It has been 60 days since TPG and a host of subject experts and industry partners launched the all-inclusive and industry-wide Foodservice Category Management Initiative. Please read the update from IFMA President & CEO Larry Oberkfell.

NRA Joins Effort!

It has been 60 days since IFMA and a host of subject experts and industry partners launched the all-inclusive and industry-wide Foodservice Category Management Initiative. We are pleased to announce that in addition to the founders – The Partnering Group (TPG), Datassential, and NPD, our family of participating organizations now include – National Restaurant Association (NRA), International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA) and Foodservice Sales & Marketing Association (FSMA), along with 16 manufacturers, six distributors and three brokers.

This group forms The Innovation & Activation Board, whose primary role is to define category management for foodservice. Their work will officially begin August 22. In addition, because we want this work to benefit the industry, as a member or associate member of IFMA, you are automatically eligible to be included in the Update Group as a part of your dues and will receive regular updates on the status of the work of the Innovation & Activation Board. You will need to alert us that you are interested in receiving the updates so we can add you to the distribution list.

This industry wide effort is both broad and deep, spanning every aspect of the channel; a diverse group of manufacturers, operators that span the segments, distributors that cover the U.S., and broker partners both national and regional. Trade associations IFMA, IFDA, FSMA, and the NRA are committed to providing industry direction and focus for all participants. Data experts NPD and Datassential are on board to provide critical data necessary to bring concepts to activation in the market. TPG brings 25 years of category management experience in several industries and countries around the globe. And once the industry defines the concepts, processes, and metrics that define Foodservice Category Management, organizations such as The Category Management Association, will provide the certification of industry practitioners exhibiting the requisite capability in foodservice category management. All participants have one focus: to create the industry standard.

IFMA is co-chairing this Category Management Initiative with TPG because it supports your IFMA Vision Statement: “To Enhance the Value of the Consumer’s Foodservice Choice.” If you would like to be part of either the Innovation & Activation Board or the Update group, please contact Devon Gerchar at devon@ifmaworld.com.

Best Regards,

Larry Oberkfell
President & CEO, IFMA