Tugboat Institute®’s content is as varied as the leaders and companies it serves, yet certain themes rise to the top over and over: family business stories, Evergreen® principles in action, and the power of employee ownership. As I reflected on a recent acquisition at Pro Food Systems (PFS)—the company my wife, Julie, and I founded in 1998—it struck me how this experience is a rare blend of all three. At first, it felt unique and improbable, but perhaps it isn’t surprising after all. At the heart of all Evergreen activity is a foundation built on values and purpose—so maybe this story fits just as it should.

To set the stage, PFSbrands is the flagship company of Pro Food Systems (PFS), which we founded in 1998. What began as a part-time venture selling coffee soon evolved. In 1999, I took a leap of faith by quitting my full-time job, and we launched a branded food service program called Champs Chicken—selling chicken breading out of our garage. Julie and I started with a simple mission: to help our retail customers operate profitably. That purpose-driven approach allowed us to eventually grow into three major franchise food brands—Champs Chicken, Hangar 54 Pizza, and BluTaco—along with several licensed programs and private-label brands.