McLane Company Names Chris Smith as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

McLane Company Inc., one of the largest distributors in America and an industry-leading partner to the biggest retail and restaurant brands, today announced the promotion of Chris Smith to executive vice president and chief operating officer. Smith will support McLane’s growth strategy by leveraging resources and capabilities across McLane’s enterprise while continuing to lead McLane Retail.

“Chris is a proven leader who understands our business, our customers and our teammates,” said Tony Frankenberger, McLane CEO. “His continued leadership will help McLane build on our strong foundation, advance...

McLane Fresh Foodservice Programs Win Two Major Industry Awards

McLane Company Inc., one of the nation’s largest distributors and an industry-leading partner to retail and restaurant brands nationwide, was recently named a winner in two 2026 best new product competitions. CSP and Convenience Store News recognized McLane Fresh foodservice programs Prendisimo with Duo Slice Pizza and HiBird chicken strips.

Prendisimo Duo Slice Pizza, which McLane unveiled at CSP’s Convenience Retailing University in February, won the Foodservice: Pizza category of CSP’s 2026 Retailer’s Choice Best New Products Contest. Designed for convenience retail, Duo...

McLane Company Earns Fourth Consecutive Service Provider of the Year Award from 7-Eleven Franchisees

McLane Company, Inc., one of the largest distributors in America and a leading supply chain partner to retail and restaurant brands, is proud to announce it has been named Service Provider of the Year by the National Coalition of Associations of 7-Eleven Franchisees (NCASEF) for the fourth consecutive year.

Presented at the NCASEF National Trade Show in July, the award recognizes service providers that consistently deliver exceptional support, value and partnership to 7-Eleven franchisees. McLane’s recognition reflects its...

McLane Engage 2026 to Feature Global AI Expert Keynote, New Supplier Summit and Product Innovation

McLane Company, Inc. will host McLane Engage, August 25-27 at the Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas.

With the support of title sponsors The Hershey Company and Reynolds American, McLane Engage brings customers and suppliers together for a full-scale trade show experience featuring three days of networking, educational content, new product launches, deals and more.

Keynote speaker Sol Rashidi, recognized as the world’s first Chief AI Officer, a former Amazon executive and one of the Top 100 AI...

Aurora and McLane to Launch Driverless Trucking Operations in Texas

Aurora Innovation and McLane Company are expanding their autonomous trucking partnership with plans to begin driverless freight operations in Texas.

The companies announced an agreement to launch driverless hauls using the Aurora Driver, an SAE Level 4 self-driving system built for long-haul trucking. McLane, one of the largest distributors in the US serving chain restaurants, convenience stores, and mass merchants, will use the technology to move supplies and perishable food more efficiently across the state.

The move builds on a supervised autonomy...

McLane Company’s “100 Days of Summer” Showcases Innovative LTOs Built for Peak-Season C-Store Sales

McLane Company, Inc., one of the largest distributors in America and an industry-leading partner to the biggest retail and restaurant brands, today announced the launch of its “100 Days of Summer” promotional campaign, a curated selection of seasonal food and beverage offerings designed to help convenience retailers maximize summer sales opportunities.

As road trips remain the dominant form of summer travel—accounting for travel plans for more than 60% of Americans—consumer demand for fresh, convenient food...

Seafood Spotlight, Brand Revamps and Store Closures Signal Shifts in Foodservice

Over the past two weeks, significant developments have shaped the foodservice and grocery industries. In this recap, Expana has curated the stories that resonated most with our customers — from major policy initiatives and Lent promotions to product innovation and high-profile closures. Here are the key headlines from the latter half of the month.

National Restaurant Association Release Federal Policy Priorities

The National Restaurant Association released its federal policy priorities aimed at stabilizing the workforce, supporting employment growth, reducing operator costs...

McLane's Foodservice Expansion Brings Innovative Solutions to Convenience Stores

McLane, recognized as one of the largest distributors in America, has announced an expansion of its foodservice offerings with several new products set to debut in convenience stores. These latest innovations are designed to drive sales, reduce waste, and meet the changing demands of consumers. Attendees of Convenience Retailing University (CRU) in Austin, Texas, from February 24 to 26, will have the chance to sample and purchase these new items.

Prendisimo, McLane's comprehensive pizza program tailored for convenience retailers, has unveiled the Duo...