Leading
National Cleaning and Hygiene Company Unveils
Complete
Line of QSR-focused Products
Fort Lauderdale, FL (February 12, 2010) – Swisher
Hygiene, one of North America’s fastest
growing providers of commercial chemicals and cleaning solutions, announced today
the debut of its new line of products aimed specifically at the needs and
budgets of America’s quick service restaurants.
The line includes such commercial essentials as detergents, sanitizers,
degreasers, hard surface cleaners, odor neutralizers, floor treatments and
more.
Swisher
expects that QSR customers will be most pleased by the program’s flexibility. With an emphasis on delivering “the right
product to the right customer,” Swisher offers QSRs a broad range of options
when coordinating their chemical programs.
The products themselves are available in packets, ready-to-use
formulations and as concentrates, and a variety of dispensers are available to
help customers make the most efficient use of the products they purchase.
Swisher
also provides a great degree of flexibility when it comes to delivery. Customers in virtually every market
nationwide can receive their selections directly from Swisher’s personnel, they
can have them provided by one of Swisher’s distribution partners or they can
have them fulfilled through their existing distributor relationships. Swisher also supports all of its products
with more accommodating service than leading competitors, including scheduling
that can be built around each customer’s unique requirements.
“This is
a program that really stands out in today’s marketplace because it’s geared
around the customer’s needs, rather than the provider’s,” said Swisher
executive Tom Byrne. “It’s something
that’s increasingly rare– a company that’s made the effort to develop a program
that delivers genuine performance, delivery and service advantages. Customers tell us every day that these are
the main reasons they’re turning to us – they aren’t getting this level of
attention to detail anywhere else.”
Swisher Introduces QSR Chemical
Program
Along
with those innovations, Swisher continues its tradition of value pricing and
personalized service. Since the company
launched its national chemical efforts more than three years ago, their
programs have been noted for pricing that enables their clients to purchase
first-quality cleaners and sanitizers at savings that regularly approach
20%. In an economic environment where foodservice
businesses are increasingly squeezed for every dollar, that savings can be an
important contributor towards their bottom line.
Moreover,
all of Swisher’s chemical programs are supported with a variety of value-added
efforts that help their customers get the most of their chemical programs. Products are all accompanied by complete MSDS
documentation and Right-To-Know manuals, operating wall charts in English and
Spanish, and online training that addresses such topics as food handling
procedures, safe workplace practices and more, designed for learners at all
levels. Regional and national chains can
also take advantage of customized programs built around their specific operational
needs and procedures, and custom materials such as client-specific cleaning
manuals and fully branded online education portals are available, as well.
For more information about
Swisher’s QSR program or any of the other cleaning and hygiene solutions they
offer, visit www.SwisherHygiene.com or call 877-7-SWISHER.
About Swisher
Hygiene
Since 1983, Swisher Hygiene
has been the foremost provider of cleaning and hygiene products and services to
businesses and institutions across North America. The company delivers weekly service, chemicals, odor control systems, paper, soap, floor mats
and more to approximately 50,000 customers, with a geographical service area
that extends to 90% of the U.S. population.
More information is available online at www.SwisherHygiene.com
or by calling 877-7-SWISHER.
Hygiene Provider Expands
Corporate Territories in Multiple Markets
Charlotte, NC – Swisher Hygiene, leading provider of commercial
cleaning and sanitizing products and services, announced that it has acquired
previously independent Swisher franchises
serving Arkansas, Connecticut, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey,
Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania and Rhode
Island. These facilities will be merged
into the company’s national network of corporately owned operations, bringing nearly
90% of all Swisher locations under direct corporate control.
Swisher has been rapidly
consolidating its ownership and oversight of locations across North America,
giving the company the ability to more closely coordinate program expansion.
The 26-year-old company has experienced a period of significant growth in its
chemical business over the past two years following its introduction of a full
line of hygiene solutions including foodservice products, cleaners, sanitizers,
warewashing formulations, dish machines, detergents, floor care treatments and
more.
These products have driven the
company’s growth not only on the local level, but at the regional and national
account level, as well. Swisher offers a
comprehensive product program that generates significant savings for franchises
and chain businesses with locations in virtually all North American markets. These benefits have prompted increasing
numbers of them make Swisher their partner of choice.
“Customers in every market we operate tell us
that they’re enthusiastic about our ability to offer an alternative to
traditional product suppliers,” said Steve Berrard, Chairman and CEO of Swisher
Hygiene. “These franchise acquisitions
allow us to do just that. By taking
direct ownership of key locations, we’re in a better position to implement
system-wide enhancements that address customer demands, and since all of the
locations we’ve purchased have been very well run, quality personnel are
already in place to make the transition seamless.
In fact, Swisher expects customers
to experience a fully transparent change-over, with the only perceptible
difference being the ongoing introduction of new products and services. There will be no disruption in service or
product delivery schedules.
For more information, visit www.SwisherHygiene.com or call 877-7-SWISHER.
About Swisher
Hygiene
Since 1983, Swisher Hygiene
has been the foremost provider of cleaning and hygiene products and services to
businesses and institutions across North America. The company delivers weekly service, chemicals, odor control systems, paper, soap, floor mats
and more to approximately 50,000 customers, with a geographical service area
that extends to 90% of the U.S. population.
More information is available online at www.SwisherHygiene.com
or by calling 877-7SWISHER.
Offers Cruise- and Maritime-specific Cleaning and Sanitation Chemical Programs for Galley, Laundry and Housekeeping Operations
Fort Lauderdale, FL – Swisher Hygiene announced the establishment of a Marine Division dedicated to delivering housekeeping, laundry and galley products and programs to cruise lines and other members of the maritime industry.
The move builds on the success the company has already generated within the cruise industry. In March of this year, Swisher was named the official hygiene partner for Norwegian Cruise Line, making them the sole provider of warewashing, housekeeping and laundry products for the company’s fleet of ships. With the establishment of its marine division, Swisher expects to offer the broader maritime industry a similar set of solutions, delivered through a team of technicians that specializes in the distinct challenges and dynamics of the oceangoing environment.
At the heart of this program is a commitment to focus not on products but on problems, identifying specific, pervasive cruise industry hygiene issues and developing solutions to address them. To maintain this solutions-oriented approach, Swisher is working closely with a number of industry insiders to address real, present-day opportunities to improve housekeeping, foodservice and laundry processes.
“We come to the cruise industry with a combination of three equally important things,” said Peter Berrio, Vice President, Swisher Marine. “First, we custom formulate our products to meet the unique needs of our marine customers – but even with that specialization, customers will find that our use costs are the lowest in the industry. Second, we have an infrastructure that allows us to service our customers’ ships no matter where in the world they happen to be.
And third, we have a team of people who aren’t just hygiene experts, they’re marine hygiene experts. That’s a big plus when it comes to managing programs effectively and minimizing the impact on our oceans – a big concern on today’s cruise vessels.”
The division will be headquartered in South Florida, giving Swisher close proximity to some of the most active cruise and shipping ports in the world. With a long-established presence in the area already, Swisher expects the division to begin operating as a full-fledged business unit immediately.
Swisher Unveils New Marine Division
While the marine division’s base of operations may be in South Florida, Swisher provides service worldwide through a network of company owned locations, franchises, master licensees and third party partners. This global organization can meet any ship’s specific product fulfillment needs at virtually any port of call on earth.
Swisher adds an additional level of customization by developing highly ship-specific stocking and fulfillment plans. Product usage is monitored on an ongoing basis to determine each ship’s consumption pattern, minimize waste and calibrate restocking schedules.
Such a high degree of customization is intended to optimize storage requirements, generating valuable space and fuel savings while reducing out-of-pocket expenses for chemicals and hygiene products. Swisher estimates that a full program can deliver typical cruise ships total cost savings of 10% to 20%, with some variance based on previous product costs and other conditions.
“The Cruise industry right now is facing so many challenges – there are concerns about communicable illness, there’s volatility in fuel pricing, there are storage issues and fulfillment problems – so we’re confident that the program we offer is going to be well received,” said Berrio. “It’s designed to address all of those and more, making cruise ships safer, healthier places for crew and guests while saving cruise operators money and simplifying program management.”
For more information, visit www.SwisherHygiene.com or call 877-7-SWISHER.
About Swisher Hygiene
Since 1983, Swisher Hygiene has been the foremost provider of cleaning and hygiene products and services to businesses and institutions across North America. The company delivers weekly service, chemicals, odor control systems, paper, soap, floor mats and more to approximately 50,000 customers, with a geographical service area that extends to 90% of the U.S. population.
More information is available online at www.SwisherHygiene.com
or by calling 877-7SWISHER.
Veteran Staffers Magnify Swisher’s Product-Plus-Service Appeal To Distributors
Fort Lauderdale, FL – Swisher Hygiene, one of North America’s fastest growing providers of commercial chemicals and cleaning products and services, announced today that it has filled a number of key roles in its distribution division, highlighted by the appointment of Jeff Rhodes as vice president of distribution. Rhodes’ placement, along with the hiring of a number of sales and support professionals in markets nationwide, marks the culmination of a multi-year thrust to establish a platform that fully supports the company’s coast-to-coast distribution efforts.
“For the past few years, we’ve been committed to putting in place all of the elements necessary to support a comprehensive distribution program, and these personnel enhancements are the final ingredient,” said Swisher executive Thomas Byrne. “Distributors across the country can recognize from the quality of people on our staff that we’re intensely serious about building the strongest, most supportive and most successful chemical distribution program in the industry.”
Rhodes brings Swisher a broad range of professional experience earned over 20 years in the product distribution industry, including a recent role as vice president of distributor sales for JohnsonDiversey.
He has built a substantial network of relationships through his ability to identify and address distinct customer needs, and his depth of knowledge regarding chemicals and related products in the commercial environment is unsurpassed.
Jeff is joined by a team of new chemical distribution specialists, veteran industry professionals who will offer clients proven, practical experience in markets from the mid-Atlantic to the Pacific. These appointments are a significant milestone in the development of a service channel that Swisher expects will become a major component of its ongoing operations. While many manufacturers offer ready-to-use products to distributors, few offer a complete set of products and services that includes warewashing, laundry and dilution systems. Fewer still do it across a national platform.
Swisher Launches Distributor Program
By providing distributors a comprehensive package of fully serviced chemical systems, Swisher makes it possible for a large subset of distributors to take advantage of a broader range of revenue opportunities. Now, distributors without service programs and those looking to outsource existing service programs can leverage Swisher’s infrastructure and expertise to participate in key business segments such as laundry and automatic warewashing.
“We’re excited to be able to offer distributors a turnkey service solution that gives them access to these enormous markets,” Rhodes said. “When distributors partner with Swisher, they can provide their customers low-use-cost chemical solutions for every area of operation, regardless of industry.
Whether it’s foodservice, hospitality, retail or any other business, Swisher’s program is built to deliver effective, affordable solutions that increase customer satisfaction. The end result for distributors is that they’ll see longer-lasting customer relationships and a sizable income boost at the same time. That’s a win for everyone involved.”
For more information, visit www.SwisherHygiene.com or call 877-7-SWISHER.
About Swisher Hygiene
Since 1983, Swisher Hygiene has been the foremost provider of cleaning and hygiene products and services to businesses and institutions across North America. The company delivers weekly service, chemicals, odor control systems, paper, soap, floor mats and more to approximately 50,000 customers, with a geographical service area that extends to 90% of the U.S. population.
More information is available online at www.SwisherHygiene.com
or by calling 877-7-SWISHER.
Because
Swisher offers products and programs that meet or beat all others in the
industry, with better performance, better service and significantly better
pricing. In fact, we can usually lower your chemical costs up to
20%!
Find out for yourself why so many restaurant chains are switching to
Swisher. Call James Carey today at (800) 444-4138 Ext. 7751 for a free,
no-obligation analysis. We'll tell you just how much you can save when you make
Swisher your chemical partner.
FORT LAUDERDALE
- CDC health officials now estimate that swine flu has sickened nearly 50 million Americans and killed nearly 10,000.
The new estimates mean about 1 in 6 Americans have had the illness. The
figures were released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
on Thursday.
The CDC
also estimates that 200,000 people have been hospitalized since the
virus was first identified in April though mid-November. That's the
same amount that occurs normally in an entire flu season.
Business groups fear the H1N1 flu crisis could lead to legislation requiring employers to provide paid sick leave to workers.
Legislation introduced by Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., would
require employers to provide employees with up to five days of paid
sick leave if they are sent home or told to stay home because of
symptoms related to contagious illnesses such as the H1N1 flu virus.
Miller, who chairs the House Education and Labor Committee, held a
hearing on his legislation Nov. 17. Similar legislation has been
introduced in the Senate.
"Sick workers advised to stay home by their employers shouldn't
have to choose between their livelihood, and their coworkers' or
customers' health," Miller said. "This will not only protect employees,
but it will save employers money by ensuring that sick employees don't
spread infection to co-workers and customers, and will relieve the
financial burden on our health system swamped by those suffering from
H1N1."
Some small business advocates, however, said the legislation is
unnecessary. Most employers already offer paid sick leave, or make
other arrangements, such as telework, to deal with outbreaks of
contagious illnesses, they say.
"Employers and their work force appear to be handling this
challenge just fine without the federal government's involvement," said
Karen Kerrigan, president and CEO of the Small Business and
Entrepreneurship Council. "Unlike the problems that the government is
having getting the flu vaccine out to Americans, employers and
organizations are working through this national health emergency quite
smoothly."
Businesses with fewer than 15 employees are exempt from the
legislation, as are employers that already provide at least five days
of paid sick leave.
Kerrigan said the requirement could be cost-prohibitive for many
businesses and could lead to mandatory paid sick leave for all
illnesses.
Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo., agrees.
"At a time when our nation is facing a 10.2 percent unemployment
rate, the last thing our small businesses need is another mandate,"
said Graves, the ranking Republican on the House Small Business
Committee.
The National Partnership for Women & Families, however, said a
new study found that paid sick leave is required in 14 of the world's
15 most economically competitive countries. The U.S. is the lone
exception.
"There simply is no negative relationship at all between decent
working conditions and competitiveness or job creation," said study
co-author Jody Heymann, founding director of the Institute for Health
and Social Policy at McGill University.
Recommended school responses for the 2009-2010 school year
- Stay home when sick:
Those with flu-like illness should stay home for at least 24 hours
after they no longer have a fever, or signs of a fever, without the use
of fever-reducing medicines. They should stay home even if they are
using antiviral drugs.
- Separate ill students and staff:
Students
and staff who appear to have flu-like illness should be sent to a room
separate from others until they can be sent home. CDC recommends that
they wear a surgical mask, if possible, and that those who care for ill
students and staff wear protective gear such as a mask.
- Hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette:
The
new recommendations emphasize the importance of the basic foundations
of influenza prevention: stay home when sick, wash hands frequently
with soap and water when possible, and cover noses and mouths with a
tissue when coughing or sneezing (or a shirt sleeve or elbow if no
tissue is available).
- Routine cleaning:
School
staff should routinely clean areas that students and staff touch often
with the cleaners they typically use. Special cleaning with bleach and
other non-detergent-based cleaners is not necessary.
- Early treatment of high-risk students and staff:
People
at high risk for influenza complications who become ill with
influenza-like illness should speak with their health care provider as
soon as possible. Early treatment with antiviral medications is very
important for people at high risk because it can prevent
hospitalizations and deaths. People at high risk include those who are
pregnant, have asthma or diabetes, have compromised immune systems, or
have neuromuscular diseases.
- Consideration of selective school dismissal:
Although there are not many schools where all or most students are at
high risk (for example, schools for medically fragile children or for
pregnant students) a community might decide to dismiss such a school to
better protect these high-risk students.
FOOD
SAFETY 101
While there are plenty of ‘officially designated national
months’ that are named just to satisfy some industry with a lot of marketing
money to spend (does anybody really care that October is ‘Celebrate Sun Dried
Tomatoes’ month?) there is one coming up that’s of genuine importance to
members of the foodservice industry: National Food Safety Education Month,
which begins September 1.
Nowadays, with more awareness – and concern – than ever over
food safety issues, it’s a great idea to take the time to make sure that owners
and operators understand what they can do to better protect the health and well
being of workers and customers.
The restaurant, catering and hospitality businesses are
already teetering from a challenging economy – the last thing any operator
needs to deal with now is an E. Coli outbreak or salmonella poisoning. HACCP and regulatory compliance are equally
big concerns – sometimes the effort it takes to prevent contamination can seem
as challenging as dealing with the germs themselves.
That’s why any effort invested in food safety education is
time well spent. You’ll find out
important ways to streamline your processes without cutting back on effective
prevention. That translates directly
into time and money savings for your business, along with wellness benefits to
your customers and employees.
For more information about National Food Safety Education
Month, visit the National Restaurant Association’s website at http://www.servsafe.com/nfsem/.
As the traditional flu season comes closer, we're starting to get a much better picture about the virulence of H1N1 - important information for us as individuals, and equally important for business operators who may need to make difficult decisions to ensure the well being of their personnel and their customers.
The latest news comes from the US Centers for Disease Control, which just reported that pregnant women are far more likely to be hit hard by the disease, posing a serious risk for severe illness and death.
According to this article, pregnant women are not more likely to contract the disease - they're just as susceptible as anyone else - but when they do get it, their chances of having a severe bout are magnified.
The CDC recommends that any pregnant women who feel like they're coming down with an illness seek their doctor's care immediately. Business owners who have pregnant employees on staff should also be on the lookout - the flu spreads easily, and if you have one staff member come down with an illness, it's in everyone's best interests to redouble your efforts at hygiene maintenance.
That means reinforcing your emphasis on proper handwashing, using hand sanitizer regularly and encouraging employees who don't feel well to see a physician and avoid coming in to work. Whatever temporary challenges are created by a small staff reduction are well worth it, if only to avoid having your entire staff out of work and endangering the well being of your most valuable assests - your employees.