Golden West Food Group history

In 1976, long-time GSF veteran Jim Williams took over as President and CEO. That year, the company formally instituted its Values, ideals closely aligned with McDonald’s standards of quality, service, cleanliness, and value.

During this time, the global market became increasingly important to Golden State Foods when it opened an overseas processing plant and distribution center in Cairo, Egypt in 1994.

Meanwhile, in 1997, the company opened a distribution center in Portland, Oregon, to better serve its customers in the Pacific Northwest.

In 1999, GSF acquired the Sydney, Australia commissary from Louisville, Kentucky-based Tricon Global Restaurants (now Yum! Brands) and merged it with the existing GSF produce facility there.

In 2002, GSF created Strategic Sourcing Alliance, which provides purchasing and sourcing solutions for the entire supply chain system.

In 2004, Golden State Foods bought out its partner of six years, the Yucaipa Companies, in order to become a management-owned-and-run company.

In 2007, GSF celebrated 60 years in business, and sales surpassed $3.6 billion.

And by 2011, the company’s annual sales had reached $5 billion.

In 2012, GSF acquired KanPak China, a manufacturer supplying the QSR and retail industries, headquartered in Shanghai.

And by the end of 2013, the company had achieved $6 billion in annual sales.

As a charter member in 2015, GSF helped form the United States Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, which focuses on sustainable advancements by educating all facets of the beef supply chain and communicating the sector’s continuous improvement.

Also in 2019, GSF debuted its tenth Innovation Center, located in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood.