Sprint Speeds Sysco Customer Service

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. -- An 18-year relationship, plus an average account team tenure of more than 10 years, has added up to a new $19-million-plus communications services agreement between Sprint (NYSE: FON - News, PCS - News) and SYSCO Corporation (NYSE: SYY - News), North America's largest food service marketer and distributor. The latest contract highlights one of the less-publicized truths in the recently tumultuous telecommunications marketplace: great, long-term relationships built on outstanding service and hard-earned trust remain prized by service providers and customers alike.

"For SYSCO, our long-standing relationship with Sprint, their understanding of our business, and their ability to deliver what we need at a competitive price made this decision -- and most of our decisions over the past 18 years -- fairly easy," said Kirk Drummond, vice president and chief information officer of SYSCO Corporation. "SYSCO has about 415,000 business customers and our mission is to help them be successful. Since we have a nationally recognized reputation and rankings at the top of virtually every list in our industry, we are committed to continue delivering excellent products, service and financial results. We credit our long-term relationship with Sprint for providing stability, quality and continuity to the critical communications that have been essential in building our tradition of excellence for nearly two decades."

The new 27-month, $19-million-plus agreement focuses on data services, such as VPN and frame relay, that serve as the backbone for SYSCO's industry-leading communications systems and applications. These services enhance SYSCO's ability to track customer orders, monitor daily operations and deliver business critical information to SYSCO employees when they need it. The end-result is that SYSCO can respond to customer needs faster and more efficiently.

"SYSCO is one of Sprint's most highly regarded customers because they have demonstrated over time that they understand how complex, large-scale business relationships can work and how mutual benefit can be achieved through trust, understanding and ongoing commitment," said Tim Kelly, president, Sprint business. "Our account team averages more than a decade with this customer -- a very rare feat in a telecommunications environment fraught with turnover among employees as well as customers. Sprint and SYSCO recognize the importance and value of stability, longevity and experience."

Sprint Corp.