East Coast Wings & Grill, a fast-growing casual-dining buffalo wing concept, and US Foods, one of America’s leading foodservice distributors, have announced a formal alliance for service in North Carolina.
The alliance will allow East Coast Wings & Grill to maximize its efforts of controlling cost of goods along with its product line, as well as protect new franchisees in markets the Winston-Salem–based chain is in the process of developing.
“For more than a year, we have researched all the major food distributors, along with some independents and regional ones, looking for the right partnership,” says Tom Scalese, executive vice president of operations for East Coast Wings & Grill. “US Foods showed us a team of strategic partners that will help us achieve our desired objectives.”
With more than 2,500 customers throughout the Southeastern United States, including numerous multi-unit restaurants and healthcare facilities, US Foods’ Charlotte Division will serve all of East Coast Wings & Grill’s restaurants in North Carolina.
“East Coast Wings & Grill continues to expand throughout the state and beyond, and we are thrilled to be able to support them as they grow," says Mahmoud Sadighi, president of US Foods’ Charlotte Division. "We are committed to providing customers like East Coast Wings & Grill with unique and innovative products and business solutions that help them stand out from the crowd and keep diners coming back for more."
The partnership marks a significant milestone for a company that was founded in 1995 and has already grown to a total of 23 restaurants throughout North and South Carolina.
Known for its 75 different flavors of jumbo chicken wings offered in 675 combinations, East Coast Wings & Grill plans to add up to 75 restaurants during the next five years, thanks to several area development agreements that the company has already sealed with individuals who have purchased the rights to open locations in specific territories.
“US Foods has brought several new pieces of technology to us such as menu mapping and nutritional information that we did not have access to with our previous relationship,” Scalese says. “As our brand growth continues to gain momentum, the partnership with US Foods will no doubt further drive bottom-line dollars to our system, while ensuring our product quality and proprietary items.”
