Today, Orrell's Food
Service is a broad-line distributor offering in excess of 3,000 items
to meet the ever changing needs of our customers. Coupled with JEM
Foods, we provide the highest quality of specialty items from fresh
Ground Beef to Portion Cut Deli Hams and Steaks.
Partnering with Pocahontas Foods USA in 1987 enabled us to supply our
customers with consistent high quality brand products. Progressive Group
Alliance, previously known as Pocahontas Foods, is now a Strategic
Business Unit of UniPro Foodservice. In 2009, Orrell’s Food Service
became a Business Partner with UniPro Foodservice to supply our
customers with the best possible products in the industry.
Orrell’s Food Service was honored as the “Distributor Of The Year” in
1999 by Pocahontas Foods USA and in 2000, 2001 and 2002 as an
“Outstanding Distributor”. Other awards include the Golden Arrow award, four
Silver Arrow awards and numerous growth in purchases awards
during the years.
We service customers in Central North Carolina and Southern Virginia.
Even though we have enjoyed considerable growth we are yet small enough
to respond to our customer’s individual needs. Our customers are our
“Partners” in business and we will always strive to provide them with
quality products, exceptional service and competitive prices.
We stand firm on our beliefs of hard work, honesty and family values –
values that the Company was founded on and continue to make us a proud
leader in foodservice distribution.
Reflecting back over our 50+ years of business, we wanted to take a
look back at our history and how we made it to where we are today.
Orrell’s Cold Storage was founded in 1954 by the brothers, Herman and
Roy Orrell. The 800 square foot facility offered Custom Butchering and
Processing of Beef and Pork. Within a couple of years Herman purchased
Roy’s interest in the business and in 1962 was joined by his son Tony
who is President and CEO of Orrell’s Food Service today.
The Company was incorporated in 1979 and under NCDA inspection began
manufacturing and selling beef products.
1981 was a year of great change for our company, Herman Orrell
decided to retire after 27 years of dedicated service. After
Herman’s retirement, Tony and Judy Orrell took over and began
redefining the vision for the Company. The new focus was to be on Food
Service and the name of the Company was changed to Orrell’s Food
Service, Inc.
A new Foodservice warehouse comprised of 6,000 square feet was opened in
December of 1984 adjacent to the Processing Plant.
In March of 1987 Orrell’s became a Pocahontas Foods USA distributor and
in May discontinued the service of custom butchering.
History Highlights:
1989 – New brick offices to the existing facilities
1990 – Purchased N & S Produce
1991 – Company’s FIRST Food Show in Salisbury on 4/30
with 105 customers in attendance.
1992 – Land purchased for expanded parking
1993 – Construction on new freezer and dry storage
1994 – Completion of new freezer, cooler and dry
storage increased warehouse space to 38,000 square feet.
Live with state of the art computer
system on November 1st.
1995 – Part of the original 6000 square foot facility
renovated for new Conference Room and Training Center
1997 – Renovation of original facility continues for
more offices and kitchen
1998 – Pegram Foods in Kernersville, NC was acquired
along with the opening of a State of the Art Test Kitchen
and new
offices for Human
Resources, Sales Management and IT
1999 –
Growth through the years brought about the need for the company's
first purchase of tractor trailors.
2000 - In December, construction began for the largest
expansion in company history.
2001 – December expansion was completed and included
new freezer, cooler, dry storage, new offices for
Cash N Carry and the
Purchasing staff. Facility nearly doubled and totals 72,000 square feet.
2002 –
In March, the Kernersville facility was closed and all operations
were centralized in the Churchland facility.
2003 – Brought changes in technology as we upgrade to
Windows based software for our DSR Laptops with SPS.
2005 – Land purchased for expansion
2006 – Expansion of 29,000 square foot facility for
Dry, Refrigerated and Freezer storage completed
2009 – Processing plant became its own business and
named J.E.M. Foods, Inc.
As you can see Orrell’s Food Service, a family owned business, has
enjoyed continued growth through the years but we have not forgotten our
humble beginning. Our “Cinderella” story of success is due to hard work,
honesty, and family values supported by dedicated employees. We
appreciate ALL who have shared in the life and growth of our Company.
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