Each year, Unified Supply Chain, Inc. (USCI), a wholly owned subsidiary of International Dairy Queen, Inc., recognizes supply-chain partners who provide superior service and outstanding support to 5,600 Dairy Queen and DQ Grill & Chill locations worldwide.
“Our distributors and suppliers are integral to Dairy Queen’s ongoing growth and success,” says Roger Hubbard, USCI interim chief supply chain officer. “These valued partnerships ensure seamless service, maintain cost-efficiency, and increase profitability for our franchisees.”
The 2008 Unified Supply Chain Award winners for Dairy Queen are:
Vendor of the Year: Headquartered in Minneapolis, Cargill provides DQ with outstanding service and competitive pricing and took the lead in two of Dairy Queen’s biggest initiatives this year. Cargill provided the bread for the new Iron Grilled Sandwiches now on the menu and is currently finalizing the transition to a zero grams of trans fat per serving frying oil. With 160,000 employees in 67 countries, Cargill is an international provider of food, agricultural and risk management products and services.
Distributor of the Year: Customized Distribution, Inc. (CDI) of Jacksonville, Fla. was recognized for consistently high service-level ratings and excellence in pricing accuracy. Founded in April 2000, CDI distributes a full line of food, produce, dairy, chemical and paper products to Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. For Dairy Queen, CDI services 207 Florida franchisees from the Jacksonville facility and 150 Georgia franchisees from the company’s distribution center in Atlanta.
Dairy of the Year: Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc. – Springfield Mix Division was recognized for operation excellence and its rank as the top performing dairy manufacturer serving Dairy Queen this year. With 700 member farms, Prairie Farms Dairy, headquartered in Carlinville, Ill., is one of the largest dairy cooperatives in the Midwest and Midsouth regions.
