Building A 35-Year Partnership: Request Foods And Wildman

At Request Foods in Holland, MI, quality, consistency, and teamwork come together to produce frozen entrées for some of the biggest names in the food industry. From lasagna to mac and cheese, the company prides itself on making family favorites with care and precision.

Behind the scenes, keeping production running smoothly takes more than ingredients. It also takes dependable partners who can handle the details that support day-to-day operations. That’s where Wildman comes in.

Decades of Dependable Service

Request Foods has partnered with Wildman (formerly WM Uniform) for more than 35 years, supplying uniforms, production coats, and other essentials that keep employees safe, comfortable, and ready to work.

Katie DeVree, Buyer at Request Foods, oversees all indirect purchasing for the company, which includes everything that’s not an ingredient. She shared how much the partnership means to her and her team.

“It’s not just a work relationship,” Katie said. “It feels more like a friendship. We see our Wildman delivery team every week, and it’s always great to catch up. On top of that, the service is phenomenal! They’re responsive, deliveries are on time, and they’re always checking in to see what they can do to make things easier.”

Wildman’s reliability is essential in a fast-paced food production environment.

“We can’t run production without our coats,” Katie explained. “We rely on Wildman to get them to us on time, and they always do. It’s someone we can count on for sure.”

Continuous Improvement and Collaboration

Like any strong partnership, communication plays a big role in success. When challenges come up, the Wildman team works quickly to find solutions.

“We’ve had conversations about lead times, but they’re always willing to listen and try new things,” Katie said. “They care about finding what works best for us.”

As Request Foods continues to streamline and consolidate suppliers, Wildman has become an even more integral part of their process.

“We’ve been focusing on strengthening our supplier relationships,” Katie shared. “Putting more of our needs with Wildman has helped us simplify operations and build a stronger partnership. It’s a win for all of us.”

More Than Business

What stands out most to Katie is the genuine connection she feels with the Wildman team.

“Work is work, but it’s so nice to have a supplier you feel like you’re friends with,” she said. “You can be honest, hold each other accountable, and still have that mutual respect. That’s what makes working with Wildman different.”

When asked to describe Wildman in just a few words, Katie didn’t hesitate: Reliable and simple.

Those two words perfectly capture what has made this 3-decade and counting partnership so successful: consistent service, trusted relationships, and a shared commitment to doing things right.