Fraternity, Sorority Foodservice Companies Merge
Contract fraternity and sorority foodservice management companies, Upper Crust Food Service, LLC and College Chefs, LLC have merged. Adam Guy, current Upper Crust CEO, will oversee operations for both companies moving forward. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Combining Upper Crust and College Chefs creates the leading provider of foodservice to fraternity houses, sorority houses and summer camps across the country. The combined company will service over 400 accounts in 45 states and across over 100 college campuses. Furthermore, the company will leverage its 850+ food service professionals to better serve its customers across the country.
“We are excited to merge two successful companies together to create the industry leader in our niche market,” Guy said. “Combining the experience and expertise of Upper Crust and College Chefs will benefit our employees and in turn the customers we serve.”
“Adam, like my brother Kevin, created these companies from scratch and this combined company will take them to a new level,” said Tim Gadus, manager of College Chefs. “I believe these companies who operate very similarly are now well positioned for the future.”
Established in Columbia, Mo., in 2010, Upper Crust Food Service serves fraternity houses, sorority houses, and summer camps. With a focus on great food and personal service, the company now feeds tens of thousands of meals weekly to students and campers across the country. www.UpperCrustFoodService.com
Started in Champaign, Ill., in 2008, College Chefs founder Kevin Gadus created College Chefs to provide him an opportunity to harness his passion and creativity for cooking. College Chefs employs professional chefs that provide rockstar service to premier fraternity and sorority chapters across the country. www.CollegeChefs.com
Selders Named UNFI President of Fresh; Barrick Promoted
Ron Selders
United Natural Foods, Inc. has named Ron Selders UNFI president of fresh, where he will lead growth strategy for its deli, bakery, produce and meat departments. These critically important store perimeter categories drive traffic and provide independent grocery retailers with choice, value and unique products that help differentiate them within their marketplace. Selders’ appointment is effective Dec. 26, and he will report to Steve Dietz, UNFI’s chief customer officer.
“Food retailers continue to invest in their fresh departments as they represent one of the most important growth areas in the grocery store, in addition to being a main driver in how retailers stand out against their competition,” said Dietz.
“Ron has extensive experience in the fresh categories and working with the supplier community, and we expect this experience, combined with his strong understanding of customers’ operational expectations, to benefit our retail customers as they seek tailored solutions to enhance the consumer experience. He’s a proven leader and someone I’m confident will help our Fresh teams build and deliver an even stronger set of products and solutions for our customers going forward.”
Selders joined UNFI through the acquisition of Tony’s Fine Foods in 2014 and became president of the division in 2018. He had previously spent 18 years in leadership roles at Tony’s, helping grow the family-owned specialty deli distribution business across the West Coast. In 2021, Selders was promoted to UNFI’s senior vice president of bakery & deli, where he led the respective sales, merchandising and category management teams across the entire organization.
During his UNFI tenure, Selders also helped lead the further expansion of Tony’s prepared foods and bakery and deli offerings across the country, as well as create a center-led specialty cheese department across the United States with initiatives such as the American Artisan program, which aims to bring smaller cheese producers greater visibility and sales opportunities within grocery stores.
Jody Barrick
With Selders’ promotion, UNFI vice president of bakery & deli, Jody Barrick, has been elevated to senior vice president of bakery & deli. Barrick joined UNFI through the acquisition of SUPERVALU and brings over 30 years of proven success leading the sales, merchandising and marketing functions of bakery and deli teams to the role. Barrick also serves on the executive board of the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association.
“Large-scale changes to shopping and eating behaviors, especially as more meals are consumed in the home, have put a stronger focus on the perimeter of the grocery store and its offerings. These changes represent a tremendous opportunity for retailers, and I look forward to working with our fresh teams to deliver wide-ranging and innovative products to help our customers grow and thrive,” said Selders.
Selders holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from California State University, Sacramento.
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National Beverage Corp. Pleads for St. Jude Donations
Commemorating its 29th year as a continuing partner of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, National Beverage Corp. asks all to help St. Jude in its lifesaving mission: Finding Cures. Saving Children.
“St. Jude’s dedication to research and patient care has saved countless lives and deserves our unconditional support,” stated Nick A. Caporella, chairman and chief executive officer. “It is an honor and a blessing to advocate for the incredible work of St. Jude as they work tirelessly to end childhood disease.”
Founder and entertainer Danny Thomas opened the doors to St. Jude in 1962 with the dream that no child should die in the dawn of life. St. Jude affirms it is a ‘place of discovery, innovation and healing.’ Regardless of the duration or the cost of care, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing, or food, so they can focus on helping their child live.
“Together . . . we can make a significant impact on the success of St. Jude’s mission. We ask all this holiday season to join us in doing everything we can to support St. Jude. What greater joy is there . . . than inspiring dreams of a disease-free future for deserving children!” Caporella said.
Donations may be made online at www.stnicks4stjude.com or by calling 1-800-4STJUDE.
National Beverage has been honored by several charitable organizations, including: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, The City of Hope, Cleveland Clinic and MD Anderson, in recognition of our commitment to research that has revolutionized the treatment of cancer and other catastrophic diseases. In addition the company supports organizations that provide assistance to active U.S. military along with veterans and their families.
St. Jude is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Regardless of the duration or the cost of care, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing, or food, so they can focus on helping their child live. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate in the United States from 20 percent to more than 80 percent since 1962.
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