgaged the future by cutting payroll and other expenses to hit his bonus. Grow unprofitable sales with smoke and mirrors and then raise the pads to get the GP from the every day customer. Doesn't matter that TMs keep getting the shaft when they can't raise the price. Who cares about the TMs, righ Bill? It's all about the bonus. The funny thing is that even with the smoke and mirrors it's all falling apart. You can only deceive people for so long."
5725

re:  USF ALBANY:  "USF-Albany
    One more great gone today! Mr. Jim Crehan back to the cube. LaMay and Speed should but won't learn something from this. You should encourage employees to challenge the systems. That way you get better and they feel like they have a voice. But your attitude of our way or the highway will hopefully stunt your growth. Lot more people to go cubin soon. How many more will it take? Three more to go soon? Stuck at US for now!"
5724

Heinz $ up

August 20, 2008
Wednesday

re:  USF ALBANY:  "Albany needs to step back and look at their values. Letting good people go to show numbers doesn't help anything in the end. Who wants to work for a company like US albany? No One! Gib was right about one thing training. Maybee they didn't have the right trainer but that coupled with putting people in the right popsition would give them a fighting chance. Senior Managment needs to pop their bubble they manage from within fast or John C should clean house! That would be better."
5723

re:  BEK:  "BEK: Ouch ,, Looks like Heads are rolling at the CORP.Does Rycoff Sexton ring a bell for your OVER PRICED ASS!!! WELCOME TO Houston. The Cube will rule!!!"
5722

re:  WHAT'S GOING ON IN CHARLOTTE:  "Two veteran DSM's (PW and PN) and a Business Review Manager (CM) that had a total of over 30 years of service at the cube have left in the last month????? Whats going on at Sysco Charlotte??? Veteran MA's,DSM's and Review guys leaving ???? Can somebody let us know whats going on in Charlotte?"
5721

re:  5713:  "I have been out of the Albany market for a while but keep track on FSR. What happened to Germain, Berube, and Crandall? Were they "let go" or did they leave. I am shocked by the mass exit from US Albany. Man...you guys are a mess. Good luck turning that around. You would think someone would start taking a hard look at what's going on up there.
ANON"
5720

August 19, 2008
Tuesday

Food broker bribery

re:  USF ALBANY:  "Here's a dash of common sense
    Why is it that Speed always reduces employees( quit or fired ) in mid-year ?
    Why is it that Speed mostly goes after tenured , high paid individuals ?
    Why is it that Speed is MORE concerned about his BONUS than his people ?
    Why is it that the remaining support group now has more than one job ?
    Why is it that Speed isn't concerned about next year only 12-31-08 ?
    Why is it that Speed will replace those "terminated " next year ( after year end close ) ?
    Get it ?
    IT'S ABOUT HIM....NOT US.AT ALBANY
The few and proud."
5719

re:  NO EXIT INTERVIEWS:  "US Albany-They barely do an exit interview, what an earful you would get from the bodies they’ve walked all over the last five years. That includes those still there in body only, who’ve compromised every ounce of morality they have to keep food on their families table."
5718

re:  USF ALBANY:  "Wayne Durr gets hired as a Logistic's Manager and gets promoted to Perishable Manager, Jen Brewster goes from Equipment & Supplies Manager to Director Of Procurement, Rob Tys responsible for Inventory Control is now also responsible for Quality Assurance. If your a competitor who sells perishables it should be like shooting fish in a barrel."
5717

There's another one found on the Lost & Found page.

re:  FUTUREMAN:  "Get Real! The future is that there will be no commissioned DSR's among major broadliners. Any profit in foodservice distribution is being sucked out by merchadising departments, layers of incompetant management , and unnecessary employees and expenditures. Second tier independant distributors, Restaurant Depot, and Warehouse clubs are gaining market share every day because the"big boys" forgot what business we are in. Customers want honest value ( Price, Quality, and Service) like Walmart provides in retail . Eliminate the "value added services " of no value. Stop being "Marketers" and get back to the basics of establishing long term relationships with customers, understanding their needs and go back to selling food and moving cases. Profitability will follow based on larger drops that will result. I have to laugh at all the people who post how one large broadliner is better than the other. The truth is that they are all the same. The fact that hedge funds bought up two major players at bargain-basement prices shows that their business models are inflated . These hedge fund boys will be "trimming the fat" at management level when they discover the truth about the current state of the industry. If you really believe you are a "foodservice professional" and you have the balls to back it up , then look for an up and coming independant who is strong in the areas you are proficient in and sell on a straight -comission basis based on "real cost" and grow with them. If not , then drink the Kool Aid the "Big Boys" give you and lull yourself into thinking they actually care about you.
Signed,
Once A Great Business"
5716

re:  5707/SYSCO L.A.:  "Remember that there is and has always been an open door policy. If there's a problem speak up and talk to some one. It can't be fixed if it's not known about. Don't just assume that Senior Management knows your pain! I'll bet that you'll be pleased with the outcome if you work hard and produce.
Good luck!"
5715

re:  USF ALBANY:  "USF Albany...finally Speed and Mirachi are going to get what is coming to them. Mirachi is like a Svengali in that place. Unlike the usual HR people, she gets involved in everything that goes on in the place included job performance, goals, routine scheduling and so on. It's an amazing mystery. Unfortunately, punishment for their performance will probably be a very fat severance package and a job in some location that pays more."
5714

Happy Birthday
(Foodservice Legend (certified), Northern California)
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

August 16 & 17, 2008
The Weekend!

Chick O.C. 11's

FS Dists $pend on lobbying

Happy Birthday
(Regional Manager, Pate Dawson Company)
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

Tootie Pie on a roll

Happy Birthday
(PFG/Springfield)
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

re:  USF ALBANY:  "Jamie Bouchard. Another one bites the dust among Jim Germain, Diane Berube and Patty Crandell. At least Jamie got to resign. The best guess is that he saw how Albany operates and he said see yah. Somebody should ask to see the exit interviews for every employee that has left in the last 5 years."
5713

re:  HALLSMITH:  "Hallsmith has its on rendition of a Brett Michaels in Rob Lach. Chris W has the same head piece as lach when the twins visit foxwoods."
5712

re:  USF ALBANY:  "USF-Albany:The light at the end of the tunnel is going out at US Albany. Now Rose gave his notice. It's to bad because he is capable of turning s_it around. He was one of the cubes best. He built a team at Sysco that makes it virtually impossible for a competitor to penetrate an account that he had worked with. He should have been at the helm. Who's next where does it stop?"
5711

August 15, 2008
Friday

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:  DEAR GIB:  "Re: Dear Gib/USF Albany
    Did something happen to the little emperor of USF Albany?
The MN Big Shooter"
5710

re:  IFH/5701:  "Sounds like to me you were some of the rift-raft that just got fired. If you were on the street giving it away, then that is why you are where you are........sitting at home on the web all day. Too bad you are not like the upper 85% of our reps that average between 15-18% margins. So when you want to bash this great company that Mr. George has built.......take look in the mirror you piece of garbage that could not hack it here. Go sell cars. It is right up your alley moron.
Loving IFH!"
5709

re:  USF ALBANY:  "More lies from procurement.  We get the daily fill rate BS that don't show how many times we change orders to accept the sub because product is out of stock and buyers call the TM's to delete and change orders.  How can we keep running out of random chicken breasts every week?  Chicken wings?  Come on!  Every week??????  Yeah don't worry about fixing the problem and just keep wasting time sending out the daily BS update that means nothing.   Just fix it and stop the***."
5708

Happy Birthday
(FSP, Sysco, L.A.)
(Chef & Spy...deceased)
  (Cin-Co Food Brokers)
(USF, Albany)
(formerly USF, Albany)
(Jordano's)
View the complete list on the Birthday Page.

August 14, 2008
Thursday

There's another one found on the Lost & Found page.

re:  SYSCO L.A.:  "Looks like relief is coming for Team Vasta. According to a high ranking Executive at Sysco LA the Honeymoon is about over. Team Vasta is tracking 20% behind Sales plan and half of his team has requested to work for another DSM and the other half is to affaird to speak up. Looks like Sysco found out less than a year what it took U.S. Foods Webb 13 years to figure out this guy is a bag of hot air. What's going to happen to the pillsbury dough boy once daddy is gone and there's no one to help Gary out. Who's going to wash and wax the Motor homes and dirt bikes.
    Maybe it's time for Gary to switch to Jenny Craig?
    Thank you Saul and Dan he's the worse DSM i have ever work for!
Loyal Sysco Reps who don't want to leave!"
5707

re:  USF ALBANY:  "Yes, It's true. US Albany is loosing one more (Erik Rose). This one is a shame. He is without question the most knowlegable person they have. He has the knowlege, drive and personality to make positive change. Customers love him and people follow him. Speed should have been talking pointers from this guy! Speed might not be in the position he is in now (looking over his back for Mr. Carrol with a one way ticket). Sysco will probaly pick Erik back up. He did great stuff for them. His team when he was at