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GFS to acquire Bridge Brand broadliner in Canada; U.S. houses increase North American market share

By Restaurant Business Staff on Dec. 14, 2001
Gordon Food Service (GFS), Grand Rapids, MI, has signed a letter of intent to acquire Bridge Brand Food Services, Ltd., Calgary, Alberta, a USD$300-million (CAD$450 million) broadliner. The acquisition will double GFS' existing Canadian business and give the U.S. regional broadliner full coverage of its North American neighbor. Previously, GFS covered only Ontario and Quebec provinces.

Less than a week earlier, Sysco Corp., Houston, the largest broadliner in the U.S., announced its intent to acquire Canada's largest broadliner, Toronto, Ontario-based SERCA Foodservice, a USD$1.44-billion (CAD$2.21-billion) arm of Sobeys, Inc. The addition will nearly triple the $22-billion company's Canadian business.

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