Podesta Group

Challenge: One of the nation’s top foodservice distribution companies came to the Podesta Group to bolster an existing corporate campaign to encourage high food safety standards and solidify its reputation and visibility on Capitol Hill as the vanguard in this endeavor among its competition. In addition, the company sought to bring new attention to its 60 facilities across the country, which employ 25,000 associates.

Strategy: Develop and launch a comprehensive site visit plan that would allow members of Congress to see the company's various facilities and industry-leading food safety procedures first hand as they interact with employers and employees. The Podesta Group worked with the company to help frame the issues surrounding food safety policies and implemented a strategic outreach plan to key members of Congress urging them to strengthen food safety efforts across the board, using the company's own principles as a model for industry-wide standards.

Result: Through an extensive outreach plan, members of Congress visited more than half of the company’s facilities. And thanks to the Podesta Group’s creative thinking and relationship building, the client was asked to be part of the First Lady’s “Chefs on the Move” initiative, and the company’s corporate chef joined the First Lady at the White House to launch the program.