DENVER – U.S. Foodservice – Denver recently set the record for first-year sales of the Certified Angus Beef ® brand.
Working closely with Lombardi Brothers, a long-time Certified Angus Beef ® brand licensed specialty meat purveyor, the Denver division moved the needle quickly, selling the product to 87 percent of its customer base.
“This is a brand that’s recognized at the consumer level for its high quality,” said David Patterson, division president, U.S. Foodservice-Denver. “It provides customers with a quality product that performs consistently. Customers tell us diners love the Certified Angus Beef ® brand.”
Patterson credits education and promotions as two major reasons for the new sales record. He and his staff traveled to the brand’s headquarters in Wooster, Ohio, for two days of brand basics and training, converted their commodity USDA Choice products to Certified Angus Beef ® brand products and executed a major roll out at their general sales meetings with representatives from the brand.
“Customer response has been overwhelming,” Patterson said. “One account has sold more steaks since adding the brand to their menu than they have in years past. A customer in Casper, Wyoming, left our steak program for six months and received many customer complaints. They have since returned and are using the Certified Angus Beef ® brand, and their customer satisfaction has been overwhelming.”
Gale Rhoads, executive account manager for Certified Angus Beef LLC said the entire U.S. Foodservice-Denver team has been committed to the success of the beef to help make customers more successful. “They’ve had tremendous management support and really took ownership of the brand from the top down. They stepped up and brought many members of their management team in for a private educational session prior to launch, and that really helped to deepen that commitment.”
Rhoads also credited the work of U.S. Foodservice-Denver’s three Certified Angus Beef ® brand specialists, Bob Ficklin, Peter Rauen and Mort Kent. Kent is a former brand Specialist of the Year with Lombardi Brothers and has had a long relationship with the brand dating back to his time with Lone Star Foodservice in Austin.
“Mort’s extensive knowledge and expertise is invaluable in the field,” Patterson said. “He is recognized among our sales associates and customers as the professor of beef.”
The Certified Angus Beef ® brand is the best Angus beef available and a cut above USDA Prime, Choice and Select. Ten standards ensure its premium quality and incredible flavor, tenderness and juiciness in every bite. It is proudly featured by more than 12,300 restaurants and retailers around the world. For more information, visit www.certifiedangusbeef.com, or follow the brand on Facebook and Twitter.
Source: Certified Angus Beef
