US Foods Highlights Meaningful Progress on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Commitments

Rhea-AI Summary

US Foods Holding Corp. (NYSE: USFD) released its 2021 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report, highlighting advancements in sustainability across Products, People, and Planet. The report details over 2,300 sustainable products and significant diversity efforts, with 39% of leadership roles filled by women or people of color. Environmental goals included a 15% reduction in emissions intensity since 2015 and the commitment to renewable diesel fuel in California by mid-2022. Overall, the initiatives aim to create value for stakeholders and enhance the company's sustainability profile.

Positive

• Total of over 2,300 sustainable products available.
• 39% of new leadership roles filled by women or people of color.
• Awarded more than $1M in scholarships since 2017.
• Donated over $20M in food and supplies to U.S. food banks.
• 15% reduction in emissions intensity since 2015.
• Commitment to 100% renewable diesel fuel in California by mid-2022.

Negative

• None.

2021 CSR Report details advancements across the company’s three strategic focus areas: products, people and planet

ROSEMONT, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- US Foods Holding Corp. (NYSE: USFD) today issued its 2021 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report. Throughout the report, US Foods highlights 2021 progress and the momentum created for the year ahead across its sustainable product offerings, support for associates and communities, and initiatives to reduce the environmental impact of its operations.

“At US Foods, sustainability is a business imperative that plays an important role in creating value for our key stakeholders, including our associates, customers, shareholders and the communities we serve,” said Kristin Coleman, general counsel and leader of CSR at US Foods. “Throughout 2021, we advanced our sustainability efforts by making strong progress across our three strategic focus areas -- Products, People and Planet -- and investing in additional resources and processes that will help shape our future objectives and long-range plans. The Company is energized by our results and the momentum we have created.”

The 2021 CSR Report uses the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Food Retailers & Distributors 2018 Standard, the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), and the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards.

US Foods 2021 CSR Report highlights include:

Products: Providing a growing portfolio of products that offer social or environmental benefits.

• Continued to grow the number of products across its local, sustainable and well-being offerings, with a total of more than 2,300 differentiated products available today.
• Continued to uphold the company’s sustainable seafood goal, with 100% of the company’s Harbor Banks® brand meeting US Foods Serve Good or Progress Check program standards.

People: Making a positive difference for our associates and communities.

• Enhanced its diversity and inclusion commitments by signing the CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion pledge, expanding the Employee Resource Group program, and increasing the company’s workforce and leadership diversity through development programs and improved hiring strategies.
• Filled 39% of new or open leadership roles by women or people of color.
• Awarded more than $1M in US Foods Scholars program scholarships to more than 50 students since 2017.
• Donated more than $20M in food and supplies to U.S. food banks across the country.

Planet: Improving fleet and facility efficiencies to reduce the company’s environmental footprint.

• Reduced Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions intensity by 15% since 2015.^1,2,3
• Reduced gallons of fuel used per case delivered by 10.9% since 2015.^2,4
• Continued construction of two LEED-certified distribution centers and committed to enhancements to solar arrays at select distribution centers to be completed in 2022.
• Announced commitment to convert all California broadline distribution centers’ onsite fueling to 100% renewable diesel fuel by mid-2022 and committed to converting Texas-based compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks to renewable natural gas fuel in 2022. Committed to adding 26 additional CNG trucks and 15 electric trucks to the company’s fleet in 2022.

To view the US Foods 2021 CSR Report, visit the company’s website at usfoods.com/csr.

1Emissions intensity measured as pounds of CO2e per case delivered.

2Includes the Food Group Companies, acquired in September 2019.

3Includes Smart Foodservice Warehouse Stores, acquired in April 2020.

4Broadline business only.

About US Foods

With a promise to help its customers Make It, US Foods is one of America’s great food companies and a leading foodservice distributor, partnering with approximately 250,000 restaurants and foodservice operators to help their businesses succeed. With 69 broadline locations and more than 80 cash and carry stores, US Foods and its 28,000 associates provide its customers with a broad and innovative food offering and a comprehensive suite of e-commerce, technology and business solutions. US Foods is headquartered in Rosemont, Ill. Visit www.usfoods.com to learn more.

Additional Information

On April 11, 2022, the Company filed a definitive proxy statement, an accompanying WHITE proxy card, and other relevant documents with the SEC in connection with the solicitation of proxies from the Company's shareholders for the 2022 annual meeting. SHAREHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO READ THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT (INCLUDING ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND ALL OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY AS THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Shareholders may obtain a copy of the definitive proxy statement, an accompanying WHITE proxy card, any amendments or supplements to the definitive proxy statement and other documents filed by the Company with the SEC at no charge at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Copies will also be available at no charge in the “SEC Filings” subsection of the “Financial Information” section of the Company's Investor Relations website at https://ir.usfoods.com/investors or by contacting info@okapipartners.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements in this press release which are not historical in nature are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements often include words such as “believe,” “expect,” “project,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “outlook,” “estimate,” “target,” “seek,” “will,” “may,” “would,” “should,” “could,” “forecast,” “mission,” “strive,” “more,” “goal,” or similar expressions and are based upon various assumptions and our experience in the industry, as well as historical trends, current conditions, and expected future developments. However, you should understand that these statements are not guarantees of performance or results and there are a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements, including, among others: cost inflation/deflation and commodity volatility; competition; reliance on third party suppliers; interruption of product supply or increases in product costs; changes in our relationships with customers and group purchasing organizations; our ability to increase or maintain the highest margin portions of our business; effective integration of acquisitions; achievement of expected benefits from cost savings initiatives; fluctuations in fuel costs; economic factors affecting consumer confidence and discretionary spending; changes in consumer eating habits; our reputation in the industry; labor relations and costs; access to qualified and diverse labor; cost and pricing structures; changes in tax laws and regulations and resolution of tax disputes; governmental regulation; product recalls and product liability claims; adverse judgments or settlements resulting from litigation; disruptions of existing technologies and implementation of new technologies; cybersecurity incidents and other technology disruptions; management of retirement benefits and pension obligations; extreme weather conditions, natural disasters and other catastrophic events; risks associated with intellectual property, including potential infringement; indebtedness and restrictions under agreements governing indebtedness; potential interest rate increases; risks related to the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak on our business, suppliers, consumers, customers and employees; and potential costs associated with shareholder activism.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220414005547/en/

INVESTOR CONTACT:

Melissa Napier

847-720-2767

Melissa.Napier@usfoods.com

Bruce Goldfarb / Pat McHugh

Okapi Partners

212-297-0720

info@okapipartners.com

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jamie Moser / Matthew Sherman

Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher

212-355-4449

Source: US Foods

FAQ

What is the focus of US Foods' 2021 CSR Report?

The report focuses on sustainability in three areas: Products, People, and Planet.

How many sustainable products does US Foods offer?

US Foods offers over 2,300 sustainable products.

What percentage of leadership roles did women or people of color fill at US Foods in 2021?

39% of new or open leadership roles were filled by women or people of color.

What environmental goals did US Foods achieve since 2015?

US Foods achieved a 15% reduction in emissions intensity since 2015.

When is US Foods committing to renewable diesel fuel in their California distribution centers?

US Foods is committing to renewable diesel fuel by mid-2022.