One major business was recently the recipient of the Shawano Country Chamber of Commerce Large Business of the Year award.
Performance Foodservice, formerly called Reinhart Foodservice, has been in Shawano for 41 years, where it has become a pillar of the community.
“The community has been very good to us for over 40 years,” said Performance Foodservice President Michael Van Rite.
He said that when he was made aware that they had won the award, he was very proud of the business as a whole.
“It was a surprise,” said Van Rite. “This is definitely an honor.”
The business employs over 300 people, growing every year since 1980. Performance Foodservice is off to another record-setting year, Van Rite said. He added that the new, 16-month-old distribution center has worked out extremely well.
He said the business stays involved in helping the community in a variety of ways. “We donate product to SAFPARC (Shawano Area Food Pantry and Resource Center) on a weekly basis,” said Van Rite. “We also help our customers by participating in different fundraisers.”
Van Rite said activism is important to the company as a way to support the needs of their employees and the Shawano area in general.
“This is very important for us to give back,” said Van Rite. “We have employees who live in the community, so we want to help out where we can.”
Performance Foodservice plays a big role in the community, as they distribute food to cities all over eastern Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. Van Rite said that he and the employees are happy to play that role.
“We definitely like this role within the Shawano community,” said Van Rite. “The eastern half of Wisconsin is counting on us. This is just who we are as a company.”
Van Rite said that another reason for their success over the last four decades has been their emphasis on employee safety, which is a tenet of the company’s everyday culture.
“Nothing is more important to us than employee safety,” said Van Rite. “As the business is adapting and changing to meet customers’ needs, employee safety continues to develop with it.”
Van Rite said that adapting and changing has been displayed during the COVID-19 pandemic as the business was forced to meet different needs and overcome pandemic-related obstacles.
“The effects of COVID-19 on the supply chain, logistics, customers and employees is that most significant issue facing the company,” said Van Rite. “We can address and overcome this be continuing to change, adapt and execute.”
Other than safety and training, Van Rite said Performance Foodservice makes a point to listen to what their employees have to say.
Performance Foodservice also gives employees opportunities to advance in not just the Shawano branch, but over 100 other locations in the United States. Van Rite attributes the success of the company to the hard work from their employees.
“Our employees are our most important asset,” said Van Rite. “We show commitment to them through training, cross training, development and opportunities for advancement in all of our locations.”
Moving forward, Van Rite pointed out a couple of ideas in order to continue growing the business and supporting the community.
“Our goal is to continue to grow, by continuing to change and adapt,” said Van Rite. “Changing, adapting and executing is a must.”
Van Rite noted that the company’s philanthropic efforts within the community are not going to stop.
“We will continue to stay involved with donating and fundraising,” said Van Rite.
lreimer@newmedia-wi.com
Performance Food Service wins Large Business of the Year
