UFPC, Franke, Wasserstrom Team Up To Purchase PrimeSource

Unified Foodservice Purchasing Co-op LLC announced March 26 that three business divisions—UFPC Equipment Sales, UFPC Smallwares Connection (The Wasserstrom Co.) and UFPC International Equipment Connection (Franke Resupply Systems)—will acquire specific business segments of PrimeSource FoodService Equipment. Each will gain an expanded customer base in the domestic equipment, smallwares and international equipment and smallwares arenas, respectively.

UFPC is the exclusive supply chain management organization for Yum! Brands and its three restaurant systems: KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell. UFPC also manages the supply chain for A&W and Long John Silver’s restaurant systems through specific purchasing agreements. UFPC is headquartered in Louisville, Ky., and has offices in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; Irvine, Calif.; Plano, Texas; and Wichita, Kan. The Wasserstrom Co. is based in Columbus, Ohio. Franke Resupply Systems is headquartered in Smyrna, Tenn. PrimeSource Foodservice Equipment is based in Dallas.

Each of the companies had a comment on the deal. Dale Holden, senior v.p.- UFPC Equipment Sales, said, “This acquisition will strengthen the equipment business infrastructure for the entire Yum! Brands system. There is great benefit from this move, not only to UFPC, Wasserstrom and Franke, but to our customers as well. We are committed to continuing the tradition of excellent customer service and value to all franchisees.”

Fritzi Woods, chairman of the board at PrimeSource Foodservice Equipment, stated, “I am extremely proud of my period of ownership and grateful for the extraordinary logistics capabilities that the dedicated employees and management team have built. We are confident that the service model platform created by our team has been valuable to our customers.”

Ursula Vermillion, executive v.p.-The Wasserstrom Co., said, “We believe this will bring added value to the restaurant system and enhance the Connection programs across all categories.”

Bob Schiffgen, international director of Franke Resupply Systems, said, “We believe the UFPC International Equipment Connection/Franke program will be greatly enhanced by this acquisition. We remain committed to delivering excellent service and value to the Yum! Restaurants International system.”

“We expect this transaction will enable UFPC and our acquisition partners to realize significant synergies and enhance our ability to provide exceptional equipment sales, value and service to our members,” said outgoing UFPC Pres. and CEO Daniel Woodside. He had announced a few weeks earlier that he is retiring after 13 years with the company. Prior to joining UFPC, Woodside served as COO of UniPro Foodservice and president of EMCO Foodservice. His successor has not been named.