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On Friday, November 4, 2016, as most of us were arriving at our stores and offices, an exciting and unexpected story was sent to the press regarding the SpartanNash acquisition of Caito Foods. The facts were accurately stated in the headline article sent out by theproducenews.com: “SpartanNash and Caito Foods Service have entered into a definitive agreement under which SpartanNash will acquire certain assets of Caito Foods Service and Blue Ribbon Transport. Under the terms of the agreement, SpartanNash will acquire Caito’s produce distribution business (all three divisions); fresh cut fruits and vegetables business; the company’s newly constructed Fresh Kitchen facility, which is designed to process and package fresh-prepared foods; and the logistics business of Blue Ribbon Transport (BRT).”
While all of you are familiar with Caito Foods, the Caito family, and our incredible associates, there may be some among you who are not as familiar with SpartanNash. SpartanNash was formed in November 2013 when Spartan Stores merged with Nash Finch Company. Spartan Stores was established in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1917, while Nash Finch has an even longer history, being established in the Dakota territory in 1885. Headquartered in Grand Rapids, SpartanNash distributes to customers in 47 states from ten distribution centers, with their trucks traveling more than a million miles every week. SpartanNash is the leading distributor of grocery products to U.S. military commissaries around the world, delivering from seven distribution centers. It is a Fortune 400 company and is publicly traded (NASDAQ: SPTN) and its nearly $8 billion in annual sales make SpartanNash the fifth largest food distributor in the United States.
Those are important things to know, but what is SpartanNash really like, how do they go to business, and how will this acquisition change things for Caito Foods’ customers and Caito Foods’ associates? As a thirty-year associate of Caito Foods, it’s important to me that you better understand what this means to us all. I begin by telling you what I know about Caito Foods’ new partner because, despite the fact that this is an acquisition, these two companies will approach business more as partners than as a smaller company owned by a larger one.
I enjoy knowing what companies stand for. Here is SpartanNash’s Corporate Vision: “To be a best-in-class business that feels local, where relationships matter.” Simply words with profound meaning. SpartanNash is a large company, but its goal is not to be the biggest—it wants to be best-in-class. Caito Foods has always tried to be a best-in-class produce supplier, so this shows a great alignment between the two companies. The Corporate Vision shows a dedication to “feel local,” which means an involvement with each and every customer in every community they serve. Of course, “where relationships matter” is the most powerful part of the Vision, because both companies recognize that we are all in the “people business” and that every customer and every consumer should always be treated with total respect. I think the Corporate Vision is supported by SpartanNash’s Core Values: Innovation, Patriotism, Teamwork, Respect, Integrity, Accountability and Celebration & Fun.
Our company will retain the Caito Foods name and we will operate as we always have. Our company leadership is here to stay and the CFS Sales associates you know will continue in their roles. Dennis Eidson, SpartanNash’s CEO/Chairman of the Board, made the trip to Indianapolis to be there when the acquisition was announced. He spent time introducing his fine company to our associates, but I found his most assuring words expressed when he spoke of his respect for Caito Foods and its customers (I paraphrase Mr. Eidson’s remarks): “ You will ALWAYS be Caito Foods. Someday down the road, you may be ‘Caito Foods—a division of SpartanNash.’ But you will always be Caito Foods. We understand the responsibility of upholding your name—and honoring it. And I have told Phil Caito and Joe Caito that I understand and respect how important that is.”
Caito Foods’ President / CEO Bob Kirch summarizes this new endeavor: “With our long history and family tradition of processing and distributing fresh, convenient and healthy foods, we are excited and proud to join an organization that shares our passion and commitment to serve customers with the freshest foods. We are looking forward to joining the SpartanNash family to expand and enhance our combined ability to deliver high quality fresh products efficiently to a greater number of customers across the country.” And, these words from a message sent by Phil Caito and Joe Caito to the Caito Foods family of associates: “Throughout these negotiations, we have kept our Associates and our Customers as the most important part of what we do—and we have seen first-hand that the commitment is the same for the folks at SpartanNash. We have worked closely with their management team and are certain that our vision and passion— together with theirs— is all about serving our Customers and Each Other. We know that growing a business in today’s economy is difficult; however, we are confident that SpartanNash has the resources, strengths, vision and values that align with ours to ensure sustained success. Working together...we will be the industry leading team for delivering the freshest foods in the world!”
In summary, here’s what you can expect: you will be serviced with the same dedication as always...without interruption. And, as always, we are committed to constant improvement and improved communications. You’ll see the same friendly faces, hear the same voices, experience the same level of caring professionalism. Business as usual—with some new excitement and interesting opportunities! Now, more than ever… Happy Selling! [/col] [/grid]
While all of you are familiar with Caito Foods, the Caito family, and our incredible associates, there may be some among you who are not as familiar with SpartanNash. SpartanNash was formed in November 2013 when Spartan Stores merged with Nash Finch Company. Spartan Stores was established in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1917, while Nash Finch has an even longer history, being established in the Dakota territory in 1885. Headquartered in Grand Rapids, SpartanNash distributes to customers in 47 states from ten distribution centers, with their trucks traveling more than a million miles every week. SpartanNash is the leading distributor of grocery products to U.S. military commissaries around the world, delivering from seven distribution centers. It is a Fortune 400 company and is publicly traded (NASDAQ: SPTN) and its nearly $8 billion in annual sales make SpartanNash the fifth largest food distributor in the United States.
Those are important things to know, but what is SpartanNash really like, how do they go to business, and how will this acquisition change things for Caito Foods’ customers and Caito Foods’ associates? As a thirty-year associate of Caito Foods, it’s important to me that you better understand what this means to us all. I begin by telling you what I know about Caito Foods’ new partner because, despite the fact that this is an acquisition, these two companies will approach business more as partners than as a smaller company owned by a larger one.
I enjoy knowing what companies stand for. Here is SpartanNash’s Corporate Vision: “To be a best-in-class business that feels local, where relationships matter.” Simply words with profound meaning. SpartanNash is a large company, but its goal is not to be the biggest—it wants to be best-in-class. Caito Foods has always tried to be a best-in-class produce supplier, so this shows a great alignment between the two companies. The Corporate Vision shows a dedication to “feel local,” which means an involvement with each and every customer in every community they serve. Of course, “where relationships matter” is the most powerful part of the Vision, because both companies recognize that we are all in the “people business” and that every customer and every consumer should always be treated with total respect. I think the Corporate Vision is supported by SpartanNash’s Core Values: Innovation, Patriotism, Teamwork, Respect, Integrity, Accountability and Celebration & Fun.
Our company will retain the Caito Foods name and we will operate as we always have. Our company leadership is here to stay and the CFS Sales associates you know will continue in their roles. Dennis Eidson, SpartanNash’s CEO/Chairman of the Board, made the trip to Indianapolis to be there when the acquisition was announced. He spent time introducing his fine company to our associates, but I found his most assuring words expressed when he spoke of his respect for Caito Foods and its customers (I paraphrase Mr. Eidson’s remarks): “ You will ALWAYS be Caito Foods. Someday down the road, you may be ‘Caito Foods—a division of SpartanNash.’ But you will always be Caito Foods. We understand the responsibility of upholding your name—and honoring it. And I have told Phil Caito and Joe Caito that I understand and respect how important that is.”
Caito Foods’ President / CEO Bob Kirch summarizes this new endeavor: “With our long history and family tradition of processing and distributing fresh, convenient and healthy foods, we are excited and proud to join an organization that shares our passion and commitment to serve customers with the freshest foods. We are looking forward to joining the SpartanNash family to expand and enhance our combined ability to deliver high quality fresh products efficiently to a greater number of customers across the country.” And, these words from a message sent by Phil Caito and Joe Caito to the Caito Foods family of associates: “Throughout these negotiations, we have kept our Associates and our Customers as the most important part of what we do—and we have seen first-hand that the commitment is the same for the folks at SpartanNash. We have worked closely with their management team and are certain that our vision and passion— together with theirs— is all about serving our Customers and Each Other. We know that growing a business in today’s economy is difficult; however, we are confident that SpartanNash has the resources, strengths, vision and values that align with ours to ensure sustained success. Working together...we will be the industry leading team for delivering the freshest foods in the world!”
In summary, here’s what you can expect: you will be serviced with the same dedication as always...without interruption. And, as always, we are committed to constant improvement and improved communications. You’ll see the same friendly faces, hear the same voices, experience the same level of caring professionalism. Business as usual—with some new excitement and interesting opportunities! Now, more than ever… Happy Selling! [/col] [/grid]
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