Customer Profile — Grace Foods of Arizona

You've heard the adage, "It takes a village to prepare a good meal."

Ok, maybe it isn't a real saying, but it does take a host of farms, food service companies, distributors, preparers, chefs, and servers to get that plate to the table. And, apparently, a good telecommunications company, too.

While it may not be a household name, Grace Foods of Arizona is an important link in the local food chain--a niche food service processor that provides high-quality, best-trim poultry products to food distributors throughout the Phoenix area. Like many production businesses, an efficient operation is its lifeblood, and it enables Grace Foods to provide fast turnaround for special orders.

Reliable communication with suppliers and distributors is another critical factor for success. And owner Jeffrey Gross knew just who to turn to when he acquired his current operations in 2005. In not just one, but two, previous management roles in the food service industry, Jeffrey chose ELI/Integra to provide telecommunications service.

Gross' initial experience with ELI had been positive in helping him improve service for another food service company. "I had been hired by these companies to streamline operations, and good voice and data telecommunications service was a key element of restructuring." Gross had kept the ELI account manager's business card in his rolodex from company to company. "When I bought my own business, picking the communications provider was a no-brainer."

Today, the Grace Foods operation employs 30 workers and encompasses an 8,500 sq. ft. production facility on 1.25 acres. Grace Foods even operates a retail store on location, providing fresh seafood products to its local South Phoenix neighborhood. And it's Integra's rock-solid T-1 services that keep him in touch with his all-important distribution network.

"Integra's service and support is top-notch," Gross says. "My life is much better not having to deal with the local monopoly provider."

Grace Foods of Arizona
1051 E. Broadway
Phoenix, Arizona 85040

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