NOVEMBER 2024BUSINESSMANAGEMENTREVIEW.COM8By Stephen Harrington, Chief Supply Chain Officer, Delaware NorthINTRO BIO:Stephen Harrington is the chief supply chain officer for Delaware North, one of the world's largest privately owned-and-operated hospitality and entertainment companies, and a leader in food service management. Harrington leads Delaware North's $1 billion annual procurement program and the company's Design & Construction, Culinary, Retail, and Sustainability divisions. He oversees Delaware North's centralized sourcing and procurement efforts, working with subsidiaries and operating units across the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand to maximize value from supplier partnerships.ARTICLE SUBMISSION:At Delaware North, our team members are dedicated to creating exceptional experiences, services and products in the places where UNLOCKING THE POWER OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPwe operate around the globe ­ in sports stadiums, entertainment complexes, national and state parks, major travel hubs, casinos, resorts, and more. Our company has had its share of changes and challenges during its more than a century of operation. Yet, our commitment to creating special guest experiences and forging unrivaled partnerships with our clients, suppliers, and other stakeholders has remained constant.We do not view supplier relationships through the lens of friendship or profit ­ though we're always hoping they'll lead to both. Instead, we prioritize these relationships based on the mutual value created through open and transparent communication, aligned goals, joint accountability, and continuous improvement, among other capabilities and attributes. In addition to maintaining our partnerships, we regularly convene in person with our most valued partners to foster greater relationship-building, collaboration, innovation, and information sharing.Delaware North works with an optimized mix of national, regional, and local suppliers, distributors, and wholesalers while continuously driving for increased supplier diversity to sustain operations on three continents and serve over half a billion guests annually. Fostering strategic relationships with supplier partners is critical to our business operations and delivering on our promises to our clients and our communities.Delaware North's track record of delighting our guests is a central reason why we have longstanding relationships serving as a hospitality partner to Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League, the National Football League, NASA, some of the world's largest airports, and the U.S. National Park Service. Stephen Harrington
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