Lineage foodservice redistribution team recognized for excellence

The hidden complexity behind dining out

The first question that comes to mind when you stop to grab a quick bite to eat is often what am I going to order, not how did this food get here?  But behind every order of French fries, every burger, salad or seasonal special item is a hidden network of critical logistics and supply chain workers doing vitally important work to keep your food safe, fresh and delicious.

Lineage’s team is proudly a part of that relay race from the field to the plate at your favorite restaurant.  Lineage helps restaurants cut through the complexity and build more resilient and efficient supply chains that help deliver hassle-free meals for their end customers.

And Lineage doesn’t just talk about results—we are proud to have those results and the dedication of our team recognized and celebrated by our customers themselves.

How Hanover Park took home Darden’s DC of the Year award

Foodservice recognition, like the industry itself, is highly competitive. Distributors demand consistency, accuracy and reliability at every step, which is why it was such an honor when Lineage’s Hanover Park, IL, team earned Darden’s Distribution Center of the Year Award for 2025.

Not only that, but our facility in Terrell, TX, was named the runner-up. The award reflects not just exceptional performance, but also the teamwork, proactive problem solving and customer dedication that define Lineage’s approach to being a top-tier cold chain partner.

Per the team at Hanover Park, their success comes from a strong ethic of teamwork and collaboration. Not just at their facility, but between all the teams that serve as Darden distribution centers.

“We work together as a unit to provide the best service we can,” says General Manager, Michael Runyan. “It’s about the collaboration.”

Even with all the teamwork, there’s a strong competitive backbone. “Oh yeah, we’re going for a two-peat.” Michael laughs when asked about next year’s awards.

The team at Hanover Park exemplifies Lineage’s unwavering commitment to meet challenges head-on, while working hand-in-hand across our network to provide next-level service. We are immensely proud to have the hard work of our teams recognized. For Lineage, it’s not just about meeting metrics, but about going the extra mile to create a culture of service excellence and partnership with the customers we support.

The teamwork and dedication on display at Hanover Park reflect what’s required across the industry—because foodservice supply chains are uniquely complex, and customers need a partner who can consistently deliver every step of the way.

Lineage redistribution simplifies the complex

The foodservice supply chain is one of the most complex in the world. Besides juggling a wide array of menu offerings and working with multiple logistics vendors, restaurants must also work to ensure that everything arrives fresh and on time. That’s no easy feat when it comes to dealing with perishable products, strict temperature requirements and nationwide, or even global, distribution footprints.

At Lineage, we know that foodservice redistribution isn’t just about moving products from point A to point B. That’s why we work to create solutions that save time, money and frustration while building a global network our customers can rely on.

With a complex distribution system comes the likelihood of inefficiency: extra dock bumps, administrative headaches and unnecessary costs from less-than-truckload (LTL) shipments that take longer and increase the risk of product damage and spoilage. Lineage’s redistribution model solves these problems by consolidating freight, streamlining delivery schedules and making it easier for products to arrive on time and in full.

Our resilient supply chain solutions help provide shorter lead time and simplified administration processes while offering time and cost savings through freight consolidation and optimized vendor efficiency—a win for Lineage’s customers and their customers in turn.

Customer example: redesigning a redistribution network

A customer came to Lineage with a redistribution network that hadn’t changed in nearly twenty years. As their business grew, the old setup couldn’t keep up with the added volume or complexity. They needed a fresh approach that would work for the next decade, not just the next season.

Lineage leveraged its world-class data science team. They built out multiple scenarios, weighing cost, service levels and delivery times, and tested each one against real-world scenarios. The end result was a streamlined redistribution model that could deliver 95% of product within two days, while helping save the customer tens of millions of dollars each year.

For the customer, it was a clear path forward, backed by analytics, cutting-edge technology and the experience and expertise of people who know foodservice inside and out.

Now is the time to rethink your supply chain

Thank you to the Lineage team members who work hard every day to go the extra for our customers. As the foodservice industry continues to evolve, with growing customer expectations and supply chain disruptions becoming part of the new normal, restaurants and distributors alike are under pressure to do more with less. All while staying competitive and delivering a superior customer experience.

That’s why there’s never been a better time to reevaluate your supply chain strategy. Whether you’re looking to reduce costs, improve delivery timelines or safeguard your network against interruptions, Lineage has the solutions to help and the teams to get it done well.

Lineage’s foodservice business goes far beyond moving pallets. Our goal is to give restaurants supply chains they can count on. We bring together redistribution, last-mile delivery, procurement know-how and the reach of our global network to make that happen. The real difference comes from out people. Teams with decades of foodservice experience who know how to solve problems and keep deliveries on track. As the industry grows more complex, Lineage is ready to step in with practical solutions that simplify the work and keep food moving.