SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
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FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 15, 1997
JP FOODSERVICE, INC.
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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Delaware 0-24954 52-1634568
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(State or Other Jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer
of Incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
9830 Patuxent Woods Drive
Columbia, Maryland 21046
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (ZIP Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (410) 312-7100
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
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Item 5. Other Events
The Registrant hereby incorporates by reference the information contained
in Attachment A hereto in response to this Item 5.
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by
the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
JP Foodservice, Inc.
Date: May 29, 1997 /s/ Lewis Hay III
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Lewis Hay III, Director
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
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Attachment A
JP Logo
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JP FOODSERVICE, INC. News Release
9830 Patuxent Woods Drive For More Information Contact:
Columbia, MD 21046 Lewis Hay, III
(410) 312-7100 Chief Financial Officer
JP FOODSERVICE AND MAZO-LERCH ANNOUNCE
SIGNING OF LETTER OF INTENT
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Columbia, Maryland, May 15, 1997 - JP Foodservice, Inc. ("JP") (NYSE:
JPF) and Mazo-Lerch Company, Inc. ("Mazo-Lerch") of Alexandria, Virginia
announced today that JP and Mazo-Lerch have signed a letter of intent
providing for JP's merger with Mazo-Lerch. Mazo-Lerch is an independent,
broadline foodservice distributor serving the District of Columbia,
Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, southern New Jersey, and northern North
Carolina markets. Mazo-Lerch is a family-owned and operated business,
founded in 1927. Senior management of Mazo-Lerch will continue as part of
the JP management team. Mazo-Lerch was ranked as the 45th largest broadline
distributor in the United States in 1996.
Commenting on the transaction, Jim Miller, Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer of JP, stated, "We are delighted to welcome
Mazo-Lerch into the JP family. Mazo-Lerch has an outstanding reputation for
providing quality foodservice products and excellent service in the greater
Baltimore/Washington, D.C. area. The joining of forces of Mazo-Lerch and
JP's existing Baltimore/Washington branch will serve to strengthen JP's
presence and capabilities in one of the largest foodservice markets in the
United States. We are pleased to continue our successful acquisition
strategy with Mazo-Lerch being the fourth Top 50 company to join forces
with JP in the current fiscal year."
Mr. Robert Lerch, President of Mazo-Lerch, stated, "We welcome the
opportunity of joining forces with JP, a company that continually proves to
be one of the most dynamic forces in the industry. JP's financial strength
and business resources will enable Mazo-Lerch to provide a broader array of
products and services to our existing customer base and to pursue market
share growth and extend our distribution radius."
Completion of the merger is subject to corporate approval by both
companies, finalization of definitive documentation, regulatory approval
and other customary conditions. The Closing is expected to take place
before the end of June 1997.
JP is a leading distributor of food and related products to
restaurants and institutional foodservice establishments in the
Mid-Atlantic, Midwestern, Northeastern and Western regions of the United
States. JP markets and distributes 30,000 national, private label and
signature brand items to over 34,000 foodservice customers, including
restaurants, hotels, healthcare facilities, cafeterias and schools, and
employs over 3,500 foodservice professionals. JP's diverse customer base
encompasses both independent and chain businesses, including Old Country
Buffet, Perkins Family Restaurants, Subway, Eurest Dining Services,
Pizzeria Uno and Ruby Tuesdays.
The statement in this press release regarding management's
expectations concerning the transaction constitute a "forward-looking
statement" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933
and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such statements are
subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the Company's actual
operating results to differ materially. Such risks and uncertainties
include the sensitivity of the Company's business to national and regional
economic conditions, the effects of inflation and deflation in food prices,
the highly competitive markets in which the Company operates and the
Company's ability to implement a successful acquisition program. The
Company's current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on April 23, 1997 discusses some of the important factors that
could cause JP's actual results to differ materially from those in such
forward-looking statements.
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