More Than Meets the Menu: Inside the Foodservice Beef Business

When trying to get beef out to the masses, there’s a step in the supply chain that has a lot of influence on what beef goes where: foodservice distributors. Hear from BJ Johnson and Pat Shepherd, who represent both the buy and the sell side of that equation. From sourcing and procurement to restaurant partnerships and consumer expectations, the message is clear — they don’t want beef they have to push, they want pull-through demand. The pair covers the emerging Prime trends, how they combat volatility and the importance of being able to talk about all the work that happens back on the ranch.  HOSTS: Miranda Reiman and Mark McCully  GUESTS:  BJ Johnson, director of sales, Buckhead Meat of Atlanta Growing up near his family’s farm in Huntsville, Ala., where they raised Angus cattle, cotton and soybeans, BJ developed a deep appreciation for agriculture and the food industry. He attended the University of Alabama, where he studied management, and later graduated from Johnson & Wales University with a degree in Culinary Arts in 2002. That same year, he began his career with Sysco.  Over the past two decades, BJ has served in roles across Alabama, Charlotte, Atlanta and Chicago, holding leadership positions in three of those markets. Alongside his teams, he helped launch two highly successful Certified Angus Beef® programs in North Carolina and Georgia and was honored as Certified Angus Beef® Marketer of the Year. Today, BJ serves as director of sales for Buckhead Meat of Atlanta where he leads a team of 26 sales consultants across the Southeast. Together, they proudly lead the nation in Certified Angus Beef® Prime sales. Pat Shepherd, director of beef procurement, Buckhead Meat of Atlanta Pat oversees beef sourcing and purchasing strategies for Buckhead Meat Company, the specialty meat division of Sysco, one of the nation’s leading foodservice distributors. A University of West Georgia graduate with a culinary background, Shepherd joined the company in 2010 and discovered a passion for the beef industry. Today, he collaborates across the supply chain to ensure consistent quality, manage inventory and procurement, and help foodservice operators deliver an exceptional beef experience to consumers.   SPONSORS:   SenseHub Cow Calf®: Cattle reproductive success has relied on visual observation for decades ...  until now. SenseHub® Cow Calf provides a new approach to breeding success and time management. Learn about 24/7 collection of data and insights you can use to detect heats and more at SenseHub-CowCalf.com.  Angus Media: Don't let a busy schedule stop you from being the most informed breeder in the room. Click here to subscribe to the AJ Daily or the AJ Weekly. Don't miss news in the Angus breed. Visit www.AngusJournal.net and subscribe to the AJ Daily e-newsletter and our monthly magazine, the Angus Journal.