Author: woodward

TEMPLE, Texas — McLane Company, Inc., one of the largest distributors in America and an industry-leading partner to the biggest retail and restaurant brands, will host McLane Engage, August 28-30 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn.

With the support of title sponsors Reynolds and The Hershey Company, McLane Engage brings customers and suppliers together for its elevated, full-scale trade show and conference. The event will feature three days of networking, the latest in c-store products, educational content, deals and more.

“McLane Engage continues to deliver unique opportunities for our customers and partners to connect over the latest in c-store products and trends,” said Chris Smith, President of McLane Retail. “With access to expert content and representatives from leading brands, the event is a dynamic platform that fosters collaboration and innovation across our industry.”

This year, keynote speaker Padma Lakshmi, acclaimed culinary expert and “Top Chef” personality, will share insights on the importance of staying ahead of culinary trends and leveraging partnerships for innovation, collaboration in the kitchen, and creativity across the culinary landscape.

In addition to the keynote, McLane Engage will provide the opportunity for attendees to build meaningful connections with industry leaders and to learn from notable experts in an inspired lineup of educational sessions. Topics presented by representatives from Conexxus, Bona Design Lab, NexChapter and McLane include artificial intelligence, future of c-stores, customer experience and digital innovation, and foodservice innovation and safety.

Representatives from more than 350 of America’s most beloved CPG and convenience store retail brands will be in attendance at McLane Engage. Registrants can discover and experience new, cutting-edge c-store solutions and innovations designed to foster business growth while taking a glimpse into the future of the $906.1 billion convenience industry. Attendees can also take advantage of exclusive discounts of up to 50% on a curated selection of 1,200 innovative products. 2024 exhibiting companies and sponsors include Altria, General Mills, The J.M. Smucker Co., Mars Wrigley and PepsiCo: Quaker/Frito-Lay, ensuring a comprehensive and diverse array of offerings.

McLane Engage will capture the essence of Nashville and feature a welcome reception, entertainment from Gary LeVox of Rascal Flatts, Caylee Hammack and LOCASH, Music City line dancing lessons, and more. Attendees will have access to an enhanced schedule and agenda designed to maximize their time and opportunities for networking, learning and discovering new products and programs.

More information and schedules related to McLane Engage can be found at mclaneengage.com. McLane Engage is an invitation-only event for McLane customers and suppliers. McLane customers and suppliers interested in attending may contact their McLane representative. To learn more about McLane and its retail, restaurant and e-commerce solutions, please visit mclaneco.com.

TAMPA, Fla. — Checkers & Rally’s, an iconic drive-thru restaurant chain known for flavorful, craveable food at a great value, today announced it has entered a partnership for distribution services with McLane Company, the largest systems distributor in America. The strategic alliance aims to strengthen operational efficiency and cost-effectiveness for Checkers as the company focuses on long-term growth.

“We are pleased to announce McLane as our exclusive national distribution partner, an important transition for our business as we reinforce our commitment to strengthening our operations in order to deliver unparalleled service and value to our customers,” said Christopher Ward, Chief Supply Chain Officer at Checkers & Rally’s. “McLane is a trusted partner that will be instrumental in streamlining our distribution operations and creating substantial savings across our 800 locations. We believe this is an important step forward in setting the company up for long-term growth and success, and we look forward to our partnership.”

The partnership with McLane’s restaurant business unit marks an important development for Checkers as it works to expand its footprint and deliver long-term growth. With a nationwide network of distribution centers and a state-of-the-art fleet, McLane delivers to nearly every zip code in the country, which will streamline operations across Checkers’ 800 locations.

“McLane is honored for the opportunity to serve Checkers and Rally’s, both exceptional brands that align with our business philosophy and people-first attitude,” said Susan Adzick, president, McLane restaurant. “Our teammates deliver excellence for our customers every day, and I’m confident we will do great work together.”

Leveraging McLane’s extensive distribution center network of more than 80 locations, longstanding reputation, investments in technology and operational efficiency will enhance Checkers distribution system. It also will enable Checkers to ensure on-time deliveries, improve order fill rates, better support promotions and LTOs, and help maintain cold chain and logistics at best-in-class standards.

About Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc.
Based in Tampa, Fla., Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc., an iconic and innovative drive-thru restaurant chain known for its bold, craveable food, famous fries, exceptional value, and people-first attitude, operates and franchises both Checkers® and Rally’s® restaurants. With 800 restaurants and room to grow, Checkers & Rally’s is a proven brand with flexible building formats that is aggressively expanding across the country. Checkers & Rally’s is dedicated to being a place where franchisees and employees who work hard can create opportunities for themselves, their families, and their communities. In recent years, the brand has earned several of the industry’s most prestigious awards including: “#1 Most Craveable Fries” by Restaurant Business 2020 and 2018; Best Franchise Deal and “Best Drive-Thru in America” by QSR Magazine; Top Food and Beverage Franchise by Franchise Business Review; the “Hot! Again” award from Nation’s Restaurant News and has consistently been ranked on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500.

About McLane Company
Founded in 1894, McLane Company Inc. is one of the largest distributors in America, serving convenience stores, mass merchants, and chain restaurants. As an industry-leading partner to the biggest retail and restaurant businesses, McLane buys, sells, delivers, and serves the world’s most beloved brands. With headquarters in Temple, Texas, McLane has more than 80 distribution centers across the country, employs more than 25,000 teammates, and delivers to nearly every zip code in the U.S. McLane is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc.

Dedicated C-store showcase allows McLane customers to explore consumer trends and taste new innovations in real-world setting

TEMPLE, Texas — McLane Company Inc., one of the nation’s largest distributors and an industry-leading partner to retail and restaurant brands nationwide, recently announced 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.

McLane Fresh brand CupZa! recognized for excellence in hot beverage category

TEMPLE, Texas — McLane Company Inc., one of the nation’s largest distributors and an industry-leading partner to retail and restaurant brands nationwide, was recently named a 2024 Category Captain by Convenience Store News for their new McLane Fresh beverage brand, CupZa!.

CupZa! offers a satisfying variety of high-quality, on-trend beverages including hot coffee, cappuccino, cold brew, nitro cold brew, and several refreshing teas and lemonades to retailers.

“The McLane Fresh team goes above and beyond to create new solutions for our customers, and we are honored to receive this recognition for CupZa!,” said Jon Cox, vice president of retail foodservice at McLane. “At McLane, we strive to make retail foodservice not only possible but advantageous to every retailer who wants to implement it. I look forward to seeing CupZa! and the McLane Fresh family of brands grow and continue to delight customers as the landscape of retail foodservice evolves.”

Like other McLane Fresh brands, CupZa! was designed specifically with retailers in mind, offering seamless implementation, merchandising and marketing, with a high level of customization and ongoing support to serve retailers of all sizes in any market. Product selection can be tailored to align with current category trends, with intuitive equipment such as touchscreen brewers eliminating the need for a barista or extensive training to offer fresh, artisan beverages.

Category Captains winners were selected based on criteria including product innovation; a demonstrated commitment to meeting the specific needs of retail customers; creativity in merchandising, marketing and promotion; use of consumer insights to drive sales; efficacy in lifting sales for the entire product category; innovative category management tools; and fact-based evidence of market-specific or account-specific results.

McLane offers customizable solutions for retail and restaurant customers from ordering and fulfillment to equipment and in-store merchandising, aiming to eliminate barriers of entry for smaller retailers and solve logistical challenges for large chains. More information on CupZa! and other convenience store solutions from McLane is available at mclaneco.com/cstore-solutions/mclane-fresh. To learn more about McLane and its retail, restaurant and e-commerce solutions, visit mclaneco.com.

The online marketplace capitalizes on recent consumer trends to bring up-and-coming brands to convenience stores nationwide.

TEMPLE, Texas — McLane Company Inc., one of the nation’s largest distributors and an industry-leading partner to retail and restaurant brands nationwide, recently announced the launch of Emerging Brands. Emerging Brands is the latest in McLane’s expanded offerings for convenience stores and allows retailers to quickly diversify their product selection with new, innovative, and trending brands.

“Consumers today are more conscious than ever about their choices and have come to expect a personalized shopping experience,” said Vito Maurici, McLane’s customer experience officer. “With its flexible model, Emerging Brands provides retailers of any size a best in class, innovative platform to capitalize on the increasing demand for unique products and to tailor their offerings to what their consumers are looking for.”

Research from McKinsey & Company revealed that one in three shoppers are consciously searching for new brands and products to try. Emerging Brands brings differentiation and variety to retailers by expanding access to local, new-to-market, small-batch and values-driven products, including those not in distribution. Retailers can quickly diversify their product offerings with trending products in popular categories like alternative snacks, salty and sweet snacks, and packaged sweets and candy.

In addition to expanding access to a greater variety of products, Emerging Brands allows retailers to test out new products quickly with low order minimums, rapid processing and warehouse-less drop shipping utilizing the same order and payment methods they use to buy products from McLane’s warehouses. The digital marketplace is made possible by technology partner Mable, and will allow retailers to browse intuitively by searching, filtering and sorting products by location, dietary preference, brand values, category and more. Customers can also add products to their favorites and receive highly personalized order recommendations based on the collection.

“Mable’s partnership with McLane provides a frictionless eCommerce platform that seamlessly connects emerging brands with retailers” said Arik Keller, founder and CEO of Mable. “Our drop ship model and integration with McLane’s product systems allows customers to procure emerging brands the same way they do McLane’s warehouse brands. We’re excited to bring this program to market together.”

McLane offers customizable solutions for retail and restaurant customers from ordering and fulfillment to equipment and in-store merchandising, aimed at eliminating barriers of entry for smaller retailers and solving logistical challenges for large chains. More information on Emerging Brands and other convenience store solutions from McLane is available at mclaneco.com/cstore-solutions/emerging-brands. To learn more about McLane and its retail, restaurant and e-commerce solutions, visit mclaneco.com.

Industry Veteran Terry Levee Named Senior Director of Food Safety and Quality Assurance

TEMPLE, Texas – McLane recently announced the appointment of Terry Levee as its new senior director of food safety and quality assurance. Levee brings over 35 years of expertise in food safety, quality assurance and regulatory affairs. His extensive background, including his most recent role as senior director of food safety and regulatory compliance for Giant Eagle, well-positions him to lead McLane’s food safety team and support the company’s newest retail foodservice endeavor, McLane Fresh, and its well-established restaurant distribution business.

“Terry’s appointment reinforces our continued focus on upholding the highest standards in food safety. We look forward to Terry’s leadership carrying forward and further enhancing our food safety practices, ensuring our retail and restaurant partners receive the best-in-class service they have come to expect from McLane,” said Larry Parsons, McLane’s chief administrative officer.

McLane’s commitment to excellence in food safety is long-standing. The company has invested more than $1 billion in developing and maintaining a custom cold chain system across 80 distribution centers nationwide and has over 5.6 million square feet of refrigerated and frozen warehouse space. With a state-of-the-art temperature-controlled and regulated fleet of more than 3,900 tractors and 6,100 trailers, McLane maintains cold chain integrity from distribution center to delivery. McLane’s food safety program also achieved BRC Global Standard (BRCGS) for Food Safety certification. BRCGS is the leading provider of global supply chain assurance programs recognized worldwide. The program regularly utilizes independent audits to ensure product integrity and safety, meeting global food safety initiative standards.

“We anticipate that Terry’s addition to our team and his impact on our food safety program will be nothing short of extraordinary. The expertise and leadership showcased in his previous roles have left an indelible mark on those companies, and we believe he will continue his strong track record here at McLane,” said Parsons.

Levee’s appointment comes as current Senior Director of Food Safety and Quality Assurance, Sam Richardson, plans to retire in March after 48 years with the company. Mike Rose and Michelle Viverette, experienced food safety professionals with McLane, have also been promoted to director, food safety and senior manager, food safety, respectively.

To learn more about McLane’s food safety operations including custom cold chain solutions, multi-temperature storage and shipping capabilities, visit mclaneco.com/distribution-expertise. To learn more about McLane’s tailored retail, restaurant and e-commerce solutions, visit mclaneco.com.