SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- Of all the recognition and honors Orion Food Systems has received for the last 30 years, none have meant more than the request they received from an American soldier deployed to Afghanistan.
According to Kim Hauschildt, Orion's manager of international and government business activities, Specialist Nathan Barshinger previously frequented the AAFES (Army & Air Force Exchange Service) Shoppette at Camp McGregor, Fort Bliss, Texas, where he regularly purchased Orion's Lettieri's brand items. After Barshinger and fellow Soldiers from the 352nd Military Police Company were deployed to Afghanistan, he asked via Orion's online comment card, if he could get the food items at his new post.
"We were honored to fill the request," said Hauschildt, "The Orion team immediately stepped up to the task, and we went to work to see how the items could be delivered. Specialist Barshinger's request quickly went through the chain of command."
Steve Watkins, president of Orion Food Systems, said, "We simply did what we could do, as a company, to support our troops. Needless to say, this food order would involve a little more logistics than your average pizza delivery, so we did the research and information gathering, determined product mix, freight, and methodology for keeping the integrity of the food top notch for the approximate 7,000 mile journey."
Hauschildt reported that Orion shipped pizzas, calzones, Philly Steak Stuffed Baguettes, BBQ Beef Stuffed Baguettes and cheeseburgers from Orion's Shakopee, Minn., plant via Fed Ex to JFK Airport in New York, packed in a thousand pounds of dry ice. The Orion/Lettieri's products were sent to Heathrow Airport in London and then shipped to Dubai in the Middle East--which made the pizza delivery to Bagram Air Force Base, Afghanistan. Orion also sent promotional items including t-shirts, and banners in advance.
"My fellow Soldiers and I greatly appreciate what Orion did for us here," said Barshinger, who noted the food was being shared by both his detachment and Navy counterparts. "I wish more companies strived half as hard as Orion. Orion may not think so, but receiving things like the food we received makes a big impact on morale. It's always nice to know that there are still people willing to stand behind us as soldiers."
Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Orion Food Systems serves Hot Stuff Pizza and a host of other menu items on military bases, convenience stores, colleges, hospitals and other venues throughout the continental United States and in six countries. Orion franchises or licenses Hot Stuff Foods concepts in more than 1,000 locations throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Middle East and Asia. Orion Foods Systems also offers Lettieri's Food To Go through distributors across the United States.
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