Sysco’s Presents Southern Smoke Festival 2025 in Ongoing Commitment to Community and Customers

Core Points - The Southern Smoke Festival 2025 is an annual charity event aimed at raising funds to support the food and beverage industry during crises, featuring 85 top chefs and beverage professionals [2][3] - Sysco Corporation is the leading global foodservice distribution company and is sponsoring the event to demonstrate its commitment to the community and the food and beverage sector [1][3] - The festival will take place on October 4, 2025, at Houston's Discovery Green, showcasing culinary activities, demos, and gifts [2] Company Overview - Sysco operates 339 distribution centers across 10 countries, employing 75,000 colleagues and serving approximately 730,000 customer locations [6] - The company generated over $81 billion in sales for the fiscal year 2025, which ended on June 28, 2025 [6] - Sysco provides customized supply chain solutions and culinary support to help customers innovate and optimize their operations [7] Industry Impact - The Southern Smoke Foundation, created by Chef Chris Shepherd, aims to assist the food and beverage community during challenging times, highlighting the importance of industry support [4][5] - Sysco's involvement in the festival reflects its long-term commitment to the success of the food and beverage industry, supporting businesses of all sizes [5][6] - The event emphasizes the role of restaurants and hospitality establishments in building community and creating memorable experiences [6]