Continue to Site >>>

IFDA: The Go-To Resource on Operations, Logistics, Distribution

By Restaurant Business Staff on Feb. 10, 2005
During the IFDA Partners Executive Forum held last week in Washington, DC, we spoke with Mark S. Allen, president, International Foodservice Distributors Association, Falls Church, VA Allen discussed the association’s efforts on behalf of the membership and industry as well as the creation of the Center for Distribution Excellence, a new resource under development for IFDA members about the logistics of distributing foodservice products. The following is an edited transcript of our discussion.

ID Access: In this first year of your duties as president of IFDA, can you share your perspective on the work of the organization?
Mark Allen: I look at IFDA in three ways.

One is IFDA’s work in helping to strengthen trading relationships through meetings such as the Partners Executive Forum; our relationship with International Food Manufacturers Association and in holding the joint Presidents Conference; and our Sales and Marketing Conference.

We continue to strengthen programs and to look for new ways to bring value to that partnership and help strengthen those relationships.

Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.

operations 

Multimedia

Lettuce Entertain You shares new initiatives, Eggs Up Grill makes menu moves, and the dish on pizza styles and Brooklyn food

Menu trends at RLC, how a St. Louis chef is elevating sushi, and hot sauces and LTOs in the spotlight

An inside look at the James Beard Awards, McAlister's menu expansion and creamsicle drinks

So long Menu Feed, welcome to Menu Talk

The Latest

Financing

Shake Shack steps up marketing to keep customers from fleeing to cheaper options

Financing

Wendy's hopes better store profitability will yield new unit growth

Workforce

Tomorrow's aspiring industry leaders strut their stuff at ProStart's national competition

Listen to your daily news: RB PodcastsNew episodes weekdays
RB Daily
A Deeper Dive
Menu Talk
Restaurant Rewind
Working Lunch

Exclusive Content

Financing

For Starbucks, 2 years of change hasn't yielded promised results

The Bottom Line: The coffee shop giant’s sales struggles worsened earlier this year, despite a flurry of efforts to improve operations and employee satisfaction.

Food

Nando's Americanizes its menu a bit as U.S. expansion continues

Behind the Menu: Favorites like mac and cheese, bowls and salads join the fast casual’s Afro-Portuguese-rooted dishes, including the signature peri-peri chicken.

Financing

The consumer is cutting back, but not everywhere

The Bottom Line: Early earnings from major restaurant chains suggest the consumer has taken a distinct turn for the worse so far in 2024.

Trending

Financing

Shake Shack steps up marketing to keep customers from fleeing to cheaper options

Financing

Wendy's hopes better store profitability will yield new unit growth

Workforce

Tomorrow's aspiring industry leaders strut their stuff at ProStart's national competition

More from our partners

How restaurants can set themselves apart as banquet venues

How to use the plus-one strategy to build unique LTOs

How restaurants can make margin improvements that improve the bottom line

Ensuring Food Safety: How Better Equipment Helps

Investing in beverage programs without maxing labor: Why innovative products matter more than ever

“We realize that strong trading relationships are the backbone of the industry.�