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Williams was allowed to keep most of her existing stops, and was given a larger vehicle, which made the job easier.
NEW OWNERS COME FORWARD WITH SUPPORT
She also liked the new management. Larry Pugh, general manager, and Jim Loftin, operations manager, welcomed Williams and her colleagues graciously, providing them with their cell phone numbers. She said having managers that make you feel you can talk to them is very important. “They welcomed us with open arms,” Williams said.
One key difference was that Mid-South Food Services had very few female employees. Williams and her female co-workers felt challenged to prove they could be part of the team, which they did. “We had to show them we could do it,” she said.
Another difference was that Mid-South Food Services does not operate a dedicated beverage vehicle. Hence, Williams had to load beverages in addition to snacks, coffee and food, but she also made more money.
Mid-South Food Services’ commissary, the only local commissary in Aberdeen, was a welcome change for Williams. The commissary offers a different menu seven days a week, and the weekly menu changes quarterly. She noted that the quality of the food is superior to the fast food restaurants in the area, and the prices are competitive.
“It was a nice change,” she said.
ASTUTE SUGGESTION: 20-OUNCE BOTTLES
Williams had noticed that 20-ounce bottles were becoming more popular. She noticed that the convenience stores were already carrying 20-ounce beverages.
Soon after the acquisition, she suggested that her biggest account get a bottle drink machine in addition to the can and cup machine. Pugh accommodated, and the bottles brought incremental sales.
The bottle beverage machine allowed the company to provide a higher price point for beverages and still charge less than what convenience stores charged.
“They (the employees) went crazy over that bottle machine,” Williams said. According to Pugh, the bottle machine brought in $2,500 in incremental sales in its first month.
