A U.S. wholesale foodservice supplier has reduced its annual candidate sourcing and employee onboarding costs by $1.8 million (all figures U.S.) in its first year using an AI-driven hiring platform.
Jetro Restaurant Depot, which operates 165 locations across 35 states and employs more than 10,500 workers, implemented UKG Rapid Hire in January 2025 to address mounting recruitment expenses and streamline its high-volume hiring process.
The company previously spent an average of $2.2 million annually on candidate sourcing, plus $240,000 combined for its onboarding platform and job postings between 2020 and 2024, according to Kavir Singh, HR director and assistant controller at Jetro Restaurant Depot.
AI screening reduces administrative burden
The mobile- and AI-first solution automatically screens candidates for policy requirements, including verifying applicants meet legal hiring age criteria, and has improved time-to-hire to the fastest in company history, Singh said.
Managers now spend less time on administrative tasks and can focus more on qualified applicants. The company currently onboards 140 to 160 employees per week while maintaining its previous hiring pace without relying on secondary platforms.
“For non-background check positions, it’s the most efficient we’ve had in the entire history of the company,” Singh said. “The process from application to onboarding is now faster than ever, and both the number and quality of applicants has increased.”
Savings reinvested in employee development
Jetro Restaurant Depot is reinvesting the operational savings into business improvements, including upgrading its learning center and exploring further automation in time and attendance management.
The company, which provides equipment, food and supplies to restaurants and the foodservice industry, plans to open another 11 locations by 2027. Its workforce includes cashiers, shelve stockers and drivers working in high-turnover positions.
Store HR administrators and frontline managers praised the solution’s ease of use and responsive support, Singh said. The platform’s simplicity has made training and adoption straightforward, even for new team members.
The company projects annual savings of $2.2 million going forward, according to Singh.
