Gordon Food Service
Gordon Food Service started in 1897 as a one-man operation, using a horse-drawn cart to deliver eggs and butter in Grand Rapids. Its foundation was based on community service, working with local farmers to ensure a steady supply of quality products to grocers. From this beginning, the Gordon Food Service team developed a strong appreciation for the land used to grow the food that sustains people. It also helped build personal ties to the people they met along the way.
Over 115 years and several generations later, Gordon Food Service has become the largest family-managed foodservice distributor in North America. It’s grown to include thousands of employees working daily with restaurants, schools, hospitals, senior care centers, other foodservice operators, and store customers to provide quality food, reliable products, and expert advice.
Maintaining a relationship-centered way of doing business has been a constant in a world filled with change. They care about the people they interact with and employ, and recognize the importance of protecting the resources they use while conducting business. Every decision they make affects their family of customers, employees, suppliers, and communities where they live and work.
The Gordon Food Service Statements of Direction outline three objectives used to guide its work:
Ensure corporate sustainability, Minimize environmental impact, Promote social responsibility
These objectives guide its corporate stewardship. They hold their team accountable for maintaining practices and making decisions with the future in mind—the future of the business, the people they work with and employ, and the planet.
Their Home Office in Grand Rapids, exemplifies their commitment to stewardship and sustainability. In 2015, the building obtained LEED Silver Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for meeting or exceeding design and construction standards in five categories:
- Sustainable site development: Bicycle parking and storage; reserved parking for low-emission vehicles; and vegetated live rooftops.
- Water savings: Water-efficient landscaping, including sensors to measure soil moisture and prevent overwatering; and low-flow plumbing fixtures.
- Energy efficiency: Energy-efficient geothermal wells used for the heating and air conditioning system; parking lot lights that dim during periods of inactivity.
- Materials selection: Use of recycled material and wood from sustainable forests; local sourcing of construction materials; construction waste routed to recyclers.
- Indoor environmental quality: High-performance window glass that prevents heat gain in summer and heat loss in winter; lights that dim or shut off when not in use; adjustable workstation air-flow vents; automated blinds to adjust to sunlight.
LEED Silver distinction puts their 384,000-square-foot Home Office in an elite group of large buildings in Michigan. More importantly, it demonstrates to the people who work there, the customers they serve, and the community at large that they are committed to operational efficiencies and promoting a healthy working and living environment.
Contact
Gordon Food Service
1300 Gezon Parkway SW
Wyoming, MI 49509