Pinnacle Business Awards: KaTom Leads the Food Supply Industry with Innovation
LARGE BUSINESS EXCELLENCE AWARD
Located in Kodak, KaTom Restaurant Supply provides foodservice equipment and supplies across the globe and is the sixth-largest restaurant supply company in the United States. KaTom was recently recognized as the 2023 Pinnacle Large Business Excellence Award winner by the Knoxville Chamber.
The Large Business Excellence award, sponsored by 21st Mortgage Corporation, is presented to a non-franchisee company with over 200 employees that has shown remarkable profitability, growth and stability.
“At 21st Mortgage, we know that it takes a significant amount of motivation and drive to produce the growth, profitability and success exemplified in the Large Business Excellence category. We opened our doors in downtown Knoxville in 1995 with a staff of only four and have grown to over 1,000 team members,” said Bailey Anglin with 21st Mortgage. “KaTom Restaurant Supply is a staple in our community and is well-known for its achievements. The focus their company has on inclusivity and collaboration is one to be admired.”
KaTom recognized early on the role the internet and eCommerce could play in supplying foodservice professionals, launching its website in 2001. They are known as an "internet dealer" because of their dominance in the eCommerce space. KaTom has made the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing companies for the past 14 years.
"Our online catalog is a living, breathing library. We have a team of 60 people that are constantly upgrading content and photographs. When we get those orders online, we're more than appreciative," said Patricia Bible, KaTom founder and CEO. "However, if you're looking to buy a $75,000 walk-in, you may not always want to make that purchase with a click. You may need a little extra time, you may need extra assistance, and we have an entire team that can help. We've found that the partnership between our eCommerce and sales divisions is a powerful one."
To help clients account for evolving needs and to help maximize their efficiencies, KaTom has launched a design-build team. They no longer just sell the equipment; they now assist clients with designing and installing their kitchens. From neighborhood diners to high-end restaurants to health care facilities, a variety of industries work with KaTom.
"Our design-build segment has just exploded. Any project from a stadium to a university, or any large entity, requires a designer to be involved with the architects," added Bible. "Our install team, our delivery team, everybody from the ground up at KaTom can assist. This new service has really added something special, and we're excited."
For in-depth video interviews and more information on the Pinnacle 2023 Business Awards, presented by Pinnacle Financial Partners, visit www.knoxvillechamber.com/pinnacle.
−Knoxville Chamber
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Pinnacle Business Awards: KaTom gets Large Business Award
