Author: woodward

McLane announces 2024 McLane Engage Featuring Keynote Speaker Padma Lakshmi

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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.

Checkers & Rally’s Announces Strategic National Distribution Partnership with McLane

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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.

Leading the Way from the Front Lines

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McLane’s Frontline Leader Training course imparts invaluable skills to new McLane leaders

At McLane, we pride ourselves on investing in our teammates and helping them develop as both people and professionals. Frontline Leader Training (FLL), an instructor-led course designed for supervisors to learn and improve leadership skills, aims to do just that. The two-day program helps participants build the foundations of their leadership toolkit, setting frontline supervisors up to thrive in their evolving roles and responsibilities.

FLL is strategically designed to foster supervisors’ career development and enable them to mentor and engage their teammates effectively. By instilling essential skills and nurturing trust, care and camaraderie within teams, FLL contributes to a harmonious work environment and unlocks exceptional growth opportunities within McLane.

In 2023, the Frontline Leader Training transitioned for the first time to be McLane-led. The newly-designed program was piloted successfully in July 2023 at McLane Southern, and eight training generalists were certified to lead the FLL course throughout the company. The transition resulted in a more McLane-centric, relevant experience for supervisors as content was developed with McLane specifically in mind.

This change meant that McLane’s values and principles of leadership could be incorporated in all parts of the program. Today, FLL is fully customized to McLane, with McLane instructors leading each training and scenarios specific to real-life situations faced by leaders in McLane distribution centers.

“The Frontline Leader Training is now ‘McLane-ized,’” said Eric Gillard, senior manager of learning and organizational development. “Instead of using high-level theory or off-the-shelf examples, it’s very targeted to McLane-specific scenarios that supervisors encounter every day.”

The response to the program has been overwhelmingly positive. In a survey of 228 teammates who participated in the program in 2023, survey questions received between 93.4 to 99.5% positive responses. Additionally, because of these changes, 425 total supervisors were able to complete FLL in 2023 compared to 279 in 2022.

“What McLane understands well is that the focus area for building leaders has to be on the front lines, at the supervisor level,” said Gillard. “McLane’s frontline leaders are dealing with the day-to-day challenges that make or break success in an organization. We move at the speed of trust, and this program is designed to further build our trust in each other.”

Over the program’s two days, frontline leaders take part in courses starting with the basics of good leadership and ranging from organization to conflict resolution in the workplace. Leaders learn how to build and maintain a positive team culture based on trust, and how to coach, retain, and develop teammates.

A typical day of training involves a combination of presentations, exercises, discussion, and self-reflection that help leaders understand how the leadership principles they are learning align with McLane values and can be implemented in their teams. Frontline Leader Training doesn’t stop with just one two-day session, though. Supervisors are encouraged to complete the full program once a year, and shorter, follow-up refresher sessions are held monthly to help them retain what they’ve learned and track their progress.

“Frontline Leader training is relevant whether someone is brand new to leadership or has spent 20 years in a leadership role,” said Charles “Chip” Pray, general manager of McLane Phoenix. “Perhaps the most important part is the follow-up and constant reminder of the valuable leadership foundations that FLL teaches. It re-energizes supervisors and their teams to strive for operational excellence.”
On his team, Pray says that he has been impressed with how the Frontline Leader Training encourages supervisors to take more ownership of their roles, better understanding the kind of decisions they are able to make and how to lead their teams through change. The positive changes in supervisors’ leadership skills and confidence levels have helped build trust and facilitated effective communication and feedback within teams.

Supervisors vouch for the program as well, speaking highly of the knowledge they gained and responding positively to constructive feedback surveys. One supervisor noted, “I came in apprehensive about spending two days in training, but I actually learned a lot…It was good to take a step back and I often found myself self-assessing where I’ve done things right and wrong.”

The future of the Frontline Leader Training is bright, with plans to make the program bigger and better in 2024. This year, McLane plans to expand FLL to all distribution centers through regional courses taught by McLane’s training generalists, who are certified FLL instructors. A more streamlined, automated sign-up process for distribution centers has already been implemented, and 15 completed the program in the first quarter of 2024. Going forward, McLane will offer yearly repeat training for all supervisors, while continually adjusting the course to enhance engagement and preparation, including operational training for a comprehensive onboarding program.

“I am really excited to see how supervisors who participate in FLL and similar programs learn and grow,” said Sage Devyldere, training generalist for learning and organizational development at McLane Phoenix. “FLL is a kickoff for ongoing development, and it’s incredible to see people taking advantage of these lessons and investing in this opportunity.”

McLane Announces Grand Opening of McLane Innovation Kitchen

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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 Named Category Captain by Convenience Store News Awards

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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.

McLane Launches Emerging Brands Program for Retail Customers

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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.

McLane Company Food Safety Team Adds Top Talent and Fuels Innovation in 2024

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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.

Investing in Community: McLane Partners with Temple Community Clinic

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This January, McLane was honored to celebrate with the Temple Community Clinic at the opening of their new facility in Temple, Texas, the home of McLane’s corporate headquarters.

Temple Community Clinic was established in 1992 through a Leadership Temple project with the support of local physicians and community leaders. For over 30 years, through the hearts of volunteers and the generosity of community supporters, like McLane Company, the Temple Community Clinic has filled the gap in access to healthcare for Bell County residents.

Realizing a need for additional space for services and a more centralized location, businesses and volunteers alike began a capital campaign to raise $6m for the construction of a new facility, which was completed in early January.

The ribbon cutting was hosted by the Temple Chamber of Commerce and Chad Rice, chief financial officer, and Michelle Patterson, vice president of marketing and communications, were in attendance. It included statements and proclamations by city officials, as well as guided tours through the new facility.

McLane is proud to be counted among businesses and individuals supporting such a vital organization in our community, sponsoring the new medical staff room. The room provides a space for the visiting practitioners to work when they are not seeing patients.

Driven by a core priority of “striving towards environmental, social, and governance excellence,” McLane has established a robust corporate giving strategy. McLane recognizes its success is intertwined with the communities where it operates, and it provides support and enriches them in every way they can. Investing in community health aligns perfectly with their commitment to improving the lives of our teammates and the communities where we live and serve.

Click to learn more about the Temple Community Clinic.

Honoring Heroes: McLane Supports Wreaths Across America Ceremony at Danville National Cemetery

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McLane Midwest was honored to support Wreaths Across America’s annual wreath-laying ceremony on December 16 at the Danville National Cemetery in Danville, Illinois. In a poignant tribute, the event brought together volunteers, veterans, and community members—including members of the Boy Scouts and Civil Air Patrol cadets—to honor and remember those who served in branches of the U.S. armed forces. This marked the fourth year McLane Midwest assisted the event by transporting wreaths to the cemetery.

Darrell Briscoe, McLane regional vice president and U.S. Army veteran spoke at the event. He expressed gratitude to the men and women who served, spanning generations and different walks of life, united by the shared purpose of protecting freedom for generations to come.

Following the opening ceremony, volunteers joined together to lay wreaths on the graves of veterans. Each wreath, adorned with a red bow and accompanied by a moment of reflection, served as a symbol of appreciation for the service and sacrifice.

The event was a powerful tribute, reminding everyone in attendance of the true meaning of the holiday season and the importance of honoring those who put service before self, reflecting the strength and unity that defines our nation.

McLane events support Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals

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McLane Company has been a longstanding partner of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, helping to raise more than $101 million in donations since 1987. Last fall, we were proud to continue our support through several events.

In September McLane Mid Atlantic, located in Fredericksburg, Virginia, hosted a golf tournament benefiting Children’s National Hospital. More than 70 players participated, representing McLane teammates as well as suppliers, and partners—many of whom have been loyal contributors for many years. The day was not only about golfing but making a meaningful impact on the lives of children and raised $13,000 for the hospital, which serves nearly 250,000 patients annually.

In October, the 15th annual McLane Company Sporting Clay Shoot was held in Troy, Texas. The event, along with a silent auction, raised more than $95,000 to support Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. The funds raised play a significant role in the underwriting of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and their efforts nationally, helping doctors of the network’s hospitals fund research and find cures to diseases affecting children across the country. McLane customers and suppliers served as sponsors of the shoot, playing an important role in the annual event’s success.

In November, McLane was honored to sponsor the Children’s Miracle Network Hospital’s Program Director of the Year award, which recognizes a local hospital program director who exhibits selfless and heartfelt service, commitment, and dedication. Christina Mosier from CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System was the 2023 award recipient and recognized for her outstanding accomplishments. Chris Simonson, general manager of McLane Houston, represented McLane during the award presentation, which took place during Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals annual fall business meeting in Houston, Texas.

We celebrate the achievements of these events and extend our sincere gratitude to everyone who participated. Their ongoing support is invaluable and make a direct impact on the health and well-being of children in communities throughout the U.S.

Honoring Our Heroes

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Veterans Day is a special day for McLane as we pay tribute to the brave women and men who have served in the United States Armed Forces. McLane is proud of our veteran workforce, which represents 11 percent of our teammates, and strives to provide opportunities for those who have served to protect the many freedoms we have as Americans. In addition to being an employer of choice for armed forces veterans, McLane is also honored to be a partner to Retail Exchange Networks and Veterans Canteen Service for the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. 

Military exchanges provide merchandise and services for active duty, guard and reserve members, retirees, and their families—playing an important role in military base communities throughout the U.S. and around the world. Veterans Canteens are located within military hospitals, serving patients and their families, and hospital employees as well. Profits from exchanges and Veterans Canteens are invested back into their network by providing aid and support for active duty and retired service members, and their families.  

McLane’s first exchange partnership began with the Coast Guard in 2007. At the time, military organizations were experiencing supply chain challenges and McLane was able to leverage our expertise and nationwide distribution network to create efficiency and cost savings. McLane now serves 472 exchanges and canteens, made possible by the efforts of thousands of teammates across 23 distribution centers, support centers, and our corporate headquarters. We make more than 40,000 deliveries to exchanges and canteens every year, providing a range of items including grocery, frozen food, candy, snacks, and health, beauty, and wellness products. The products are provided to locations in the U.S. and internationally—spanning Africa, Asia and Europe—and bringing servicemembers a taste of home wherever they are.  

Through our collaboration with our military customers, McLane has had the opportunity to provide special assistance and shipments during disaster relief efforts domestically and internationally. McLane has also proudly supported special events for active duty and retired service members including the Wounded Warrior Games and an annual fishing trip. We are honored to continue serving these remarkable communities into the years ahead. 

As we reflect on Veterans Day, McLane extends its sincere respect and appreciation to our nation’s veterans—not just on this day, but every day of the year. Their dedication, selflessness, and commitment are a constant reminder of the strength, resilience, and unity that defines our great nation. 

The Power of Potential: Investing in Future McLane Leaders

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Each summer, college students from across the country spend their summer learning and working in the McLane Sales Internship program. This summer, 14 interns were selected from over 100 applicants. McLane interns are undergraduate students, primarily majoring in business, management, marketing, and finance, usually between their Junior and Senior year.  

Our interns kicked off their first week by visiting McLane’s headquarters in Temple, Texas. While there, they gained insight from teammates across different areas of responsibilities and learned how the different areas in our organization work together. A key focus during the week was McLane’s All4One transformation and what we are doing to become a more agile, innovative, and unified supply chain partner.  

Throughout the summer, interns traveled to customers and different McLane locations for firsthand experiences like customer meetings, planning sessions, and site visits; working side by side national accounts, area sales managers, and field managers. They learned about customer management, reporting, and the sales life cycle. This provided valuable experience as they worked alongside teammates and customers. Interns took on real-world sales projects and went through intensive training in McLane’s sales and merchandising systems. The training helps build our intern’s knowledge of McLane’s internal mechanisms and aid them in preparation for their final Capstone project. The goal of the Capstone project is to bring a fresh set of eyes to the challenges and opportunities of bringing innovation from idea to execution as a teammate. 

At the end of the summer, interns presented to the McLane executive team, with topics ranging from the growth of a McLane coffee program to design and execution of a social media plan for internships.  

The McLane Sales Internship program provides important training and development to students near completion of their undergraduate degrees in invest in future teammates, among whom could include future McLane leaders Their projects take fresh looks at possible areas of innovations and new ways of thinking about accelerating thoughtful growth, finding efficiency, and reducing friction in our current work. We were delighted to offer and onboard 10 new teammates at the conclusion of the summer. 

McLane Announces Proprietary Pizza Brand, Expands McLane Fresh Team

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Prendisimo, McLane’s made-for-convenience pizza, is the latest in moves to elevate customer experience. 

TEMPLE, Texas – McLane Company, Inc., one of the largest distributors in America and an industry-leading partner to the biggest retail and restaurant brands, announced the name and branding for their new proprietary pizza program made for convenience stores at the NACS Show today: Prendisimo. The highly anticipated reveal comes shortly after McLane announced McLane Fresh, an expansion of their foodservice at retail program, at the McLane Engage trade show in August. 

Prendisimo, which translates to take away in Italian, is the latest in the McLane Fresh family of brands. McLane brought Prendisimo to life while exhibiting at NACS offering an immersive culinary experience with a wide array of available samples and marketing materials on display for the brand. 

In addition to Prendisimo, McLane also featured CupZa!, their newly launched beverage program which includes bean-to-cup coffee, cold brew, iced tea and lemonade; and new products from Central Eats including a Texas toast grilled cheese, maple sausage waffle and cheeseburger.

“Prendisimo is more than just incredible pizza, it’s a highly marketable brand that attracts and appeals to consumers, supported by the end-to-end solutions that McLane Fresh offers,” said Vito Maurici, McLane’s customer experience officer. “McLane is scaling our offerings across the board, creating programs and products that are more accessible and customizable than ever. We are proud to introduce Prendisimo and look forward to partnering with our customers to make a variety of quality fresh foods a reality for convenience stores of all sizes nationwide.”

As the McLane Fresh program continues to grow, Anne Hughes and Jeremy Reinicke have joined the team as category director, fresh food and commissary and corporate executive chef, respectively. With over 15 years of experience working with notable quick service restaurants and retailers, Hughes brings fresh ideas and proven marketing expertise to the expanding program, while Reinicke’s extensive professional culinary experience will invigorate menu innovation for the program. 

“Anne and Jeremy share in our vision for the future of convenience, and their skills, experience and perspective will help bring that vision to life,” said Farley Kaiser, McLane’s senior director of culinary innovation. “We are excited to have these incredible additions on board the McLane Fresh team as we build on the momentum of our core brands to ideate new products, programs and extensions for our customers.”

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 McLane Fresh 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.

McLane Earns Prestigious Service Provider of the Year Award from 7-Eleven Franchisees

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McLane recognized at NCASEF national trade show for outstanding dedication to franchisees across the U.S.

TEMPLE, Texas – McLane Company Inc., one of the largest distributors in America and an industry-leading partner to retail and restaurant brands nationwide, was recently awarded with the prestigious Service Provider of the Year award by the National Coalition of Associations of 7-Eleven Franchisees (NCASEF) at their national trade show in Las Vegas, Nevada. This remarkable accolade is awarded to the partner exhibiting exceptional and unwavering service to 7-Eleven franchisees, Franchise Owners Associations (FOAs) and the National Coalition in its entirety.

The award was decided unanimously by NCASEF board members in favor of McLane, and they have lauded McLane as a committed and fully engaged vendor partner.

“I have had the distinct pleasure of working closely with McLane over the years,” said Sukhi Sandhu, chairman of NCASEF. “Their steadfast dedication and commitment to quality, efficiency and the success of our franchisees has made them an invaluable partner to us. We are proud to present McLane with this well-deserved award, and we look forward to shared success in the years to come.”

The selection of McLane for this distinguished award stems from their resolute alignment with NCASEF’s vision, a commitment that resonates throughout the organization. McLane has worked with 7-Eleven for the past 56 years and assists in servicing more than 9,200 7-Eleven locations spanning 38 states. McLane completes nearly one million deliveries to 7-Elevens each year, carrying a wide range of products from cold beverages, food and candy to health and beauty essentials.

“We are honored to receive this award and excited to continue growing our partnership with such an exceptional retailer,” said Vito Maurici, McLane’s customer experience officer. “Our trusted partnership with 7-Eleven is something we’re incredibly proud of at McLane. Our amazing team works hard to bring the best in service, quality, efficiency and customer care, and we thank our teammates who consistently go above and beyond to ensure our partners’ success.”

McLane offers tailored solutions for retail and restaurant customers from ordering and fulfillment to equipment and in-store merchandising. McLane’s partnership serves to eliminate barriers of entry for smaller retailers and solve complex 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 Drivers Inducted into the International Foodservice Distributors Association Truck Driver Hall of Fame

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IFDA also recognized McLane teammates as Rising Stars during annual conference

McLane is proud to announce 15 drivers were recently inducted into the International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA) Truck Driver Hall of Fame. The recognition took place during IFDA’s annual conference in Fort Worth, Texas at a ceremony honoring the exceptional careers and contributions of professional drivers.

“I am immensely proud of the McLane drivers inducted into the Truck Driver Hall of Fame. This well-deserved honor is testament to their outstanding professionalism, unwavering commitment to safety, and the vital role they play in serving our communities” said Susan Adzick, President McLane Restaurant. “I extend my sincere appreciation to the drivers for their dedication to their roles, and to their families for their support.”

McLane’s 2023 IFDA Truck Driver Hall of Fame inductees are:
• Anthony Angei, McLane Milwaukee
• David Broehl, McLane Riverside
• Joseph Casagranda, McLane Milwaukee
• Frank Debellis, McLane Orlando
• David Engleson, McLane Milwaukee
• David Landry, McLane Charlotte
• Chris Lewis, McLane San Antonio
• Randy Lynn, McLane Taylorville
• Fidel Marquez, McLane Arlington
• Michael McCarthy, McLane Riverside
• Pat Osif, McLane Denver
• Donnie Peirce, McLane Arlington
• Michael Rush, McLane Orlando
• Ronald Joe Wells, McLane Haines City
• Charles Windham, McLane Atlanta

To be eligible for the recognition, Hall of Fame inductees must have at least 25 years of employment with an IFDA member company, no chargeable accidents during that time and no moving violations within five years prior to the nomination.

IFDA also named four McLane teammates Rising Stars at the conference—up-and-coming leaders in foodservice distribution who have worked in the industry for at least five years, and demonstrate a record of industry success and innovation:
• Dana Wondercheck, Business Analyst, McLane Houston
• Lilamy Pitt, Accounts Payable Supervisor, McLane San Antonio
• Christopher Howard, Assistant Manager Distribution, Vantix Carrollton
• Stephanie Henry, Customer Service Manager, Vantix Rocky Mount

Congratulations to McLane’s drivers and teammates recognized by IFDA this year. Their contributions and professionalism drive our company forward.

McLane Mid-Atlantic Celebrates 50 Years

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Photo of McLane Mid Atlantic teammates in front of a tractor trailer celebrating the facility's 50th anniversary.

McLane recently marked the 50th anniversary of its Mid-Atlantic distribution center in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The anniversary was observed with an event on Sept. 8 celebrating the facility’s history and contribution to the area economy with remarks by company leaders, elected officials, and current and former teammates.

“We are proud to recognize this milestone and reflect on the innovation, dedication and excellence that has made McLane Mid-Atlantic what it is today,” said Tony Frankenberger, president and CEO of McLane. “Its success has been made possible by the hard work and dedication of our teammates, the partnership of our customers and suppliers and the support of the communities we serve.”

McLane Mid-Atlantic originally opened in 1973 as Southland Distribution Center, preparing and delivering orders to convenience store locations in the region until McLane Company, Inc. acquired Southland Corporation in 1992. The distribution center now delivers candy, snack, health and beauty, cold and frozen grocery items and additional products to retail customers including leading convenience stores and military exchanges. Each year, Mid-Atlantic drivers drive 3.5 million miles and make more than 30,000 deliveries of nearly 264 million pounds of merchandise across five states.

McLane Mid-Atlantic currently employs nearly 650 teammates who have an average tenure of 12 years. Sixty-nine teammates were originally Southland employees, and 250 teammates have worked at the distribution center for more than 10 years, including division president Jackie Palmer.

“I am incredibly proud of the tenure of our teammates, the pride and care they exhibit for our facility, and their unwavering commitment to delivering the best for our customers,” said Palmer. “With gratitude for the past and excitement for the future, I look forward to continuing this remarkable journey and success together.”

In addition to being a longstanding employer of choice for the region, McLane Mid-Atlantic has given back to the community and supported a range of organizations including the Fredericksburg Regional Food Bank, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and area schools. The McLane Mid-Atlantic Pep Squad, a group of volunteer teammates, has spearheaded many of the projects to support their neighbors in need.

“We would like to congratulate McLane Mid-Atlantic for their 50 years of business in Stafford County. McLane Mid-Atlantic has been a true asset to the region, delivering products to a multitude of local convenience and grocery stores, providing hundreds of jobs to our residents, and serving as a community steward participating in local organizations and charities. We look forward to your continued success – thank you for investing in our county, and congratulations on 50 years of business!” remarked Thomas Coen, Vice Chairman of the Stafford County Board of Supervisors.