QCD Phoenix, Arizona Celebrates 2025 Chairman’s Challenge Win

During the Golden State Foods (GSF) 2026 Global Leadership Conference this month, associates from across the GSF family of companies celebrated the QCD Phoenix, Arizona team for winning the company’s highest internal honor—the Chairman’s Challenge Award. A 26-year tradition, this coveted award recognizes excellence in key performance areas, including people, safety, quality, customer support, financial results, and community engagement.

GSF President and Chief Executive Officer Brian Dick and Stephen Wetterau, Executive Vice Chair of the GSF Board of Directors, co-presented the award to Matt Cheviron, QCD Phoenix General Manager.

“QCD Phoenix excelled across every dimension of their 2025 performance, building on five consecutive Best in Class Award wins and lifting one another to soar even higher as one team,” said Brian. “Congratulations to the Phoenix team on a truly outstanding year and on earning this well‑deserved honor. This recognition reflects the many achievements and exceptional results delivered by our dedicated associates.”

During the Chairman’s Challenge Award presentation, Brian and Stephen highlighted several standout achievements from 2025. The Phoenix team supported customers with reliable last‑mile distribution services, maintained a strong safety record that earned a fourth consecutive National Safety Council Award, exercised disciplined cost management, gave back to their community through the GSF Foundation, and delivered a solid financial performance. Additionally, they upheld exceptional quality standards, consistently achieving top scores in internal audits, external evaluations, and customer assessments.

“After five years of consistent Best in Class wins, the Phoenix team is proud to earn the Eagle and celebrate our first-ever Chairman’s Challenge Award!” said Matt Cheviron, General Manager, QCD Phoenix. “This recognition is a testament to our dedicated people and their overall performance in 2025. We accomplished so much together in safety standards, fleet management, financial results, GSF Foundation engagement, and so much more! Congratulations and thank you!”

In addition to its Chairman’s Challenge honors, QCD Phoenix received GSF’s 2025 Safety Excellence Award and its fifth consecutive GSF “Best in Class” Diamond Award in the distribution category. Comprising the finalists for Chairman’s Challenge, the company’s annual “Best in Class” awards honor large facilities (Platinum Awards) and small facilities (Diamond Awards) in distribution and food processing. For 2025, QCD Chicago West, Illinois won the “Best in Class” Platinum Award and earned several additional honors: a Safety Improvement Award, Best Managed Fleet Award for Best Large Fleet, Quality Focus Award, and the GSF Foundation’s Outstanding Community Support Award.

Congratulations to the following QCD teams for earning 2025 operational awards:

Safety Improvement Award: 

• QCD Albuquerque 

• QCD Chicago East 

• QCD Chicago West  

• QCD Charlotte 

• QCD Denver 

• QCD Kansas City 

• QCD Las Vegas 

• QCD Los Angeles  

• QCD Portland 

• QCD San Antonio  

• QCD Suffolk 

Safety Excellence Awards: 

• QCD Dallas

• QCD Indianapolis

• QCD Phoenix

• QCD Orlando 

Best Managed Fleet Awards: 

• Best Large Fleet: QCD Chicago West

• Best Small Fleet: QCD Spokane

Quality Focus Awards—Distribution: 

• QCD Chicago East  

• QCD Chicago West 

• QCD Hawaii  

• QCD Las Vegas 

• QCD Spokane 

• QCD Salt Lake City 

GSF Foundation Awards: 

• Associate Campaign Chair: Brande Bond

• Outstanding Community Support: QCD Chicago West

Stellar Award:

• Marco Guerrero, Director of Operations, QCD South Region