#Golden State Foods #QCD Charlotte #Chairman's Challenge

Golden State Foods Honors QCD Charlotte Team with the Chairman's Challenge Award

On a momentous occasion last week, Golden State Foods (GSF), a leading supplier in the foodservice industry, presented the 2024 Chairman's Challenge Award to the Quality Custom Distribution (QCD) team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. This award, part of a celebrated 25-year tradition, recognizes outstanding operational performance by one of GSF's premier facility teams. Demonstrating excellence across various domains such as people management, safety protocols, quality of service, customer support, financial outcomes, and community engagement, the team's accomplishments are indeed commendable.

Brian Dick, GSF's President and CEO, emphasized the remarkable achievements of QCD Charlotte during the award ceremony, stating, "QCD Charlotte excelled in so many aspects of their 2024 performance, building on a Best in Class Award win last year and seizing every opportunity to soar to new heights together as one team." This recognition not only serves as a celebration of their successes but also as an inspiration for continued excellence within the organization.

During the annual awards ceremony at GSF's Global Leadership Conference in Southern California, Dick co-presented the award alongside Stephen Wetterau, the Executive Vice Chair of GSF's Board of Directors. They both shared insights into the history of the Chairman's Challenge Award—a prestigious accolade that traces back to a similar initiative created decades ago by Mark Wetterau, former GSF Chairman and CEO.

The QCD Charlotte team's accolades for 2024 were particularly impressive. They not only supported customers with exceptional last-mile distribution services but also provided critical hurricane relief assistance, which earned them distinct recognition from their customers. Furthermore, they achieved a consistent safety performance, being honored with their fourth consecutive National Safety Council Award. The team also piloted innovative operational technology aimed at minimizing accidents and was recognized for their effective cost management strategies and solid financial results.

Maintaining excellence in quality audits—both internal and with customers—was crucial for the QCD Charlotte team. Their successes also extended beyond operations; they inspired significant community involvement among their associates. As Scott VanLue, General Manager of QCD Charlotte, expressed, “We talked about bringing home the Eagle for so long, and now it’s finally happening! Our associates have worked so hard day in and day out, in challenging weather conditions to service our customers, giving back to support our community, and even delivered a baby while in the field! This Chairman's Challenge Award is a great honor, and I'm so excited to share it with the team.”

In addition to the esteemed Chairman's Challenge honors, the QCD Charlotte team received the 2024 Safety Excellence Award and the Outstanding Associate Engagement award from the GSF Foundation, showcasing their dedication to both quality and teamwork. The recognition was further solidified as they received the GSF