What It Means to Be an Employee-Owner at Dennis
At Dennis, employee ownership means our people are invested in the company, accountable to one another, and personally committed to the success of our customers.
The Transition to Employee Ownership
Dennis was family owned and operated for 107 years. In January 2015, then-owner Ron Dennis sold the company to its employees, creating the Dennis Employee Stock Ownership Plan. The decision preserved Dennis as an independent, locally rooted company and recognized the dedication of the people who helped build it.
Employee ownership became the next chapter in a company story that began in 1908. Learn more about Dennis Food Service history and the progression from a family bottling business to a New England broadline foodservice distributor.
What an ESOP Means
An Employee Stock Ownership Plan, or ESOP, gives eligible employees an ownership interest in the company. At Dennis, 100% employee ownership helps create a culture in which people understand that daily decisions, customer relationships, safety, service, and long-term growth are connected.
“We all have a stake in the business. It gives us pride in what we do and helps us go the extra distance for our customers. It’s more than a job, it’s who I am.” — Mario Tribuzio, 2019 Dennis Difference Award recipient
Ownership in Action
Employee ownership is visible in the personal accountability of individuals and departments, the partnerships we build with customers, and our shared commitment to safety. Dennis recognizes employee-owners whose work exemplifies these values through the annual Dennis Difference Award and safety recognition programs.
“Everything I do in my day-to-day duties to increase safety and decrease accidents not only benefits the company, but also me directly as an employee-owner.” — Ginger Shubert
See recent examples of ownership in action in the 2025 Dennis Difference Award and explore more Dennis ESOP news.
How Employee Ownership Benefits Customers
For customers, employee ownership means working with people who are invested in Dennis and take personal responsibility for delivering dependable service, useful expertise, quality products, and practical solutions. It supports the responsiveness, partnership, and commitment to customer growth at the heart of the Dennis Difference.
Building Dennis’s Future
The service and quality established at Dennis more than a century ago continue through today’s employee-owners. Together, our teams provide thousands of products and foodservice solutions to restaurants, schools, convenience stores, camps, institutions, hospitality businesses, and other operations across New England.
“In an ESOP you no longer work for somebody; now you’re working with everybody.” — Travis Estes
Interested in becoming a future owner? Explore careers at Dennis Food Service.
