In 1897, twenty-three-year-old Isaac Van Westenbrugge borrowed $300 from his brother to launch a butter and egg delivery business in Michigan. Fast forward to today, and that company is now Gordon Food Service, the largest family-operated foodservice distributor in North America. Five generations later, they’re still going strong.
We’ve partnered with Gordon Food Service for nearly two decades, first providing refrigerated trailers. Recently, GFS asked us to build refrigerated truck bodies for their extensive distribution network.
It wasn’t just past experiences with Great Dane trailers that influenced their choice. Drivers played a key role, too.
Driver Approved, Quality Delivered
“Our drivers like the look and quality Great Dane provides,” said Scott Lahaie, North America Fleet Operations Manager for Gordon Food Service. “When it came to ordering new truck bodies, they told us they wanted Great Dane.”
GFS and Great Dane worked closely on their truck body project. During the design and build phase, Gordon team members visited our truck body manufacturing plants, which had a lasting impact.
“During the factory tour, I saw the consistency of Great Dane’s quality in the product, especially how each piece was custom-made to our specifications,” Lahaie explained.
“And I thought to myself, ‘I’m getting a great product.’ ”
Gordon’s refrigerated truck bodies were customized for automated distribution. Features include duct floors, liftgate combinations, strategic door placement, and a wall break designed to prevent pallet damage during loading and unloading.
“If a special customization is needed, Great Dane is up for it,” Lahaie added.
Pilot Visit and ThermoKing Partnership
During the factory tour, Lahaie could also see how the partnership between Great Dane and Thermo King takes refrigerated transport to a new standard of thermal performance. Thermo King is a world leader in manufacturing temperature control transport systems, and their TracKing® system delivers real-time data from the truck body’s refrigeration unit.
“During our pilot site visit, Thermo King was there with us and provided a solution right on the spot. I could see the value in the partnership that Great Dane has with Thermo King,” Lahaie said.
In addition to a long-standing partnership and shared commitment to quality, we are connected to Gordon Food Service by something truly special. Both of our companies have been in business for more than a century, a rare and remarkable achievement.
“Our leadership met Great Dane’s leadership team, and when you look at our companies side-by-side, there are many similarities. We are both American companies, and Great Dane’s trailers and truck bodies are built in America. I think that means something, especially in today’s economy,” Lahaie said.
After years of trusting Great Dane trailers, choosing Great Dane to build their truck bodies was a confident next step. The decision reflects shared values, American craftsmanship, and an unwavering commitment to quality.
Want to learn more about our innovative and durable truck body line? Start here.
