AN ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT TO THEINDIANAPOLISSTAR 2ND SUNDAY,NOVEMBER 1, 2009 Y11
Profiles of businesses that have been around 50 yearsormore indystar.com/50years
McFarling Foods: Employee-owned keeps it all in the family
By Nancee Reeves ForCustom Publications
From its humble Quick facts
beginnings in 1948,
McFarling FoodsMcFarling Foods
Locations:
333 W. 14th St., Indianapolishas growntobecome
Phone: (317) 635-2633
1136 NW F ifth St., Richmondoneofth elargest
Phone: (765) 966-5588independently
Website: www.mcfarling.com
Founded: 1948owned food-service
President: Mike McFarlingdistributors in Indiana.
Info: McFarling Foods is a
full-service food distributor.
It stocks morethan 8,000 products In addition to supplying and
deliveringmore than 8,000 foodand servesasash areholder in
products, McFarling providesUniPro Foodservices Inc., the world’s
customers with marketinglargest food-service cooperative.
and nutritional services andWith nearly 200 employees,
equipment rental. Customers
McFarling Foods servescities in can place orders 24 hours aday,
seven daysaweek with an o nlineIndiana, Ohio and Kentucky and has
order-entry system.The companyadistributioncenter in Richmond in
is 100 percent employee-owned.additiontoits Indianapolis location. yk
But success hasn’t changed t he Lebr
original business model set out by Marc
the McFarling Brothers company.
Photo:The business might be large enough
McFarling Foods recently became a100 percent employee-owned company.to service some of the largest
accounts in the area, but it stillcaters deliverydriverand sales staff.Even McFarling Foods is 100 percent Foods supports other local,
to needs of the smallest customers. outside t he family ,McFarling Foods employee-owned. independent businesses.
“Since the beginning,McFarling is abusiness withlittle turnover. “With an ESOP com pany, each “Indiana-based businesses shareTime line
Foods has suppliedneeded products “Wehavemanyaccounts that and everyperson feels that their commoncultures a nd values,” said
at fair prices,” said Mike McFarling, havebeen with us from the very actions canmake adifference,” LenMcFarling,vi ce president of1948: The McFarling Brothers
president of McFa rling Foods. beginning,and much of that is McFarling said. “ ESOP companies purchasing.“By w orking with othercompany is foundedbythe original
owners: Jim, Bob, Don and John “But our success is based on more due to our lowle velofturnover,” also havehigh jobsecurityand independent, loca lcompanies, we
McFarling. than supplyand d emand. We pride McFarling said. “ Oursales staff a nd increased commitment and help retain jobs and provide much-
ourselvesonthe honest, supportive deliverydrivers areinaposition to enthusiasm among employees.” needed tax revenuetothe state.”1966: McFarling Brothers is
relationships we havewith our make areal connectionwith the Because of this s ense of security McFarling Foods c overs alargerincorporated as M cFarling Foods.
customers.That i sthe backbone of customers. When y ou canhavea and contentment, employees are area than it did in 1948, but it
1976: McFarling Foods b ecomes our business.” relationship with anyonefor over 50 willing to plan their futures around stillhas local people selling and
an ESOP company. years, well, that speaks volumes.” the company, resulting in highly working in the outer reaches of
Strength built on consistency trained employees with years of the deliveryarea ,and the company1980: Indianapolis Distribution
Empowered employeesOne of the ways M cFarling Foods experience. McFarling Foods has purchases as much as it canfromCenter moves from its original
cultivates lasting relationships with The McFarling brothers started employees who arespecialists in Indiana-based suppliers.location (the current site of
Methodist Hospital) to its current customers is consistency. Mike atraditionofca tering to the needs menu planning,in -storepromotions “Bybuying local we are
location on West 14th Street. McFarling is second generationand of their employee saswellastheir and special events, marketing and supporting our localeconomy,”
has been with the companyfor 45 customers, aprac tice that continues nutritionamong o ther skills. Every McFarling said. “ We want to2009: McFarling Foods b ecomes
years. His brother has been partof to set McFarling Foods apartfrom food-service need is represented. supportthose around us and hope100 percent employee-owned.
McFarling Foods f or 53 years, and other distributors. McFarling Foods theywilldothe same —together
Local ties with s hared valuesother familymembers havebeen is oneofthe oldest EmployeeStock we canmake our c ommunity
with the company for morethan 40 Ownership Program businesses In keeping with t his cultureof great.”●
years, filling suchdiverse positions as in Indiana, and as of this year, honestyand teamwork, McFarling
OneofIndiana’slargest
100%employee-owned
food distributors.
Wepromisefast,friendly,prompt,efficientservicefrom an
employee-owned,localcompanydedicated tocustomers.
Aspecial THANKYOUtojust afewof our loyalcustomers,who havebeen withus
foralmost asmanyyears aswe’vebeen around!
AcapulcoJoe’s FriendlyTavern Mann’sGrill St.Elmo’s
Battery ParkSaloon GrayBrothers Cafeteria Marble’sFine Foods Steer-In
Bourbon StreetDistillery HollyhockHill Mary’sSeafood The Olde Richmond Inn
Burt’sPeppyGrill Iron Skillet MCL Cafeterias The Rathskeller
Charlie Brown’s John’sHotStew Methodist Hospital University of Indianapolis
Cheryl’sCatering Jug’sCatering Mug&Bun Varsity Bar
ColumbiaClub KopperKettle Inn Slippery Noodle Inn Williamson’sFishMarket
Edward’sDrive-In Libbertt’sConcessions Smokin’ Good SoulFood Working Man’sFriend
O VER 60 Y EARS I N B USINESS
www.mcfarling.com •(800)622-9003
333 W.14thSt.•Indianapolis,IN46202
Richmond Branch(800)438-5588
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