Contact:
Bryan Schaaf
Certified Angus Beef LLC
330-345-2333, ext. 207
brschaaf@certifiedangusbeef.com
U.S. Foodservice-Denver sets new Certified Angus Beef ® brand first-year sales
benchmark
DENVER – Aug. 30, 2011 – 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.
-more-
-2“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.
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