US Foodservice, the second largest foodservice distributor in the U.S., has announced plans to establish a specialized systems division dedicated specifically to serving multi-unit foodservice customers. The new unit, to be called North Star Foodservice..

FM Staff

...will be headed up by Pat Mulhern, who will be its President. Mulhern, who has served as President of the company's multi-unit distribution business since 2005, brings significant career experience to the position.

He was a founding partner of Vistar Corporation and a former partner and investor in the former Multifoods Distribution Group, which was spun off from International Multifoods, Inc. in 2002. Earlier, he had established a career on the broadline procurement side of Alliant (now part of US Foodservice) but left that company shortly after it was acquired by Royal Ahold.

In an interview with FM, Mulhern emphasized that the new organization would focus exclusively on the needs of multi-unit chains, especially those in the fast casual segment. It will have its own dedicated sales force, trucking fleet and distribution warehouses, although there will be a transition period as North Star separates its operations from the broadline side of the company.
In FY 2005, USFS reported $2.8 billion in sales for its chain division. Mulhern indicated that as an independent unit, North Star would be restructuring itself for greater efficiencies and would be competing aggressively for new multi-unit business.