HOUSTON, March 1, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- SYSCO Corporation (NYSE:SYY) North America's largest foodservice marketer and distributor, announced today that James T. (Tommy) Dail has been named president and chief executive officer of Sysco Food Services of Knoxville, LLC, a new "fold-out" facility that is currently under construction in Knoxville, TN. Mr. Dail served most recently as executive development officer, SYSCO Corporation, and will assume his new position effective July 1, 2007.
Mr. Dail, 51, a 35-year industry veteran, joined SYSCO last year. Prior to that he served as president and chief operating officer at The IJ Company. From 1991 to 2000 Mr. Dail held positions as market president and later division president at Alliant Foodservice. Before 1991, he held numerous managerial positions in various companies in the food and retail grocery industry.
Mr. Dail was born in Newport News, VA, and raised in Williamsburg, VA. He is a 1979 graduate of Emory & Henry College, located in Emory, VA, where he graduated cum laude and received a bachelor of arts degree in economics. He and his wife, Karen, have two daughters and a son and reside in Knoxville, TN.
"The concept of building a fold-out facility in an area with an established sales base has been integral to the success of SYSCO's internal growth strategy and has enabled us to provide more localized service to customers," said Richard J. Schnieders, SYSCO's chairman, chief executive officer and president. "The vibrant growth in foodservice we have seen in the Knoxville area will support a local facility, allowing us to expand SYSCO's distribution capabilities and favorably impact the communities in that region."
The new SYSCO company in Knoxville is expected to be completed in the first quarter of calendar year 2008. It will serve restaurants, hospitals, schools, colleges, retirement homes, hotels and other foodservice operations in the following areas: eastern Tennessee, southeast Kentucky, western Virginia, northeastern Georgia and parts of western North Carolina. Foodservice customers in the area are currently being served by several surrounding SYSCO operating companies. The complex will include approximately 353,000 square feet of refrigerated, frozen and dry warehouse space, as well as administrative offices.
The contractor for the Knoxville facility is BE&K Building Group, Inc. and the realtor is Stephen W. Wright. Several people were instrumental in assisting with the site location, in particular Bill Haslam, mayor of Knoxville, Dave Hill, Knoxville Department of Operations, Tim Tidwell, Tennessee Valley Authority Economic Development and Rhonda Rice and Doug Lawyer, Knoxville Area Chamber Partnerships. "This site was chosen because of the available outstanding workforce, the lifestyle and amenities afforded by the community and the willingness of the city, county and state officials to assist in securing economic development incentives and other assistance," said Michael Downs, SYSCO's assistant vice president, real estate and construction.
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. For the calendar year 2006, the company generated $33.9 billion in sales. For more information about SYSCO visit www.sysco.com.
The SYSCO Corporation logo is available at http://www.primenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=747
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements made herein are forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. They include statements regarding industry growth, employment growth and the location of any 'fold-out'. These statements involve risks and uncertainties and are based on current expectations and management's estimates; actual results may differ materially. Those risks and uncertainties that could impact these statements include the risks relating to the foodservice distribution industry's relatively low profit margins and sensitivity to economic conditions, SYSCO's leverage and debt risks, the risk of exposure to product liability claims, the risk of interruption of supplies due to lack of long-term contracts, work stoppages or otherwise, the inability to find attractive 'fold-out' locations, construction timetables. For a discussion of additional factors that could cause actual results to differ from those described in the forward-looking statements, see the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 30, 2006 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.