Harbor Wholesale Foods of Lacey, Washington, announces a five-year distribution agreement with restaurant chain Subway Restaurants, serving 400-plus stores throughout western Washington and southeast Alaska. Harbor will deliver food products to franchise owners of the largest restaurant chain in the world from as far north as the Canadian border to as far south as Toledo, Washington. The partnership means 28 additional hires to support the new business, which is about a 10-percent increase in staff for the 92-year-old, family-owned company.
Fourth-generation owner and CEO, Justin Erickson, believes this deal leverages the best of Harbor’s capabilities.
“Subway’s model of using regional distributors to serve local markets works well for Harbor’s distribution footprint. We will be able to utilize existing assets to serve Subway as well as our existing customer base. In addition, our reputation as a Subway distributor will open new doors for us in restaurant and convenience food distribution. Our entire team is excited and proud to begin this partnership.”
According to Independent Purchasing Cooperative, an organization that supports Subway franchises, “Harbor’s service capabilities and competitive pricing represented a clear preference among all bidders.”
Harbor will begin meeting with franchise owners in the coming weeks with deliveries beginning June 28, 2015.
