MONMOUTH JUNCTION, N.J., Sept. 21, 2015 – Guest Supply, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sysco Corporation (NYSE:SYY), announced today that it has acquired Gilchrist & Soames, one of the leading luxury personal care amenity providers in the hospitality industry with annual sales of approximately $60 million. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Guest Supply provides products that enhance the guest experience in nearly 25,000 hotels, resorts and spas in more than 100 countries around the globe.  Gilchrist & Soames’ renowned brands are found in the most prestigious hotels, spas and resorts throughout the world.

“With Gilchrist & Soames’ strong reputation in the high-end personal care amenities category and its solid customer base in the hospitality segment, this acquisition expands Guest Supply’s luxury personal care offerings for hotels, resorts and spas,” said Paul Xenis, president and chief operating officer of Guest Supply. “By leveraging both companies’ skillsets and expertise, we will bring a new level of service to our customers and further position our business for future growth.”

“Joining Guest Supply will allow Gilchrist & Soames to leverage manufacturing facilities, supply chains, logistics, and product development and creative resources that will further benefit our customers and enhance our leadership position in the luxury hospitality segment,” said Kathie De Voe, president and chief executive officer of Gilchrist & Soames.

Guest Supply will continue to operate all Gilchrist & Soames manufacturing and distribution facilities and sales resources operating out of Indianapolis, Ind., and Peterborough, England.

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About Sysco

Sysco is the global leader in selling, marketing and distributing food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments and other customers who prepare meals away from home. Its family of products also includes equipment and supplies for the foodservice and hospitality industries. The company operates 196 distribution facilities serving approximately 425,000 customers. For Fiscal Year 2015 that ended June 27, 2015, the company generated sales of more than $48 billion. For more information, visit www.sysco.com or connect with Sysco on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SyscoCorporation or Twitter at https://twitter.com/Sysco.  For important news regarding Sysco, visit the Investor Relations section of the company’s Internet home page at www.sysco.com/investors, follow us at www.twitter.com/SyscoStock and download the new Sysco IR App, available on the iTunes App Store and the Google Play Market. In addition, investors should also continue to review our news releases and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. It is possible that the information we disclose through any of these channels of distribution could be deemed to be material information.

About Guest Supply

Guest Supply, a Sysco company, has been the leading provider of hospitality products to the lodging industry for more than 35 years with more than 30,000 products sold in more than 25,000 well-known chains and independent properties around the globe. As the only global provider to the hotel and lodging industry, the company maintains relationships with leading hotels around the world.

Manufacturing, distribution, and purchasing resources are strategically located in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, ensuring superior product selection and availability, as well as quick and efficient response to meet virtually every need. For more information, visit https://www.guestsupply.com.

About Gilchrist & Soames

Gilchrist & Soames is a leading provider of cosmetic-grade toiletry collections for world-class hotels, exclusive resorts, and distinguished spas, inns, and bed & breakfasts. Specializing in servicing the luxury market, Gilchrist & Soames’ products can be found in discerning properties throughout the world. Gilchrist & Soames is based in Indianapolis, Ind., and Peterborough, London, England. For more information, visit www.gilchristsoames.com.

 

The hospitality industry can now treat guests to a luxurious yet environmentally responsible bathing experience with the new Essentiel Elements Spa Treatment Collection from Gilchrist & Soames. The Essentiel Elements line, featuring an invigorating fragrance blend of rosemary and mint, is available to ship immediately.

All Essentiel Elements products are:

• Formulated with 95 to 97% natural origin ingredients
• 100% Paraben-free
• 100% Phthalate-free
• Free of mineral oils and artificial colors
• Packaged in readily-recyclable tubes
• Fully biodegradable formulations
• Never tested on animals

The five Essentiel Elements liquid products–Shampoo, Conditioner, Conditioning Shampoo, Body Wash and Body Lotion–are available in a 1 fl. oz. (30 ml) size. Mallow extract and panthenol leave hair shiny and soft while nourishing Vitamin E, coconut oil and Shea butter leave skin beautifully radiant. The collection also features a gentle, vegetable-based, triple-milled skincare bar. The 1 oz. (28g) soap is low-weight to reduce waste.

Naturally Beautiful
The Gilchrist & Soames Essentiel Elements Spa Treatment Collection contains no parabens, phthalates, petrol-derived ingredients, mineral oil, urea, DEA, TEA or propylene glycol. It does feature food-grade, naturally derived USP glycerin and natural conditioning agents from honey and the Brassica plant instead of petrochemicals. Gilchrist & Soames is committed to cruelty-free development and vows to never test products on animals.For samples, visit: http://ushoteliers.gilchristsoames.com/request_samples.php. For more information, contact: Doug Gross at 317-781-5836 or [email protected].

About Gilchrist & Soames
Gilchrist & Soames is a leading provider of cosmetic-grade toiletry collections for world-class hotels, exclusive resorts, and distinguished spas, inns, and bed & breakfasts. Specializing in servicing the luxury market, Gilchrist & Soames’ products can be found in discerning properties throughout the world. Gilchrist & Soames is based in Indianapolis, Indiana and Peterborough, London, England. The company is wholly-owned by Swander Pace Capital, San Francisco. For more information, visit www.gilchristsoames.com.

 

WEB SITE: www.gilchristsoames.com

Indianapolis, October 4, 2013 – A sophisticated approach to nature-inspired bath and body products, the Gilchrist & Soames BeeKind™ Collection is available now in tubes, as well as its popular paper bottle.

Kathie De Voe, president of Gilchrist & Soames, says “We are very excited about this addition to the collection. It is perfect for today’s market with unequalled skin-friendly formulations, modern, yet natural design and a philanthropic effort.”

The BeeKind™ Collection will feature Gilchrist & Soames’ Signature formulations, which contain no parabens, phthalates, petrol-derived ingredients, mineral oil, urea, DEA, TEA or propylene glycol. They do contain food-grade, naturally derived USP glycerin; natural conditioning agents from honey and the Brassica plant; and soybean and cottonseed oil, instead of petrochemicals. The BeeKind formulations are also free of any artificial colours or dyes.

Along with the eco-friendly packaging and formulas, the company is supporting honey bee and sustainable pollination research at the University of California at Davis Entomology Department. De Voe states, “While developing this line, we learned more about the plight of the honey bee, colony collapse disorder and the serious toll on the honey bee population. The University of California reports that one third of our diet depends on honey bee pollination, so this is a serious issue. We decided to help by donating a portion of the proceeds of the sales of the BeeKind™ Collection to the University’s Honey Bee Research Program.”

The five BeeKind™ liquid products—Shampoo, Conditioner, Conditioning Shampoo, Body Wash and Body Lotion—are available in a 1 fl oz (30 ml) size. With a fresh lemon verbena fragrance and extracts of honey and certified organic extracts of red clover, calendula, lemongrass and chamomile, BeeKind™ is as soothing as it is stylish.

The collection also features two gentle, vegetable-based, aloe soaps. The soaps, available in 0.6 oz (17g) and 1 oz (28g) sizes, are low-weight to reduce the amount of waste. De Voe says, “Although low in weight, we designed these bars to have a large surface area, which increases performance by having a larger area in contact with skin to produce more foam.”

To round out the collection, BeeKind™ offers a full range of necessity products.

Like all Gilchrist & Soames products, BeeKind™ embraces cruelty-free development and manufacturing practices, ensuring that the products are never tested on animals, nor contain animal-derived ingredients.

About Gilchrist & Soames
Gilchrist & Soames (www.gilchristsoames.com) is a leading provider of cosmetic-grade toiletry collections for world-class hotels, exclusive resorts, and distinguished spas, inns, and bed & breakfasts. Specializing in servicing the luxury market, Gilchrist & Soames’ products can be found in discerning properties throughout the world. Gilchrist & Soames is based in Indianapolis, Indiana and Peterborough, London, England. For more information, visit www.gilchristsoames.com.

PHOTOS: High-resolution, publication-quality photos are available upon request.

WEB SITE: www.gilchristsoames.com

CONTACT: Roys Laux, VP of Marketing
Cell: 317-531-1603

Indianapolis, November 10, 2013 – Gilchrist & Soames® today announced its Reserve Collection, a luxury brand that will enhance the guest experience with premium formulations and artful packaging for discerning travelers.

Revitalizing and soothing, The Reserve Collection taps into Gilchrist & Soames’ rich heritage of English toiletries with a clean, elegant design geared for today’s elite traveler.

“The new Gilchrist & Soames collection is the culmination of almost 40 years of crafting high-tech and high-touch bath and body products for a discerning clientele,” said Gilchrist & Soames president Kathie DeVoe. “This collection is a true testament to both the classic heritage and bright future of the company.”

The fragrance opens with a blend of sparkling citron zest, calming white tea leaves and the open sweet freshness of wasabi pear. The heart is an elegant bouquet of geranium and lotus blossom, balanced by wet bamboo. Notes of exotic teakwood and sueded musk play against vanilla crystals for a luxurious close.

Like all Gilchrist & Soames products, the Reserve Collection embraces cruelty-free development and manufacturing practices, ensuring that the products are never tested on animals, nor contain animal-derived ingredients.

About the Reserve Collection
The Reserve Collection formulation ingredients are from at least 96 percent natural origin. The collection is an homage to nature’s finest minerals and plants, which have been used for thousands of years for their nourishing, soothing, cleansing and healing properties.

• Shampoo features Clary Sage extract to help balance the production of sebum (oil); it has astringent, antiseptic and antibacterial properties.
• Conditioner features extracts of Irish Moss, which is emollient, soothing and nourishing to the hair.
• Shower gel features Chamomile Extract, which has emollient, healing, tonic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties; it contains azulene which helps cleanse pores of impurities.
• Body lotion features Jojoba, an emollient moisture regulator rich in vitamin E with a texture almost identical to our natural sebum; it penetrates the skin to moisturize without blocking pores.
• Bar soap features Green Tea Leaf extract, a potent anti-inflammatory that helps to promote the health of skin, by maintaining firmness and elasticity.

About Gilchrist & Soames
Gilchrist & Soames is a leading provider of cosmetic-grade toiletry collections for world-class hotels, exclusive resorts, and distinguished spas, inns, and bed & breakfasts. Specializing in servicing the luxury market, Gilchrist & Soames’ products can be found in discerning properties throughout the world. Gilchrist & Soames is based in Indianapolis, Indiana and Peterborough, London, England. For more information, visit www.gilchristsoames.com

PHOTOS: High-resolution, publication-quality photos are available upon request.

CONTACT: Amanda DiMaio
Office: 317-781-7047

Q: What part do amenities play in creating a luxurious experience for guests?

A: There is an art to selecting amenities that reflect the true essence of a property and the desired feeling to be conveyed in
that space. At Gilchrist & Soames, we take great pride in our ability to align our distinctive products with a hotel’s style, individuality and desired guest experience. Creating this emotional connection through product design and fragrance is part of our heritage and an area where we truly excel.

A key component in the evaluation of amenities is fragrance. A special aroma can take us back in time and evoke a windfall of memories and emotions. As hoteliers go to great measures to create a luxurious experience, it’s important not to overlook how bathroom amenities compliment the overall design of the property. Such details can play a significant role in guests’ perceptions of their stay, as much as the materials and textures used to craft their space.

Q: What sets your company apart in the hotel amenities industry?
A: Gilchrist & Soames stands apart in our ability to offer an unmatched range of bathroom amenity solutions, all backed by superior, personal service. Every interaction with Gilchrist & Soames is designed to provide hoteliers the same premium concierge service that they provide their VIP guests. The Gilchrist & Soames name is recognized as a worldwide leader in fine English toiletries. Our clients can choose to  leverage our name by selecting from our  collection of house brands, each unique in their appeal and formulation. Hoteliers wanting products uniquely their own enjoy working with Gilchrist & Soames to create a bespoke collection designed specifically for their property and guest needs.

Q: Are there cues you take from design trends in your product packaging?
A: The aesthetics of our products are designed to complement the décor and overall guest experience in many of the same ways our natural ingredients and fragrances do. You’ll notice our packaging designs are made to align with their surroundings in a range of architectural styles—from modern, clean designs to those that are more traditional. We don’t want to stand out against the décor, but rather aesthetically blend with guest suite designs. This attention to detail ensures guests’ surroundings are in complete harmony with the feeling architects and designers intend to evoke with their décor.

Q. What trends are you noticing in the hotel amenities industry?
A: For years hoteliers have tried to impress their guests by volleying between retail brands and custom collections. What we’re seeing now is that properties are more conscious about where the amenities are manufactured and what ingredients are in the product formulation when they select  bathroom amenities. Luxury travelers are  demanding products that are kind to the skin as well as the environment. Words such as “parabens” and “phthalates” are becoming more and more recognizable to today’s health and lifestyle conscientious consumer and hoteliers are taking notice.

Our company is well positioned to help meet the increasing customer demand for clean products. Gilchrist & Soames collections were re-formulated several years ago to use naturally derived ingredients and we have always made best practices of minimizing our impact on the resources that surround us. Consumers want to feel good about the products they experience at a hotel. Skin friendly amenities with cruelty free development are now an expectation, not an option.

Q: How is your company different today than five years ago?
A: We’ve had the privilege to experience substantial growth throughout the past five years. Perhaps the most significant effect of this growth was the need to relocate our worldwide headquarters and primary production site to a 250,000 square-foot facility in Plainfield, Indiana, USA. This move in conjunction with the relocation and modernization of our Peterborough, England office has increased our production and distribution capabilities. Today we are truly a global company serving clients in over ninety countries at some of the world’s most discerning luxury properties.

Gilchrist & Soames is delighted to announce that as of July 2014 we have the privilege to be working with luxury five-star boutique hotel ‘The Granary’ in Wroclaw, Poland.

This award-winning hotel comprises of 47 luxurious, contemporary suites housed within a beautifully restored 16^th century medieval building. Nominated by Forbes and Newsweek as the Best Luxury Hotel in its category, it’s ‘home away from home’ atmosphere and superb concierge services ensure once-in-a-lifetime accommodations.

Essentiel Elements Bathe Collection  has been selected as the chosen range to feature in all guest suites. With its fresh orange blossom fragrance and dynamic colour palette, this collection is proving a popular favourite amongst hoteliers in both Europe and North America.

“Gilchrist & Soames is our first-sight-love: fresh, magic, adorable and gentle. The cosmetics have given The Granary a blast of freshness and a new face of luxury. This is exactly what successfully helps us to spoil our Guests to the limits.”