Sysco Corporation (NYSE:SYY), the leading global foodservice distribution company, launched its One Planet. One Table. assortment, the foodservice industry’s largest offering of certified and sustainably focused products.
The Sysco One Planet. One Table. assortment includes over 3,000 items across 15 categories that are:
- Backed by one of 20+ leading sustainability certifications and standards,
- Included in Sysco’s sustainability commitments for seafood or fresh produce, or
- Plant-based alternative proteins.
This announcement comes in conjunction with the release of Sysco’s 2023 Sustainability Report and DEI report, which highlights progress against the company’s goals across three pillars of sustainability: People, Products, and the Planet.
Total Food Service caught up with Neil Russell, Sysco’s SVP and Chief Administrative Officer to learn how they’re cultivating partnerships and encouraging others to join them at the table in solving climate and sustainability challenges together.
Can you elaborate on Sysco’s One Planet. One Table. assortment and how it contributes to the foodservice industry’s sustainability goals?
As the global leader in foodservice, we have a responsibility to leverage our scale and position at the center of the food ecosystem to drive change that compels others across the industry to follow. Sysco was the first in our industry to set a science-based climate goal, committing to electrify 35% of our U.S. fleet and source 100% renewable electricity by 2030. We’re also partnering with suppliers to reduce their own emissions. Our One Planet. One Table. assortment further broadens our scope of positive impact by making it easier for customers to identify and add more sustainable options to their menus. Over 85% of our independent customers stated that sustainability is important in choosing a supplier. In addition, many of our large customers have established their own sustainability commitments.
You mention a growing market of customers looking for more sustainable products. What specific features or capabilities does Sysco Shop offer to help customers identify and integrate sustainable options into their menus?
With One Planet. One Table., customers will now be able to use Sysco Shop, our e-commerce system, to easily browse the U.S. foodservice industry’s largest assortment of sustainable offerings in one place. With over 3,000 products across 15 categories, Sysco is proud to offer the largest assortment of products backed by best-in-class sustainability certifications, standards, and programs in the U.S. foodservice industry. Of course, outside of browsing the user-friendly, digital One Planet. One Table selection, our sales and culinary team are happy to offer personal 1:1 support to our customers to help them refresh and design their menus with sustainability at the forefront.
Can you provide examples of supplier and other partnerships and how they contribute to addressing climate and sustainability challenges?
Yes. Our partnerships span the gamut from suppliers to universities and NGOs. Here are just a few examples:
- Southern Plains Grassland Program: Across 1 million acres in the Southern Great Plains, we’ve provided grants to rancher-led sustainable grazing projects since 2021. In 2023, we and other partners in the program awarded six new grants totaling $2.2 million, which will support initiatives in Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico and Colorado to improve grasslands health, support biodiversity, improve climate resilience and increase carbon sequestration.
- WWF: Sysco has partnered with WWF since 2009 to advance our seafood sustainability program to increase the sustainability of our seafood offerings, improve the traceability of our products, and protect vulnerable species and ecosystems. In our FY23 Sustainability Report, we shared that 93% of our top 15 wild-caught seafood species groups and 98% of our top 5 aquaculture species groups are now meeting our overall seafood commitment for both Sysco U.S. and Canada sourcing.
- Recipe for Sustainability: Through our Recipe for Sustainability program, we collaborate with universities to help accelerate sustainable change and prepare the next generation of sustainability leaders. Students at Arizona State University and Pennsylvania State University recently had the opportunity to explore real-world sustainability and business challenges, like how to address food waste and reduce packaging. I was inspired by the proposals students made and their thoughtful approach to developing innovative, cost-effective solutions.
For Sysco’s 2023 Sustainability Report and DEI report can you highlight some key accomplishments from the FY23 Sustainability Report, especially in the areas of People, Products, and the Planet?
We’re proud of the accomplishments that we also highlight in the press release, which include:
- People:
- Contributing over $280 million through FY23 towards the company’s $500 million Global Good Goal, including donating over 17 million meals globally this past year.
- Exceeding our goal of increasing spend with certified diverse suppliers by 25%.
- Planet:
- Unveiling our first-of-its-kind Electric Vehicle (EV) Hub in Riverside, CA, and deploying more than 20 electric vehicles globally, plus 5 electric refrigerated trailers.
- Achieving our goal of establishing responsible sourcing guidelines for five key commodities by naming cocoa as the fifth commodity in addition to beef, soy, paper and coffee.
- Products:
- Exceeding our goal for sustainable agriculture and expanding the program to include 14 fresh crops.
Sysco has exceeded its goal of increasing spend with certified diverse suppliers by 25%. Can you provide insights into how Sysco has achieved this and the impact it has on the company’s overall sustainability initiatives?
Core to the increase in supplier diversity has been our direct investment in providing education and training to diverse suppliers. Over the past year alone, we engaged nearly 400 suppliers through our Supplier Diversity Education Sessions, providing assistance, mentorship and regional supplier support. We’re committed to supplier diversity because we know that the outcome is mutually beneficial. As we deepen our partnerships with diverse suppliers, we further strengthen our supply chain, propel innovation and creativity, reach a broader base of customers and create economic opportunities in the communities we serve.
The announcement mentions the establishment of a first-of-its-kind Electric Vehicle (EV) Hub and the deployment of electric vehicles globally. How does Sysco plan to further integrate sustainable transportation practices into its operations?
We’ve been planning for fleet electrification for over five years! In May 2022, we announced our intent to purchase up to 800 battery-electric tractors from Daimler Trucks North America. Since then, we’ve taken delivery of over 20 new EVs at two operations in California. As you mentioned, this past year, we unveiled our first-of-its-kind EV Hub in Riverside, CA which includes the charging infrastructure to power 40 EVs and electric trailers. Looking ahead, we plan to deploy another 100 EVs to sites across our network by June 2024.
Sysco has established responsible sourcing guidelines for key commodities, including cocoa. How does Sysco ensure that these guidelines are effectively implemented, and what impact does it have on the sustainability of the supply chain?
Reaching our goal of establishing responsible sourcing guidelines for five key commodities is a significant milestone for us. Cocoa joins our five other products with responsible sourcing guidelines: beef, paper, soy and coffee. We ensure these guidelines are implemented through both our close supplier relationships and partnerships with organizations like the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Rainforest Alliance Certified and ECOLOGO. When it comes to the impact, we strategically chose these products because we believe they have the potential for maximizing positive impact on the natural ecosystem. For example, we’ve identified opportunities to address the environmental impacts of soybean production in the U.S. and Canada, starting with farmers enrolled in the USDA Farm program or equivalent. Our top four soy suppliers – comprising 90% of the soy we procure – continue to source the commodity from within the U.S., and three have published deforestation-related commitments.
Sysco’s commitment to sustainable agriculture and the expansion of the program to include 14 fresh crops. Can you provide details on Sysco’s Sustainability Standard and how it influences the sourcing of these fresh crops?
As the only foodservice distribution company with a dedicated Sustainable Agriculture program, our framework is guided by five key pillars: responsible use of agricultural inputs; protecting air, water and soil; promoting waste reduction; using renewable energy; and preserving nature. As of FY2023, our program now includes over 2,200 growers covering more than 495,000 acres.
How can our readers learn more about Sysco’s certified and sustainably focused assortment. What channels and resources are available for customers to access information, and how can potential customers become part of Sysco’s sustainability initiatives?
Customers can find more information about the new One Planet. One Table. assortment HERE, and learn more about our sustainability initiatives on Sysco.com.
