The kindness of donors

National Restaurant Supply (NRS) is one of the largest food service and equipment dealers in the U.S..

Started by Irving Gulbas in 1949 to serve the hospitality trade in Texas, the company’s grown. The large regional stores in El Paso, Texas, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Phoenix, broaden the company’s ability to serve clients nationally.

NRS is actively involved in working with hospitality organizations in their communities, and the store in Phoenix is no exception.

“When my grandfather first started the business in 1949,” says Drew Gulbas, currently heading Phoenix operations, “we began a tradition of treating everyone as if they are our number one, most important customer.

“We extend that attitude in working with those who support us now, and those who will support us in the future.”

Drew also notes that education is a major focus for the company, so that an interest in working with C-CAP “is a natural fit for us. We could also see that it’s a program that needs support from the hospitality community at large.”

This year, NRS demonstrated its commitment to C-CAP with a vibrant, dynamic equipment exhibit and demonstrations specifically geared toward budding professionals.

Besides persuading nearly a dozen manufacturers and suppliers to participate on site, NRS corralled enough equipment to provide 100 students with fully-stocked competition kits.

Total value of the kits, which include a slotted spoon, a whip, a cool handle skillet, a cutting board, two mixing bowls, a high-heat spatula, peeler, measuring spoons, a paring knife and a chef’s knife packed into a large plastic tub perfect for travel, was $17,000.

“C-CAP is a terrific program,” Drew adds. “We want to help these kids realize their dreams.