The Syscourse, Explained

This is an excerpt from Pre Shift, our newsletter for bartenders, chefs and hospitality workers. Subscribe for more stories like this.

This is a deep dive into what my Eater colleagues have dubbed The Syscourse—the ongoing discourse that has surrounded the broadline food distributor Sysco over the past few weeks. 

Whether you’re deep in those conversations yourself or you want a primer on what’s been going on, we’ve got you covered. Punch contributor Eliza Dumais chatted with the Independent Restaurant Coalition and a handful of highly opinionated operators and chefs to get their takes. Read on for their thoughts on Sysco, the company’s proposed acquisition of Restaurant Depot, and how that merger could impact both small businesses and diners. —Mary Anne Porto, senior editor