Foodservice Associations & Members Rally Around Supply Chain Optimization Best Practices

• Published on February 22, 2017

LeAnne Garoutte

Partner at Kinetic12, LLC

Chicago, Illinois, February 22, 2017 – The International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA) reported strong industry participation in efforts to develop a first ever best practice for foodservice supply chain optimization (SCO).

“Since the IFMA Industry Board formation was announced in January, more than 30 foodservice chain operators, distributors and brokers have signed on to participate,” said Larry Oberkfell, President and CEO of IFMA and Jeff Schroeder, Managing Partner of Kinetic12, the food industry management consulting firm that will guide and help craft the group’s work.

Schroeder explained that the benefits to companies that participate are significant and immediate.

“Most who have seen the industry evolve know that the current state of supply chain operations has opportunity for greater collaboration and improvement. By gathering industry leaders in supply chain, chain restaurant sales, marketing, culinary and other support functions, we intend to identify and create foodservice industry best practices.”

The Development Board consists of 11 leading foodservice chain operators including Chick-fil-A, Wendy’s, Arby’s, Potbelly, Focus Brands, Brinker International, Subway, Topper’s Pizza, Hooters, Sonic, and Arby’s. These operators will be working with foodservice manufacturers and distributors to create a truly collaborative industry solution.  Rich Kamph, Senior Vice President of Global Supply Chain at FOCUS Brands said, “This initiative is designed to affect change and bring about solutions for the supply chain issues we all face.”

 “Establishing transparency and gaining efficiencies throughout the total foodservice supply chain is critical for operators relative to identifying the best buying strategies, ensuring food safety, and creating cost efficiencies,” said Dawn Sweeney, President and CEO of the National Restaurant Association (NRA.) “We look forward to gaining the insight and input of our Supply Chain Executive Study Group in this work as well.” said Sweeney.

Leading foodservice distributors that supply many of the industry’s top chain accounts are also participating.  “As an integral part of the supply chain, distributors recognize the need to continuously evolve supply chain practices,” said Mark Allen, President and CEO of the International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA). “Establishing voluntary best practices and guiding principles to gain supply chain efficiencies will benefit manufactures, operators and distributors alike.”

Participation from the sales and marketing community is also a very important aspect of the full supply chain. The Foodservice Sales & Marketing Association (FSMA) is focused on helping their members sell better. “Sponsoring this Supply Chain Optimization initiative will provide valuable resources and tools to our members to enhance their trading relationship up and down the entire supply chain,” said Rick Abraham, President and CEO of FSMA.

The Development Board will gather four times over the next six months for work sessions that will result in Supply Chain Optimization processes, data application and tools, as well as a full training program and an industry best practices report.

“This is the first ever industry-wide supply chain initiative being supported by all major foodservice industry associations, said Oberkfell, including IFMA, IFDA, NRA, NCCR, FSMA and Global Standards One (GS1.)

The Development Board is still accepting participants and the first work session kicks off March 8th, in Las Vegas. Contact Larry Oberkfell of IFMA at larry@ifmaworld.com  or Jeff Schroeder of Kinetic12 at jeff@kinetic12.com for more details.