Fueling a 25-year Partnership

A biopharmaceutical company retained Guckenheimer to provide food services at its first headquarters building. Over the next 25 years, this partnership grew as the client’s business expanded.

The client wanted food to support culture, goals, and commitments to diversity and inclusion, ESG, the community and a healthier world. Guckenheimer worked to understand the client’s business, culture and goals. This enabled development of a people-centered, sustainable program tailored to each client site. Winnow waste tracking helped understand consumption and minimize plate waste; a partnership with Chefs to End Hunger ensured donation of surplus food; and a special menu helped a client wellness center gain WELL Gold certification.

Explosive growth led to a need for additional space and food. To accommodate this and have a voice in the future role of food, Guckenheimer joined the client’s real estate strategy and planning team. This helped shift food from a reactive to a proactive partner.

To ensure food for client employees working on-site during the pandemic, Guckenheimer continued to provide services, with social distancing, online ordering, set menus and outside dining among the adjustments made. When the client communicated its return-to-office plan, Guckenheimer's food team pivoted practically overnight to make the food experience a driver for reviving in-person work.