Foodservice distributor US Foods began trading on the New York Stock Exchange Thursday (ticker: USFD), and celebrated by setting up 50 feet of temporary outdoor kitchen space outside the exchange and feeding around 1,000 workers.
[CHARTBEAT:3]
The kitchen featured five independent chefs from US Foods’ five distribution regions in the country: Brian Ellis of The Smith in New York City; Donna Lee of Brown Bag Seafood in Chicago; Kenneth Danko of Devilicious in Temecula, Calif.; Cristy Nolton of Yeah Burger in Atlanta; and Gaurav Patel of Eschelon Experiences in Raleigh, N.C.
US Foods said it selected independent restaurant operators because they were the company’s primary focus, “as it’s the most important, yet under-resourced sector of the $782 billion restaurant industry,” a spokeswoman for the company said in an email.
Shares in US Foods Holding Corp., the parent of US Foods, Inc., opened at $24.25, rising from its initial price of $23.
Contact Bret Thorn at [email protected]
Follow him on Twitter: @foodwriterdiary
