Produce for Better Health Foundation Recognizes Sysco, FreshPoint With Role Model Award

First-Time Honor for a Foodservice Distributor


HOUSTON, April 16, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sysco Corporation (NYSE:SYY) and its specialty produce company FreshPoint were recently recognized with the Produce for Better Health (PBH) Foundation's prestigious Role Model Award. The annual award recognizes public and private organizations for outstanding efforts in increasing the visibility, recognition and impact of the "Fruits & Veggies—More Matters" national health campaign.

"We are very thankful for our strong, private sector ambassadors and excited to recognize Sysco and FreshPoint for their exemplary efforts in increasing fruit and vegetable education, awareness and consumption, and helping to strengthen our efforts toward a healthier America," said Elizabeth Pivonka, president and chief executive officer, Produce for Better Health Foundation.

PBH launched the campaign and annual recognition program in 2007 in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is the first time since the program's inception that a foodservice distributor has been recognized.

"As one of North America's leading distributors of fresh produce, supporting PBH's national health campaign and the benefits of including more fruits and vegetables in a balanced diet is a natural fit for us," said Rich Dachman, Sysco's vice president of Produce. "This trend continues to gain momentum as our customers focus more frequently on vegetables as a main dish item, rather than as a side. We address these shifts by providing our customers with a diverse assortment of fresh produce along with innovative ways to prepare healthy menu options."

PBH is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to achieve increased daily consumption of fruits and vegetables for better health by leveraging private industry and public sector resources, motivating key consumer influencers, and promoting fruits and vegetables directly to consumers.

PBH recognized Sysco as an industry leader in communicating the importance of daily consumption of fruits and vegetables with its customers and their patrons, using resources like the company's ChefRef Foodie Magazine, FreshPoint newsletter and the Sysco Healthy and Positive Eating (SHAPE) eNewsletter. Other efforts included placing the "Fruits & Veggies—More Matters" logo on approved packaging, using the logo in certain promotions, linking to PBH informational sites in marketing collateral, and advocating for PBH and its mission.

About Sysco

Sysco is the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments and other customers who prepare meals away from home. Its family of products also includes equipment and supplies for the foodservice and hospitality industries. The company operates 194 distribution facilities serving approximately 425,000 customers. For Fiscal Year 2014 that ended June 28, 2014, the company generated sales of more than $46 billion. For more information, visit www.sysco.com or connect with Sysco on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SyscoCorporation.

About Produce for Better Health Foundation

Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) consumer education foundation whose purpose is to motivate people to eat more fruits and vegetables to improve public health. The foundation is responsible for a variety of nutrition education and marketing programs, including the Fruits & Veggies – More Matters health initiative. PBH also achieves success through industry and government collaboration. For more information about PBH or to see how you can support the effort to increase fruit and vegetable consumption for better health, visit www.PBHFoundation.org.



            

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