We’re highlighting our hard-working employee owners! Meet Anthony Slauenwhite.

Anthony has worked at Dennis Food Service for ten years. As the Day warehouse Supervisor, Anthony works with all the warehouse employees to get products off the trucks and restocked in the warehouse, as well as helping get orders out throughout the day. Anthony takes a lot of pride in his job, ensuring he is building positive relationships with the men & women on his staff. Anthony does a lot of training for many of the new warehouse workers, from equipment safety to learning how to pick orders, and build pallets, as well as equipment and some building maintenance, and always strives to set a good example.

Anthony started at Dennis in the warehouse as a night order selector, moving around to different day positions as well, working in dry goods, as well as the freezer, or refrigerator, learning a lot about the warehouse. After a few years, he wanted to do more, and moved into the purchasing department, and learned even more about Dennis, from orders and delivery to the company as a whole. After about a year Anthony learned he missed the buzz and energy of the warehouse and wanted to do more. He was given the position of outbound logistics facilitator, doing lots of data analysis, and then this past year he moved into the day warehouse supervisor position.

When he is not at work, Anthony loves being with his family, including his pets, researching and learning more about his love for fitness, or relaxing and playing video games. His favorite food is pizza, “because you can do so much with pizza, you can do breakfast pizza, you can do cultural pizza, you can do Hawaiian pizza, you can do everything. I’d say pizza is my go-to, but it’s also the one I have to stay away from the most too.”

When it comes to working at Dennis, Anthony shares “It’s a great company to work for, a great company. They take care of their people.”

Thank you Anthony for exemplifying The Dennis Difference!

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Proud to be an 100% employee-owned company!

Dennis Paper & Food Service is delighted to celebrate Employee Ownership Month. The ESOP committee at the Mecaw Road location has been planning events, games and gifts for the entire month. It all began on Tuesday, October 4^th when the company’s Chef, Tim Labonte, prepared a homemade brunch for all employee-owners. The celebration continues the week of the 10^th with an ice cream social, later in the month Pompeii Pizza will be onsite with their wood-fired pizza, and the employee-owners will finish off the month with a big BBQ and appreciation gifts for all employees.

It all began in 2015

Learn more about Dennis  See Job Postings

We’re highlighting our hard-working employee owners! Meet Josh Henderson.

Josh has worked at Dennis Paper & Food Service for 19 years. As an Account Executive Josh works with restaurants and foodservice operations to find the right products and strategies to achieve their business goals. This includes helping customers find the best ingredients and menu strategies, food costing and margin management, and being there as a consultant and partner. Josh works with his fellow employee-owners, across all departments, to utilize all available resources and see to the success of our customers.

When he’s not at work, Josh enjoys spending his time outside. “I enjoy outdoor pursuits – camping with family and friends, fishing and hunting,” he told us. His favorite meal to eat is pizza. However, when it comes to his favorite meal to make, it’s anything on the grill. He explained that he liked cooking on the grill because, “cooking someone a steak just the way they like it makes me happy”. When asked about his favorite TV shows he said, “I’m not much of a tv watcher these days, but my wife and I are almost done watching Longmire. I have also been watching vlogs of people through hiking the Appalachian trail.”

When it comes to working at Dennis, Josh shared that his favorite part is the relationships he’s made. “The relationships with customers and coworkers made over the past 19 years is definitely what I enjoy most about my job. I truly feel that I have been blessed with the best customers a sales person could hope for and many coworkers that I count as friends.”

Thank you Josh for exemplifying The Dennis Difference!

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Vice President of Sales

Dave McNally is our new Vice President of Sales. Dave brings decades of experience from a career dating back to the mid 1980’s. Dave’s food service journey began when the industry was in its infancy. He has not only seen our industry change and develop over time – he has also been part of that change.

Director of Operations

Matt Cuskelly is our new Director of Operations. In his role as Transportation Manager, Matt has proven himself a determined and effective leader.  Our company and all of us as individuals have faced real challenges over the past year. Matt has been one of the key stewards of our business during this difficult time.

Learn more about Dennis  See Job Postings

We’re highlighting our hard-working employee owners! Meet Eric Morris.

Eric has worked at Dennis Paper & Food Service for 1.5 years. His duties involve working to ensure the trucks are routed properly, and to adjust routes as new accounts are added in different areas. He also talks and works with sales to help get customers their orders in a time-window that works best for everyone. He also works with Ryder, KrisWay, and our drivers to make sure any issues with trucks or trailers are taken care of as soon as possible.

When he’s not at work, Eric enjoys golfing and being outside. “In the summer I am out golfing every chance that I get. If I am not out golfing, I am usually relaxing outside by the lake,” he told us. His favorite meal to eat is shepherds pie. When asked, he shared “Most people make fun of me for this since I have a culinary degree and have spent years in kitchens, but nothing beats a good simple Sheperd’s Pie”.

However, when it comes to his favorite meal to make, it’s pasta. He explained that he liked cooking it because, “I love to try out making different sauces as the steps are all the same, the ingredients just change”. When it comes to TV shows, he likes to watch some of the current classics, The Office and Friends. “If I am not watching sports, one of these shows is on. I think I have seen both 3-4 times from start to finish.”

When asked what his favorite thing about working at Dennis was he shared, “My favorite thing about working at Dennis is the team environment. When the pandemic started, things changed drastically, and everyone stepped up and did extra to help one another out”.

Thank you Eric for exemplifying The Dennis Difference!

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We’re highlighting our hard-working employee owners! Meet Shawn Finley.

Shawn has worked at Dennis Paper & Food Service for 10 years. He started out as an overnight picker before moving to the day crew. While on the day crew he worked in many different positions around the warehouse. First at the will call window, then as a picker in many different areas and categories, to his current position as the Lead Receiving Coordinator. He primarily works in our dry receiving dock. His main duties include scheduling incoming freight, managing and receiving freight from multiple vendors and organizing product once in the warehouse.

When he’s not at work he enjoys kayaking in the summer, reading mystery novels and golfing. Shawn loves cooking and eating. “I don’t get to cook often, but I really enjoy making homemade meals.” He said his favorite meal to make is a good hearty macaroni and cheese. “Once you make homemade mac and cheese you can’t go back to the box stuff, it just tastes way better”. If you turn on his TV you’ll probably find he’s watching an older show, “I really enjoy watching older shows like Hogan’s Heroes, The A Team or the classic MacGyver”.

When asked what his favorite thing about working at Dennis was he shared, “I like the people I work with. We all get along pretty well. We’re able to share jokes and have good conversation. I like the camaraderie we all have here”.

Thank you Shawn for exemplifying The Dennis Difference!

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The Transition to Employee Ownership

A family owned and operated business for 107 years, Dennis Paper & Food Service became the largest employee owned foodservice distributor in New England in 2015. Ron Dennis, President and Owner at the time, saw how the deep personal commitment of his employees had developed into a culture that deserved the ultimate recognition. So, he sold the company to the employees in January of 2015, and the Dennis Employee Stock Ownership Plan was formed.

Now, 8 years later, Dennis Paper & Food Service has grown to nearly 200 employees, constructed an advanced 130,000 sq-ft facility and become a shareholder in UniPro – the world’s largest foodservice cooperative. Through all the changes over the past 112 years our focus, determination and dedication to our valued customers remains the same.

“We all have a stake in the business. It gives us pride in what we do and helps us go the extra distance for our customers. It’s more than a job, it’s who I am.” – Mario Tribuzio 2019 Dennis Difference Award Winner

The Difference is People

The daily efforts of individuals and departments, the partnerships formed with our customers and a deep-rooted culture of safety unite to bring us closer everyday to our vision of being the leading foodservice distributor in New England. Underscored by a tenaciously competitive spirit, we call the magic that comes out of this synergy the Dennis Difference. Each year we recognize a Dennis Difference Award recipient who is nominated by their peers. As well as a Safety Person of the Year chosen by our operations department. These individuals go above and beyond the normal call of duty. Celebrating our companies independent spirit and employee-ownership the awards are presented annually; a recognition of employee-owners by employee-owners.

“Everything I do in my day-to-day duties to increase safety and decrease accidents not only benefits the company. But also me directly, as an employee owner.” – Ginger Shubert, Director of Risk Management

US and ESOPs

“In an ESOP you no longer work for somebody, now you’re working with everybody.” – Travis Estes, Lead Buyer

A Historic Future

The dedication to service and quality that exists at Dennis today was established 100 years ago, and will continue to thrive long into the future thanks to employee ownership. Now, more than ever, the commitment of our team to the success of our business, our customers and the foodservice industry can mean the difference between success and failure; and when you own the company failure is not an option. Dennis Paper & Food service delivers thousands of items to Maine and New Hampshire’s restaurants and food operations, convenience stores and delis, schools, institutions and many many locally owned independent businesses. We couldn’t do what we do, the way we do it, without the dedication and hard work of our employee-owners and for that we are truly thankful.

Dennis ESOP News

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We’re highlighting our hard-working employee owners! Meet Mike Lawson.

Mike has worked at Dennis Paper & Food Service for 3 years. He works as our Lead Will Call Representative. His day to day duties primarily are at the will call window, where customers and our sales team can come and pick-up product.  However, he could easily be considered a warehouse “Jack of all Trades”. Mike is always willing to fill in where ever he is needed in the warehouse. Whether that be in one of the coolers, freezers, helping deliver on a truck or filling in receiving.

When he’s not at work you can probably find him hunting, fishing or spending time with his wife and their dog. In the summer he enjoys gold panning! “I’ve never really found anything huge, but it’s more for fun than the pay off” Lawson tell us. He also really enjoys singing karaoke with his friends and wife.

Although he does like to cook, he much prefers when his wife prepares his favorite dish – butterflied chicken breast, stuffed with spinach, zucchini, summer squash and mascarpone cheese! If you scroll through his Netflix feed you’ll find him binge watching True Blood, Bonanza or Lost Gold of WWII, “I’m more of an Old Western fan, but my wife likes True Blood, so we’re rewatching that… again” Mike shares.

“My favorite thing about working at Dennis Paper & Food Service is knowing that no two days will be the same. My daily routine changes, but I like that, keeps me on my toes. I also really enjoy getting to know and interact with our customers”

Thank you Mike for exemplifying The Dennis Difference! 

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We’re highlighting our hard-working employee owners! Meet Tylor Hunter.

Tylor has worked at Dennis Paper and Foodservice for 6 years. He’s one of our lead drivers, and delivers products of all kinds to restaurants, schools and stores all around Maine. “Being a delivery driver, sometimes our work day starts before most people go to bed, but it’s important to get our customers their food early and on time so they can prep for the day“, says Hunter.

Tylor enjoys playing the guitar, drums and just listening to music in general. He also likes to take advantage of the Maine outdoors by camping or adventuring on the ATV trails with his wife and son.

In true New England spirit, his favorite meal to prepare and eat is Old Fashion “Hot N’ Spicy” Chili, while watching the Patriots kick-off. When he’s not watching NFL games, he’s probably watching Jeopardy, Bull or LennyVision on YouTube.

Tylor shared with us his favorite thing about working at Dennis, “There’s room to grow at Dennis. I started working on the nightshift picking products, soon after that I took a day picker shift. Dennis helped me acquire my CDL and I became a licensed Class A Driver in just over 2 years of employment.” He also shares that he truly loves seeing his co-workers and customers everyday.

Thank you Tylor for exemplifying The Dennis Difference! 

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We’re highlighting our hard-working employee owners!  Meet Cory Pearl.

Cory has worked at Dennis Paper & Foodservice for 9 years. He is our Warehouse Replenisher, his duties include; restocking warehouse for night crew, refilling empty slots and bins in the warehouse, helping with the “flow” and efficiency of our pickers.

Cory is a loving Dad, and when he’s not being a rockstar at his job, he loves spending time with his children. When asked “What do you like to do in your spare time?”, he said “I’m a Dad… I don’t have a lot of spare time. I’m sure a lot of parents can relate to that.”

On the occasion that he does get free time, he likes to play his guitar for friends and family. Cory says he’s not much of a cook, but he tells us his Fiancè makes the best meatball sliders.

If you scroll through his Netflix feed you’ll find, Daredevil, Agents of Shield or really any show that is related to the Marvel Universe. When asked what his favorite thing about working at Dennis Paper & Foodservice he told us, “They help you grow in the company. You can work your way up. They teach you and help you to do better with the company, for the company.”

Thank you Cory for exemplifying The Dennis Difference! 

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