1998 Annual Report
Glossary of Terms
Foodservice Distribution Market
The distribution market is the total purchases of food and related foodservice supplies and products by customers, including restaurants, hospitals, retirement homes, schools, colleges, hotels, motels, cruise ship lines, and other foodservice operations - wherever a meal is prepared away from home.Real Sales Growth
Real sales growth is calculated by adjusting the total sales figure for acquisitions and food cost inflation or deflation.SYSCO's Inflation Index
SYSCO's inflation index is an internal measurement of the year-over-year annualized increase or decrease in the cost SYSCO pays for 12 categories of products.SYSCO Quality Assurance Department
The Quality Assurance Department includes 180 foodservice professionals who are responsible for developing the specifications for the SYSCO Brand products, for inspecting the plants of the manufacturers and processors who will produce the products, and for enforcing SYSCO's rigorous standards.SYSCO Brand
Approximately 33,000 products, including items from every product category, are produced under the SYSCO Brand name. It is truly a brand, not a private label, since the product specifications are developed and enforced by SYSCO.Specialty Brands
The Specialty Brands were introduced to offer "families" of products in specific ethnic categories of market segments to foodservice operators who provide menu choices such as Italian, Mexican, Asian or deli to their patrons.Brandables
The Brandables program incorporates Specialty Brand products that are usable in traditional or alternative locations. It combines interchangeable signage and uniforms to match each food concept, including ethnic and deli, as well as Cool N' Classy Yogurt and Potato Gourmet. The program offers boil-in-the-bag or heat-and-serve, easy to prepare menus and food products and an accompanying manual that describes how to prepare, plate and serve the meals attractively.Home Meal Replacement/Convenience Meal Solutions
Home Meal Replacement is a term used in the foodservice distribution industry to describe meals prepared away from home that are purchased to be consumed in the diner's chosen environment. Although it is similar to what is typically known as "takeout," consumers today want to eat meals that are convenient to take home, but have the quality and variety of restaurant or home-style meals.