The past year has been full of unexpected challenges in the foodservice industry, most notably the temporary closure of restaurant dining rooms (an issue that’s ongoing in areas like Toronto and the regional municipality of Peel). There were sudden shifts to takeout and changes in volume and delivery methods. It’s something none of us expected, but every one of us has had to cope with.
We understand the anxiety our clients felt as they were forced to adapt quickly and make hard choices. We were proud to see their resilience in action, and made sure our team was there to support them every step of the way. We did this not only by showing up and providing whatever they needed, but by investing in our own business in order to better serve the independent restaurant community as a whole.
When we build upon our own infrastructure as a company, we’re supporting our staff in their ability to perform—and when our staff are well equipped to perform in their roles, they in turn help the independent restaurants they supply and support. Morton Food Service made a conscious effort to make these upgrades in 2020 as a way of meeting challenges head on. Here’s what we’ve done to invest in our clients’ success, starting with strengthening our own resources.
Giving our team what they need to help independent restaurants thrive
Morton Food Service is proud to have introduced a brand new distribution centre in Windsor, Ontario last year. This state-of-the-art facility has over 1,000,000 cubic feet of space and is an exceptional asset to our customers and team. It’s the perfect place for us to store over 6500 products from over 470 local and international vendors. Quality and quantity come together at the distribution centre, and we’ve still got space to grow.
In addition to our new distribution centre, our team has been enjoying a fleet of twenty spacious, modern, tri-temperature controlled delivery trucks. Each vehicle is equipped with satellite positioning technology to provide customers with faster, more efficient deliveries, and our rapid-fire delivery systems help us service the varying needs of customers. They’re fantastic vehicles that earned an enthusiastic seal of approval from our drivers and customers alike. We proudly branded them with our logo and imagery, so they look pretty great on the road, too!
Finally, Morton Food Service recently invested in a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) integrated software system to create efficiencies, ensure accuracy and modernize our technical systems. This allows the Morton team to deliver first-in-class systems management, ensuring that every order reaches clients on time and in optimal condition. It’s quality assurance to the max, and it’s a great tool for our reps.
How this helps our clients
These infrastructure modernizations are of huge benefit to our team, but it’s not just for us. Each and every benefit is passed down to our clients as we work better, smarter and faster than ever before. When we support our team, we’re supporting you: the hardworking restaurateurs that rely on us. We believe in investing in all levels of the business to give the best possible service experience to our clients. It’s the same dedication and commitment that built the Morton heritage, modernized for today’s world.
If you’d like to know more about recent investments in our business, please contact us—we’d be happy to discuss these improvements in more detail and identify how we can use them to serve your independent restaurant. Remember, how you act in difficult times is a reflection of your character. When we look at our clients right now, we see great character in abundance. These challenges will eventually pass, and when they do, you’ll be able to reap the rewards of your hard work and persistence. Please reach out to us for guidance and support as needed. Our team is dedicated to your success, and here to help you thrive and grow.
Take a look inside our distribution centre in Windsor, Ontario, where our dedicated team can be found hard at work!