(Commonwealth_ Sysco, a Fortune 500 company and the largest global foodservice provider, regards its Sri Lanka operations as “mission critical.” Known locally as Sysco LABS, this branch has expanded rapidly since its establishment in 2013 and its full acquisition in 2017. Syfood servicesco LABS has grown to become Sysco’s largest Global In-House Centre, playing a pivotal role in supporting the company’s extensive global network which includes 72,000 colleagues, 325 distribution centres, and over 725,000 customer locations worldwide.
With $76 billion in revenue and a ranking within the top 60 of Fortune companies, Sysco dominates the global market in selling, marketing, and distributing food products to a diverse range of customers, including restaurants, healthcare facilities, educational institutions, and lodging establishments. Sysco’s international operations span countries such as the Bahamas, Ireland, Costa Rica, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, Sweden, Luxembourg, Panama, and Belgium. Furthermore, Sysco’s SYGMA network distributes a broad spectrum of food and non-food products to chain restaurant locations across these regions.
Sysco LABS: The Technological Core
Tom Peck, Sysco’s Executive Vice President and Chief Information and Digital Officer, underscores the critical importance of Sysco LABS. “Sysco Labs is mission critical,” he states, noting that it accounts for nearly 50% of his global employee base and significantly supports Sysco’s corporate strategy to grow 1.5 times faster than the market. The Sri Lankan team, with over 1,000 employees, develops and supports key sales, e-commerce, and supply chain tools, making it the “heartbeat” of Sysco’s global technology operations.
Sri Lanka is home to Sysco Technology’s Global 24×7 Operations Command Centre and various units responsible for building and maintaining Sysco’s e-Commerce platforms. Recent expansions include the establishment of a Sysco Cybersecurity Operations Centre, adding to its comprehensive expertise in technology.
Capacity Expansion and Commitment to Growth
Sysco LABS’ growth has outpaced its current capacity, prompting plans to consolidate its operations into a single, fully-fledged building within the next two years. Peck reveals that this expansion is driven by both organic growth and the strategic insourcing of work currently handled by third-party consultants. This move underscores Sysco’s commitment to deepening its presence in Sri Lanka.
The talent pool in Sri Lanka has been a major factor in Sysco’s success. Peck commends the skills, English proficiency, and collaborative spirit of Sri Lankan professionals. This talent, coupled with Sysco LABS’ high engagement and supervisor effectiveness scores in employee surveys, highlights the organization’s strong leadership and supportive culture.
Career Opportunities and Community Engagement
Sysco offers a compelling career proposition in the technology sector. As a $76 billion company within a $1 trillion food market, it provides diverse opportunities across ten different technology domains, from software engineering to cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. Sysco LABS actively contributes to the Sri Lankan tech community, fostering knowledge sharing and capacity building, and nurturing young talent through initiatives like Project Summit.
Sysco LABS has received notable recognition, winning the prestigious Best Exporter Award in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector at the Presidential Export Awards for both 2021/22 and 2022/23. This accolade affirms Sysco LABS’ status as the leading contributor to export revenue within Sri Lanka’s ICT sector.
Future Outlook
Looking forward, Sysco plans to continue its partnership with Sri Lankan universities, ensuring a steady pipeline of talent proficient in new technologies. Peck emphasizes the importance of maintaining Sysco LABS’ reputation as a desirable place to work, characterized by integrity, talent, and a purpose-driven ethos.
With Sri Lanka’s economy stabilizing after recent challenges, Sysco anticipates a period of growth. Stability and prosperity in the region are beneficial not only for the local population but also for businesses like Sysco. “Sri Lankan prosperity is good for Sysco, our employees, and the country,” concludes Peck, reinforcing Sysco’s commitment to contributing to Sri Lanka’s success.
