1998 Annual Report

Food Trends

As new food trends emerge, SYSCO works with suppliers to develop specialty brand lines that feature condiments and prepared sauces, as well as canned, frozen and packaged items integral to that cuisine. Arrezzio™ Italian products have old-world, gourmet-style labels ideal for displaying with fresh-food ingredients - the latest trend in casual, but upscale Italian restaurants. Pasta LaBella®, which features dry flavored pastas such as Tomato Basil or Chili Pepper pasta, complements the 1,200 Arrezzio™ products, as does the Ottimo® line of competitively priced products. Other popular specialty brands include SYSCO's Casa Solana™ Mexican foods, Jade Mountain™ Asian specialties and Block & Barrel™ deli products.

Craig Watson, Asst. V.P., Quality Assurance, tests SYSCO Brand olive oil. The Brand is truly a Brand, not merely a label. While SYSCO manufactures no products, its unparalleled quality assurance staff includes 180-plus professionals who develop stringent product standards and evaluate manufacturers in prime growing and production areas. SYSCO's quality assurance staff has total autonomy to disapprove a supplier or withdraw products that do not meet SYSCO's standards

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