Jim Zink and Mike McGuire
Title: Managing partners, Zink Foodservice
Address: 420 Westdale Ave., Westerville
About: Family-owned company that represents food-service equipment manufacturers and authorized dealers in the sales, marketing, distribution and installation of equipment and small wares used in restaurants, hospitals, schools and convenience stores throughout the Midwest.
Founded: 1977
Locations: Columbus (headquarters); regional offices in Cincinnati; Cleveland; Chicago; Detroit; Grand Rapids, Michigan; Indianapolis; Louisville; Milwaukee and Pittsburgh.
Employees: 71 full-time equivalents
2016 revenue: declined to disclose
Website: zinkfsg.com many of the operational aspects in our representative and our distribution units. He oversees our complete (customer-relationship management) system and our information-management system. … My role is working with our manufacturers, developing those relationships and spending time with the outside sales team. It’s been a great partnership.
Q: What are your company’s goals?
Zink: We are a sales company; we have a lot in those plans around growing sales, because manufacturers hire our company to increase their market share. Our strategies are all about how we help them grow their market share in the areas we represent for them. Our goal is to continue to grow the business, continue to add value and relevance in our space. We see the company always remaining in Columbus, run and managed by a leadership team that’s based here. We also see the company remaining private.
Q: Why was Paradigm created?
Zink: Our industry is in the midst of a lot of consolidation. Our market’s maturing. With that consolidation, the players are condensed. It’s a much more national scope today than it was a decade ago. We think the future state of our market is going to require more intense collaboration (in the food-service and supply industry).
Q: What is the state of your industry?
Zink: A lot of the people in our industry get there by accident. I’d like it to become more visible. I’d like to see more young people looking at it and understanding it’s a great career path.
McGuire: The average (employee) tenure is 10-plus years with the company. We’ve been adding so many new young folks. The millennials we’ve brought in are really adding some spice to the organization. There are a lot of shiny, sexy industries out there, but ours has been a fairly steady, old-fashioned business model. We’ve got great brands, a lot of exciting new products, a lot of technology in our business that people don’t realize. The food-service industry isn’t just working in restaurants. The supply channel is a dynamic, exciting business.