Church Brothers receives supplier awards

Church Brothers Farms and  Sysco Corp. executives take a moment to document the honor of Church Brothers receiving Sysco's 2017 gold-level Supplier Excellence Award in the produce category. Francis Adenuga (from left), vice president of technical service with True Leaf Farms; Julie Olivarria, senior director of produce for Sysco; Joe Albaugh, in regional sales with Church Brothers Farms; Steve Church, co-chairman of Church Brothers; Jon Greco, senior director of produce sourcing for Sysco; Jeff Church, vice president of sales for Church Brothers; and Rich Dachman, vice president of produce for Sysco, attended the awards event. Photo courtesy Church Brothers Farms

Church Brothers Farms, Salinas, Calif., has received a number of supplier recognition awards from customers recently, including a gold-level Supplier Excellence Award in the produce category from Sysco Corp. in October.

Sysco gives its gold supplier awards to recognize sales, margin and case growth, as well as sales support and category management engagement, according to a news release.

Sysco presented the awards at its Supplier Excellence Awards event Oct. 24 in Houston, where it also presented silver and bronze produce supplier awards: Salinas-based Mann Packing Co. Inc. received a silver award, with bronze awards going to D’Arrigo Bros. Co. of California, River Fresh Farms and Tanimura & Antle, all based in Salinas.

“We are honored by Sysco’s recognition,” Jeff Church, vice president of sales, said in the release. “They are an important customer and this was a team effort earned by Church Brothers Farms and True Leaf Farms.”

Church Brothers Farms also recently received the Vendor of the Year award from Get Fresh Produce in Chicago; the 2017 Supplier Award for Nationally Branded Produce from Frosty Acre Brands in Alpharetta, Ga; and the Taco’riffic Award from Wendy’s for “Unwavering dedication and support during the 2016 relaunch of the iconic Wendy’s taco salad,” according to the release.