Originals Delighted To Announce Ongoing Sysco Partnership

Representatives of the Sarasota-Manatee Originals (SMO) are thrilled to announce the continued partnership of premier wholesale restaurant distributor Sysco for 2022.  Regional management of the trusted broadliner worked closely with SMO staff and Executive Board Members to design a program that was relevant and sustainable in its support of locally-owned, independent restaurants by offering discounts and buying incentives to SMO’s Members. Sysco is also providing the SMO organization meaningful rewards used to underwrite the not-for-profits’ marketing initiatives. 

“Since its inception, the SMO restaurant collective’s primary mission has been to provide its Members with tools to help compete with the national and multi-unit chains in their communities,” said Marc Grimaud, Owner of Café Gabbiano and SMO Board President, “and Sysco has been a steadfast and gracious partner and ally from the beginning of the journey. Working with Sysco to provide ‘buying power’ in the form of competitive purchasing opportunities of foods and products for our Members is one of the strongest pillars of support we can offer our local restaurateurs.” 

2022 Partnership Marks 15 years of Cooperative Support for Local Restaurants

“At Sysco we have a purpose statement: Connecting The World To Share Food and Care For One Another,”  states Antonette Palacios, Vice President of Sales, Sysco North Florida Region. “Together, we are excited to partner with the Sarasota Originals to help them serve their customers and teams each and every day.”

Sarasota-Manatee Originals was established in September 2003 based on a shared passion to celebrate and preserve the community’s culinary sense of place. A group of 24 independent restaurant owners and chefs from Sarasota and Manatee counties had learned to see their neighbor restaurants as collaborators, not competition and came together to become Florida's first chapter of a group of its kind. Today the “Originals” are over 60 restaurants strong, spanning 40 miles of Florida’s central Gulf coast and providing guests with unique local flavor from the north shore of Anna Maria Island down to the southern beaches of Venice and every neighborhood in between.

Standing stronger together, the Originals organization works to preserve, elevate and celebrate the culinary heritage its Members represent - defined not so much by a particular flavor or cuisine, but by the passionate personality, dedication to the highest quality, and love of community that mark the independent restaurant professional. SMO supports their Member restaurants with creative, cooperative advertising, unique marketing events and opportunities, and forging strategic partnerships such as this one with Sysco. “The Sarasota-Manatee Originals are honored to align with Sysco in support of our mission and so very appreciative of Sysco’s ongoing partnership with the local restaurant community,” added Grimaud.

About the Sarasota-Manatee Originals:
The Sarasota-Manatee Originals is dedicated to promoting and sustaining the local independent area restaurants, and providing diners with unique local flavor. Over 60 strong, our Member Restaurants help define our Suncoast, give it character and make it a memorable town to visit and live. We urge you to support our local independent restaurants here and across the country and encourage you to always “Eat Like A Local.”

About Sysco:
Sysco is the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments and other customers who prepare meals away from home. Its family of products also includes equipment and supplies for the foodservice and hospitality industries. With more than 57,000 associates, the company operates 326 distribution facilities worldwide and serves more than 625,000 customer locations.