The International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA) announced the winners of the 9th Annual Distributor Awards, which acknowledge distributor leadership and overall excellence within the foodservice industry. Shamrock Foods, Cheney Brothers, and the Gordon Family of Gordon Food Service will each be honored during the Distributor Awards ceremony at IFMA’s 53rd Annual Presidents Conference, co-hosted by the National Restaurant Association (NRA) and the International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA) in Scottsdale, Arizona on November 1-4.

"Our vision for the industry to win the consumers’ choice requires a strong partnership with our distribution community. The IFMA Membership every year is very excited to pick the best to honor with these prestigious awards,” says Larry Oberkfell, president and CEO of IFMA. “This year’s Distributor Award recipients bring honor to the previous winners as the best of the best.”

2015 IFMA Distributor Award recipients:

Cheney Brothers receives the IFMA Excellence in Distribution Award:This award recognizes a corporate or independent distribution organization that has demonstrated excellence in the categories of management and leadership, customer relations, supplier relations, and industry/community contributions. Established in 1925, Cheney Brothers continues to expand its service with customers, most recently through construction of a new 340,000-square-foot distribution center set to open in southwest Florida as soon as this fall. Cheney Brothers was nominated by Nestle and PepsiCo.

Shamrock Foods is awarded the IFMA Distributor Sales & Marketing Performance Award, which recognizes a single independent distributor or an individual operating company of a distributor with multiple locations that has demonstrated successful planning and execution of creative sales and marketing. Founded in 1922 in Arizona, Shamrock is the comprehensive resource for restaurants, hotels and other foodservice operations across the Western U.S. with distribution centers in California, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Oregon. Shamrock’s business model is built on a customer-centric philosophy and is still guided by its founding principles of dedication to quality people, products and service; a spirit of innovation; and a commitment to community. Shamrock Foods was nominated by Schreiber Foods.

The Gordon Family of Gordon Food Service is named winner of IFMA's Distinguished Industry Achievement Award, which recognizes leaders who have brought about positive change in the foodservice distribution community and have been pioneers in the areas of management, marketing and operations. Through the Gordon Family’s leadership, Gordon Food Service continues to innovate with a keen eye on understanding customer goals. The company also emphasizes a family values approach that brings personal support and expertise that customers value most.

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