Sugar Foods Corp. has been named the recipient of the Supplier of the Year award for 2011 by the UniPro foodservice distributor buying and marketing organization. In addition, Sugar Foods CEO Marty Wilson has been awarded the inaugural UniPro Marty Whelan Entrepreneur and Leadership Award for 2011.
The Supplier of the Year award is based on sales growth within the UniPro system, sales and marketing support for the group, the deployment of innovative products and support for independent foodservice distributors.
The Whelen Award is named in honor of the late Marty Whelan, past chairman of UniPro member Ettline Foods. The criteria for receiving the award include innovative thinking, developing creative marketing and sales strategies, commitment to the industry, and dedication to superior customer service.
Wilson received the award at the UniPro dinner during the IFDA (International Foodservice Distributors Association) Partners Executive Forum in Las Vegas. Presenting the award were UniPro CEO Roger Toomey, along with Whelan’s wife and daughter.
In his acceptance speech, Wilson thanked Sugar Foods owners Donald Tober and Stephen Odell and the more than 850 employees of their company. Wilson was named CEO of Sugar Foods in May of 2011. Previously, he had served as the company’s President and COO. He has been with Sugar Foods for more than 20 years.