Flagship Logistics Group Builds Customer Call Center To Accommodate Veterans

INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Signaling continued strong growth, Flagship Logistics Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of Flagship Food Group, has completed construction of a state-of-the-art customer contact center in Indianapolis, Ind. Unique to the facility, it has been built to exceed ADA handicap standards with one goal in mind: to hire veterans and active duty personnel, disabled or not, to staff the contact center.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131125/CG21841)

Flagship Logistics Group's call center, housed in a 100-plus year old building and listed on the National Register of Historical Places in Indianapolis, is just north of the downtown area directly across from University Park, the Indiana War Memorial Plaza, the Veteran's Memorial Plaza, and the American Legion Mall. There are no stairs, no ramps, and no elevators in this facility for veterans to have to navigate. Aisles in the call center have been built to accommodate hospital beds, if necessary, and covered parking is provided.

Integral to Flagship Logistics Group's plan for the contact center is to facilitate the hiring, training, and provision—for as many veterans as possible—of living wage jobs with ample opportunity for career advancement. Veterans hired for the contact center will have the opportunity to be part of the operational launch and learn skill-sets integral to call center operations, regardless of their disability. All this in an environment that encourages continued growth while providing support to succeed, even if it means care givers on-site for assistance. The call center is expected to field more than 50,000 calls per month to assist in management of workload, inbound, outbound, and blended customer service calling.

"The significance of this launch, we hope, will be felt across the industry—and more widely," said Flagship Logistics Group CEO Bob Moran. "Our nation's veterans and active duty military have sacrificed enormously. Disabled or not, we owe it to them to give them a fresh start. It's unacceptable that we cannot create work environments that enable them to have that opportunity. They have too much to contribute and as we see it at Flagship Food Group—we want them involved in our businesses, which is why we built this facility. Those we hire into our contact center operations we hope will see this as a stepping stone to grow into other opportunities in other areas of our business."

Flagship Food Group, Flagship Logistics Group's parent company, was honored with a "Retail Patriot" award from the Food Industry Serving Heroes Foundation (FISH) for the first time this October. This charitable 501(c)(3) foundation is comprised of many food industry and retired military leaders, including Medal of Honor recipient Col. Don "Doc" Ballard. The award is given to companies for going "above and beyond the call of duty" in supporting U.S. troops, veterans, and their families. In 2012, Flagship Food Group's 505 Southwestern brand launched a new product called "All American Salsa." One percent of all sales of the All American Salsa brand are donated to the Wounded Warrior Project in partnership with Walmart. In total, Flagship has committed a minimum of $100,000 to Wounded Warrior Project heroes and expects to grow this contribution.

"At Flagship Food Group, our passion for food is complemented by our gratitude for the hard work and sacrifice of our nation's veteran and active duty military heroes," said Moran. "We salute these men and women."

About Flagship Logistics Group
Flagship Food Group is a diversified food and consumer products company dedicated to innovation, quality, health and value. Our over 500 employees are focused on developing consumer brands you know and trust, such as the much loved green and red chiles and salsa of the brand 505 Southwestern. To learn more about Flagship, visit www.flagshipfoodgroup.com.

Contacts:
For Media Relations Inquiries: Carleen Herndon, Account Executive, MindShare Strategies, Inc.
615-696-1870, [email protected]

For Questions Regarding Call Center Launch: Lara Abrams-Melman, President, Lara Abrams Communications
415-613-1704, [email protected]

Fact Sheets & Related Information: http://clients.mindshare.bz/Flagship/mediacenter.asp

SOURCE Flagship Logistics Group