OGDEN -- Visiting Utah businesses is a way to keep an eye on what's really happening in the economy, U.S. Sen. Bob Bennett said Friday as he toured the Ogden U.S. Foodservice facility.
"We're proud of the job we do and the service we provide," said David Hickerson, U.S. Foodservice public affairs vice president. "We want to show them what we do and our commitment to the community."
Bennett said before the tour was arranged he had never heard of U.S. Foodservice, a national food distribution company. That low profile is what the company wants to change, said Jim Siudzinski, the Salt Lake City division vice president.
U.S. Foodservice distributes food and kitchen supplies to restaurants, schools, hospitals and other organizations. Division President Dave Hansel said the company is like a grocery store for businesses and other institutions.
The company has been under its current name only since 2001 but has existed in various incarnations for nearly 100 years, Hickerson said. The Ogden center, at 832 Hinckley Drive, opened a year ago and has more than 300 employees. The center distributes products to five states.
Bennett said the visit is a good way to keep in touch with what is happening in the state.
"You can get kind of isolated in Washington, D.C.," he said. "The American economy is very dynamic and the only way you can get a real feel for that is to come out and talk to people."
Hansel said the company works hard to be a good neighbor and a good employer and has become an important part of the local economy. He said they take doing business seriously and view customer satisfaction, food safety and good treatment of employees as top priorities.
Hickerson said U.S. Foodservice has been trying to help pass food-safety legislation because the company wants to bring other companies up to what it believes are acceptable standards.
U.S. Foodservice does things quickly and professionally, Hansel said.
"People give FedEx credit for getting a letter somewhere within 24 hours. We'll get you 500 boxes of groceries," he said. "Order by 7 p.m. and we get it to you at 6 a.m."
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