Darden Restaurants on Monday announced 11 recipients of its annual William B. Darden Distinguished Supplier Awards, including two seafood companies.
California-based shrimp importer Pacific Supreme Co. and Vermont-based tilapia importer and distributor Tropical Aquaculture Products were among the companies that received the award.
The other nine companies to receive the supplier award were Colavita USA, Custom Prepared Foods, Majestic Fine Wines, Maines Paper & Food Service, Nestle Professional, O.K. Foods, The Neil Jones Food Co., Tyson Prepared Foods and Zonin U.S.A.
Named for the company’s late founder, the awards recognize a select group from more than 1,500 global suppliers who go above and beyond to contribute to the success of the company. Selected by Darden’s culinary, purchasing, total quality and marketing teams, recipients were honored at a dinner in Orlando, Fla., late last week.
“Serving 400 million meals a year in more than 1,800 restaurants throughout North America requires an enormous amount of teamwork and collaboration,” said Barry Moullet, Darden’s senior VP of supply chain. “Each of these companies has surpassed expectations and been true business partners by finding ways to contribute to Darden’s success through innovative products and results-driven initiatives.”
The company also announced a newly created award given to companies that have received that supplier award five times. The inaugural Joe R. Lee Legendary Leadership Awards were given to Lotito Fooods and T. Marzetti Company.
