https://simplecast.com IFMA The Food Away from Home Association Podcast IFMA The Food Away from Home Association is a trade association founded in 1952. The organization empowers, nurtures, and connects an inclusive and diverse $1.5 trillion food-away-from-home ecosystem of manufacturers, distributors, operators, and others. By sharing insights, fostering best practices, and developing networking and educational opportunities through events, IFMA The Food Away from Home Association informs and instructs its members, and motivates change to improve both individual organizations and the food-away-from-home industry at large. All rights reserved en Fri, 18 Sep 2026 08:00:00 +0000 Fri, 18 Sep 2026 16:50:08 +0000 https://www.ifmaworld.com/ IFMA The Food Away from Home Association Podcast https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/9d9f1d1a-5508-481a-9e09-12c519b5d436/9775209d-2549-4564-bd73-8c5c34c7900e/3000x3000/food_away_from_home_podcast.jpg?aid=rss_feed https://www.ifmaworld.com/ episodic IFMA The Food Away from Home Association is a trade association founded in 1952. The organization empowers, nurtures, and connects an inclusive and diverse $1.5 trillion food-away-from-home ecosystem of manufacturers, distributors, operators, and others. By sharing insights, fostering best practices, and developing networking and educational opportunities through events, IFMA The Food Away from Home Association informs and instructs its members, and motivates change to improve both individual organizations and the food-away-from-home industry at large. IFMA The Food Away from Home Association false https://feeds.simplecast.com/plndQ914 restaurant operator, food business IFMA The Food Away from Home Association ifmaworld519@gmail.com adcb9cba-d085-4df4-82a7-c8198b380c86 The Weekly Takeaway: Immigration impacts, coffee trends and more During this episode of The Weekly Takeaway from IFMA The Food Away from Home Association, Communications Director Heather Lalley and Managing Editor Peter Romeo discuss how tougher immigration regulations might impact food away from home, plus a look at a new study showing some encouraging trends for coffee consumption. Find The Weekly Takeaway on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

]]> Fri, 18 Sep 2026 08:00:00 +0000 ifmaworld519@gmail.com (IFMA The Food Away from Home Association) https://www.ifmaworld.com/ During this episode of The Weekly Takeaway from IFMA The Food Away from Home Association, Communications Director Heather Lalley and Managing Editor Peter Romeo discuss how tougher immigration regulations might impact food away from home, plus a look at a new study showing some encouraging trends for coffee consumption. Find The Weekly Takeaway on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

]]> The Weekly Takeaway: Immigration impacts, coffee trends and more IFMA The Food Away from Home Association 00:16:06 false full 29 0eead603-bf83-4981-a0df-d07c0e8f0bc9 The Weekly Takeaway: Industry updates and a 9/11 remembrance During this episode of The Weekly Takeaway from IFMA The Food Away from Home Association, Communications Director Heather Lalley and Managing Editor Peter Romeo discuss the recent announcement of an additional $89 million to fund preschool nutrition programs, plus the latest updates from grocery and c-store foodservice and a look back at the industry response to 9/11. Find The Weekly Takeaway on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

]]> Fri, 11 Sep 2026 08:00:00 +0000 ifmaworld519@gmail.com (IFMA The Food Away from Home Association) https://www.ifmaworld.com/ During this episode of The Weekly Takeaway from IFMA The Food Away from Home Association, Communications Director Heather Lalley and Managing Editor Peter Romeo discuss the recent announcement of an additional $89 million to fund preschool nutrition programs, plus the latest updates from grocery and c-store foodservice and a look back at the industry response to 9/11. Find The Weekly Takeaway on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

]]> The Weekly Takeaway: Industry updates and a 9/11 remembrance IFMA The Food Away from Home Association 00:24:04 food away from home, foodservice trends, hospitality industry, institutional foodservice, foodservice industry, food industry news, convenience store foodservice, preschool nutrition programs, restaurant industry, the weekly takeaway, ifma, peter romeo, the food away from home association, $89 million nutrition funding, ifma podcast, prepared foods, foodservice response to 9/11, grocery foodservice, school nutrition, heather lalley, c-store foodservice, child nutrition funding, 9/11 restaurant industry, restaurant news false full 28 76350eae-b5e1-4dd0-ab59-981813406cda The Weekly Takeaway: Sysco-Restaurant Depot, school nutrition funding and more During this episode of The Weekly Takeaway from IFMA The Food Away from Home Association, Communications Director Heather Lalley and Managing Editor Peter Romeo discuss the pushback against the proposed Sysco-Restaurant depot merger, new federal school nutrition funding and the latest moves in retail foodservice. Find The Weekly Takeaway on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

]]> Fri, 4 Sep 2026 08:00:00 +0000 ifmaworld519@gmail.com (IFMA The Food Away from Home Association) https://www.ifmaworld.com/ During this episode of The Weekly Takeaway from IFMA The Food Away from Home Association, Communications Director Heather Lalley and Managing Editor Peter Romeo discuss the pushback against the proposed Sysco-Restaurant depot merger, new federal school nutrition funding and the latest moves in retail foodservice. Find The Weekly Takeaway on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

]]> The Weekly Takeaway: Sysco-Restaurant Depot, school nutrition funding and more IFMA The Food Away from Home Association 00:17:31 false full 27 75ae509e-cb46-40f6-b38e-2f114422b74a Food CEO Xchange: Jerry Morgan Jerry Morgan joins the latest episode of the CEO Exchange podcast from IFMA The Food Away from Home Association. Association CEO Phil Kafarakis sits down with the CEO of fast-growing restaurant chain Texas Roadhouse to discuss the full-service chain's success and the challenges of taking over a company following the death of its leader. 

]]> Fri, 28 Aug 2026 11:30:00 +0000 ifmaworld519@gmail.com (IFMA The Food Away from Home Association) https://www.ifmaworld.com/ Jerry Morgan joins the latest episode of the CEO Exchange podcast from IFMA The Food Away from Home Association. Association CEO Phil Kafarakis sits down with the CEO of fast-growing restaurant chain Texas Roadhouse to discuss the full-service chain's success and the challenges of taking over a company following the death of its leader. 

]]> Food CEO Xchange: Jerry Morgan IFMA The Food Away from Home Association 00:34:29 false full 26 f1cf2928-4457-405e-b082-4480c23f328d The Weekly Takeaway: AI’s ripple effects, 2027 industry forecast and more During this episode of The Weekly Takeaway from IFMA The Food Away from Home Association, Communications Director Heather Lalley and Managing Editor Peter Romeo discuss the industry forecast for 2027, wrap up the Go2MarketEdge AI event and follow up on recent big regulatory news. Find The Weekly Takeaway on  Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

]]> Fri, 21 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0000 ifmaworld519@gmail.com (IFMA The Food Away from Home Association) https://www.ifmaworld.com/ During this episode of The Weekly Takeaway from IFMA The Food Away from Home Association, Communications Director Heather Lalley and Managing Editor Peter Romeo discuss the industry forecast for 2027, wrap up the Go2MarketEdge AI event and follow up on recent big regulatory news. Find The Weekly Takeaway on  Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

]]> The Weekly Takeaway: AI’s ripple effects, 2027 industry forecast and more IFMA The Food Away from Home Association 00:12:03 false full 25 8d4cae94-a5fe-4a81-977c-378df6ff97d3 The Weekly Takeaway: Proposed GRAS rule and what it means for food away from home On this episode of The Weekly Takeaway from IFMA The Food Away from Home Association, Communications Director Heather Lalley chats with Dr. Joy Dubost, food scientist and regulatory expert, about the FDA’s proposed rule concerning ingredients determined to be Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS). Find The Weekly Takeaway on  Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

]]> Fri, 14 Aug 2026 20:02:09 +0000 ifmaworld519@gmail.com (IFMA The Food Away from Home Association) https://www.ifmaworld.com/ On this episode of The Weekly Takeaway from IFMA The Food Away from Home Association, Communications Director Heather Lalley chats with Dr. Joy Dubost, food scientist and regulatory expert, about the FDA’s proposed rule concerning ingredients determined to be Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS). Find The Weekly Takeaway on  Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

]]> The Weekly Takeaway: Proposed GRAS rule and what it means for food away from home IFMA The Food Away from Home Association 00:18:18 false full 24 078e1777-e27a-4dff-911c-612201384f00 The Weekly Takeaway: Go2MarketEdge, ingredient regulations, beverage news During this episode of The Weekly Takeaway from IFMA The Food Away from Home Association, Communications Director Heather Lalley and Managing Editor Peter Romeo discuss the Association’s AI event, pending regulatory changes and new beverage rollouts. Find The Weekly Takeaway on  Spotify and Apple Podcasts.  

]]> Fri, 7 Aug 2026 09:30:00 +0000 ifmaworld519@gmail.com (IFMA The Food Away from Home Association) https://www.ifmaworld.com/ During this episode of The Weekly Takeaway from IFMA The Food Away from Home Association, Communications Director Heather Lalley and Managing Editor Peter Romeo discuss the Association’s AI event, pending regulatory changes and new beverage rollouts. Find The Weekly Takeaway on  Spotify and Apple Podcasts.  

]]> The Weekly Takeaway: Go2MarketEdge, ingredient regulations, beverage news IFMA The Food Away from Home Association 00:14:41 false full 23 e0349111-dd10-4b8e-bbcc-abaac1668137 The Weekly Takeaway: Cyclospora continues, 7-Eleven CEO, Gen Z drinking During this episode of The Weekly Takeaway from IFMA The Food Away from Home Association. Communications Director Heather Lalley and Managing Editor Peter Romeo discuss the ongoing cyclospora outbreak, upcoming changes to 7-Eleven leadership, and Gen Z drinking habits impacting the food-away-from-home industry.

]]> Fri, 31 Jul 2026 08:30:00 +0000 ifmaworld519@gmail.com (Heather Lalley, Peter Romeo) https://www.ifmaworld.com/ During this episode of The Weekly Takeaway from IFMA The Food Away from Home Association. Communications Director Heather Lalley and Managing Editor Peter Romeo discuss the ongoing cyclospora outbreak, upcoming changes to 7-Eleven leadership, and Gen Z drinking habits impacting the food-away-from-home industry.

]]> The Weekly Takeaway: Cyclospora continues, 7-Eleven CEO, Gen Z drinking Heather Lalley, Peter Romeo 00:16:57 false full 22 f8f05347-ca48-48b2-b348-705f96118f7a The Weekly Takeaway: Cyclospora, immigration, grocery store foodservice Welcome to the first episode of The Weekly Takeaway from IFMA The Food Away from Home Association. Communications Director Heather Lalley and Managing Editor Peter Romeo discuss the ongoing cyclospora outbreak, upcoming changes to immigration regulations, innovations in grocery and c-store foodservice and more stories impacting the food-away-from-home industry.

]]> Fri, 24 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000 ifmaworld519@gmail.com (Heather Lalley, Peter Romeo) https://www.ifmaworld.com/ Welcome to the first episode of The Weekly Takeaway from IFMA The Food Away from Home Association. Communications Director Heather Lalley and Managing Editor Peter Romeo discuss the ongoing cyclospora outbreak, upcoming changes to immigration regulations, innovations in grocery and c-store foodservice and more stories impacting the food-away-from-home industry.

]]> The Weekly Takeaway: Cyclospora, immigration, grocery store foodservice Heather Lalley, Peter Romeo 00:09:45 false full 21 tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/2306213783 UnPHILtered with Ben Wexler Phil sits down with Herb Ring, Honorary Silver Plate Award recipient and two-time IFMA The Food Away from Home Association Board Chair, to discuss his incredible career and recent retirement as Foodservice Director from The Hershey Company.

]]> Mon, 20 Apr 2026 21:00:06 +0000 ifmaworld519@gmail.com (Food CEO Xchange) https://www.ifmaworld.com/ Phil sits down with Herb Ring, Honorary Silver Plate Award recipient and two-time IFMA The Food Away from Home Association Board Chair, to discuss his incredible career and recent retirement as Foodservice Director from The Hershey Company.

]]> UnPHILtered with Ben Wexler Food CEO Xchange 00:16:53 Phil sits down with Herb Ring, Honorary Silver Plate Award recipient and two-time IFMA The Food Away from Home Association Board Chair, to discuss his incredible career and recent retirement as Foodservice Director from The Hershey Company. Phil sits down with Herb Ring, Honorary Silver Plate Award recipient and two-time IFMA The Food Away from Home Association Board Chair, to discuss his incredible career and recent retirement as Foodservice Director from The Hershey Company. false full 20 tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/2302034105 UnPHILtered with Herb Ring Phil sits down with Herb Ring, Honorary Silver Plate Award recipient and two-time IFMA The Food Away from Home Association Board Chair, to discuss his incredible career and recent retirement as Foodservice Director from The Hershey Company.

]]> Mon, 13 Apr 2026 21:36:35 +0000 ifmaworld519@gmail.com (Food CEO Xchange) https://www.ifmaworld.com/ Phil sits down with Herb Ring, Honorary Silver Plate Award recipient and two-time IFMA The Food Away from Home Association Board Chair, to discuss his incredible career and recent retirement as Foodservice Director from The Hershey Company.

]]> UnPHILtered with Herb Ring Food CEO Xchange 00:17:46 Phil sits down with Herb Ring, Honorary Silver Plate Award recipient and two-time IFMA The Food Away from Home Association Board Chair, to discuss his incredible career and recent retirement as Foodservice Director from The Hershey Company. Phil sits down with Herb Ring, Honorary Silver Plate Award recipient and two-time IFMA The Food Away from Home Association Board Chair, to discuss his incredible career and recent retirement as Foodservice Director from The Hershey Company. false full 19 a74f9667-c70b-4fbb-be48-24a553cb4128 Reality Check: What's on the table for C&U foodservice this year? Long before Indian cuisine caught on in the foodservice mainstream, colleges and universities were regularly serving the Asian fare in their dining halls. You can say the same about plant-forward dishes, boba, stir fries, Mediterranean specialties, gluten-free choices, and a host of other selections that are now as common across the food-away-from-home universe as forks and spoons. So what’s next? What cuisines offered today in colleges and universities are likely to become virtual staples of other segments as the students age into prime customers of restaurants, employee cafeterias, and even senior living facilities? We asked Jeffrey Palmer, Executive Director of Campus Dining and Retail Operations for the University of California at San Diego. Here’s what he had to say in this first of a podcast series focused on what the chairpersons of our Foodservice Leadership Councils expect to be discussing with their peers during 2026.

 

]]> Mon, 2 Mar 2026 09:00:00 +0000 ifmaworld519@gmail.com (Jeffrey Palmer) https://www.ifmaworld.com/ Long before Indian cuisine caught on in the foodservice mainstream, colleges and universities were regularly serving the Asian fare in their dining halls. You can say the same about plant-forward dishes, boba, stir fries, Mediterranean specialties, gluten-free choices, and a host of other selections that are now as common across the food-away-from-home universe as forks and spoons. So what’s next? What cuisines offered today in colleges and universities are likely to become virtual staples of other segments as the students age into prime customers of restaurants, employee cafeterias, and even senior living facilities? We asked Jeffrey Palmer, Executive Director of Campus Dining and Retail Operations for the University of California at San Diego. Here’s what he had to say in this first of a podcast series focused on what the chairpersons of our Foodservice Leadership Councils expect to be discussing with their peers during 2026.

 

]]> Reality Check: What's on the table for C&U foodservice this year? Jeffrey Palmer 00:24:46 false full 18 1b41268e-69f9-4ad3-b082-7d1057381260 Reality Check: Here’s a cheat sheet on what’s ahead for K-12 foodservice Even in the best of times, few food-away-from-home segments are as complicated and demanding as the K-12 market. And these are definitely not the best of times. In addition to the usual budgetary issues, school foodservice directors (FSDs) are facing major revisions of what the government is defining as “healthy,” or what should be on kids’ cafeteria trays. What’s that going to mean for the FSDs? Here's what Danielle Bock, this year’s K-12 Silver Plate Winner and chairperson of our school Foodservice Leadership Council, expects in 2026.

]]> Mon, 23 Feb 2026 09:00:00 +0000 ifmaworld519@gmail.com (Danielle Bock) https://www.ifmaworld.com/ Even in the best of times, few food-away-from-home segments are as complicated and demanding as the K-12 market. And these are definitely not the best of times. In addition to the usual budgetary issues, school foodservice directors (FSDs) are facing major revisions of what the government is defining as “healthy,” or what should be on kids’ cafeteria trays. What’s that going to mean for the FSDs? Here's what Danielle Bock, this year’s K-12 Silver Plate Winner and chairperson of our school Foodservice Leadership Council, expects in 2026.

]]> Reality Check: Here’s a cheat sheet on what’s ahead for K-12 foodservice Danielle Bock 00:28:44 false full 17 tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/2248698596 Food CEO Xchange: Susan Adzick In this episode, we sit down with Susan Adzick to talk about leadership, resilience, and the power of community in foodservice. Susan shares the lessons that shaped her career, how she builds strong teams, and why purpose-driven leadership matters now more than ever. From navigating change to giving back in meaningful ways, this conversation is a reminder that hospitality is ultimately about people. It’s thoughtful, practical, and full of insight for anyone looking to lead with impact.

]]> Mon, 16 Feb 2026 15:25:57 +0000 ifmaworld519@gmail.com (Food CEO Xchange) https://www.ifmaworld.com/ In this episode, we sit down with Susan Adzick to talk about leadership, resilience, and the power of community in foodservice. Susan shares the lessons that shaped her career, how she builds strong teams, and why purpose-driven leadership matters now more than ever. From navigating change to giving back in meaningful ways, this conversation is a reminder that hospitality is ultimately about people. It’s thoughtful, practical, and full of insight for anyone looking to lead with impact.

]]> Food CEO Xchange: Susan Adzick Food CEO Xchange 00:29:01 In this episode, we sit down with Susan Adzick to talk about leadership, resilience, and the power of community in foodservice. Susan shares the lessons that shaped her career, how she builds strong teams, and why purpose-driven leadership matters now more than ever. From navigating change to giving back in meaningful ways, this conversation is a reminder that hospitality is ultimately about people. It’s thoughtful, practical, and full of insight for anyone looking to lead with impact. In this episode, we sit down with Susan Adzick to talk about leadership, resilience, and the power of community in foodservice. Susan shares the lessons that shaped her career, how she builds strong teams, and why purpose-driven leadership matters now more than ever. From navigating change to giving back in meaningful ways, this conversation is a reminder that hospitality is ultimately about people. It’s thoughtful, practical, and full of insight for anyone looking to lead with impact. false full 16 tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/2232767249 Unphiltered: Ashley Peeples Ashley Peeples is Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Royal Cup Coffee and Tea. He sits down with Phil to reminisce about his career in food-away-from-home and his service of the association board. He's cycling off the board but not retiring. Expect to see him at future association events!

UnPHILtered was taped onsite at our 2025 Presidents Conference in Scottsdale on November 2, 2025.

]]> Fri, 19 Dec 2025 14:45:32 +0000 ifmaworld519@gmail.com (Food CEO Xchange) https://www.ifmaworld.com/ Ashley Peeples is Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Royal Cup Coffee and Tea. He sits down with Phil to reminisce about his career in food-away-from-home and his service of the association board. He's cycling off the board but not retiring. Expect to see him at future association events!

UnPHILtered was taped onsite at our 2025 Presidents Conference in Scottsdale on November 2, 2025.

]]> Unphiltered: Ashley Peeples Food CEO Xchange 00:11:59 Ashley Peeples is Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Royal Cup Coffee and Tea. He sits down with Phil to reminisce about his career in food-away-from-home and his service of the association board. He's cycling off the board but not retiring. Expect to see him at future association events! UnPHILtered was taped onsite at our 2025 Presidents Conference in Scottsdale on November 2, 2025. Ashley Peeples is Senior Vice President of Sales & Marketing at Royal Cup Coffee and Tea. He sits down with Phil to reminisce about his career in food-away-from-home and his service of the association board. He's cycling off the board but not retiring. Expect to see him at future association events! UnPHILtered was taped onsite at our 2025 Presidents Conference in Scottsdale on November 2, 2025. false full 15 tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/2234418677 Unphiltered: Barbara Powell Barbara Powell is Vice President of Foodservice at Mount Franklin Foods. She joins Phil to talk about all she's experienced as a board member before she cycles off the board at year-end. Powell extolls the value of the association to mid-sized companies like hers.

]]> Fri, 5 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000 ifmaworld519@gmail.com (Food CEO Xchange) https://www.ifmaworld.com/ Barbara Powell is Vice President of Foodservice at Mount Franklin Foods. She joins Phil to talk about all she's experienced as a board member before she cycles off the board at year-end. Powell extolls the value of the association to mid-sized companies like hers.

]]> Unphiltered: Barbara Powell Food CEO Xchange 00:08:22 Barbara Powell is Vice President of Foodservice at Mount Franklin Foods. She joins Phil to talk about all she's experienced as a board member before she cycles off the board at year-end. Powell extolls the value of the association to mid-sized companies like hers. Barbara Powell is Vice President of Foodservice at Mount Franklin Foods. She joins Phil to talk about all she's experienced as a board member before she cycles off the board at year-end. Powell extolls the value of the association to mid-sized companies like hers. false full 14 74822821-e4de-4211-a44d-2be6d0f7bc36 How’s the MAHA movement look to someone who’s spent a career promoting health? Lisa Eberhart, a registered dietician with more than 20 years of experience in college-and-university foodservice, airs her take on the federal government’s trumpeted plan to improve the health of young people.

]]> Mon, 20 Oct 2025 09:00:00 +0000 ifmaworld519@gmail.com (Lisa Eberhart) https://www.ifmaworld.com/ Lisa Eberhart, a registered dietician with more than 20 years of experience in college-and-university foodservice, airs her take on the federal government’s trumpeted plan to improve the health of young people.

]]> How’s the MAHA movement look to someone who’s spent a career promoting health? Lisa Eberhart 00:27:16 false full 13 1a37d1d2-5685-4e2b-9b9b-03dc31602c34 Reality Check: What’s ahead for the food-away-from-home business in 2026 After an extraordinary year of chaos and uncertainty, what can the food-away-from-home business expect in 2026? In the debut episode of Reality Check, the head of insights, education and research for IFMA The Food Away from Home Association explains why the business needn’t panic. As Charlie McConnell has summarized it, the sky isn’t falling. He'll provide the color on why the industry is likely to see an acceleration of growth next year, albeit it moderate.  

]]> Wed, 17 Sep 2025 09:00:00 +0000 ifmaworld519@gmail.com (Peter Romeo) https://www.ifmaworld.com/ After an extraordinary year of chaos and uncertainty, what can the food-away-from-home business expect in 2026? In the debut episode of Reality Check, the head of insights, education and research for IFMA The Food Away from Home Association explains why the business needn’t panic. As Charlie McConnell has summarized it, the sky isn’t falling. He'll provide the color on why the industry is likely to see an acceleration of growth next year, albeit it moderate.  

]]> Reality Check: What’s ahead for the food-away-from-home business in 2026 Peter Romeo 00:18:54 false full 12 tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/2160503358 Food CEO Xchange: Wiggs Civitillo In the latest Food CEO Xchange podcast, Phil Kafarakis, President & CEO of IFMA The Food Away from Home Association, sat down with Wiggs Civitillo, Founder & CEO of Starfish. Together they explored how advanced product traceability is shaping the future of foodservice supply chains—improving safety, reducing waste, and building consumer trust from farm to fork.

]]> Thu, 28 Aug 2025 11:00:48 +0000 ifmaworld519@gmail.com (Food CEO Xchange) https://www.ifmaworld.com/ In the latest Food CEO Xchange podcast, Phil Kafarakis, President & CEO of IFMA The Food Away from Home Association, sat down with Wiggs Civitillo, Founder & CEO of Starfish. Together they explored how advanced product traceability is shaping the future of foodservice supply chains—improving safety, reducing waste, and building consumer trust from farm to fork.

]]> Food CEO Xchange: Wiggs Civitillo Food CEO Xchange 00:25:32 In the latest Food CEO Xchange podcast, Phil Kafarakis, President & CEO of IFMA The Food Away from Home Association, sat down with Wiggs Civitillo, Founder & CEO of Starfish. Together they explored how advanced product traceability is shaping the future of foodservice supply chains—improving safety, reducing waste, and building consumer trust from farm to fork. In the latest Food CEO Xchange podcast, Phil Kafarakis, President & CEO of IFMA The Food Away from Home Association, sat down with Wiggs Civitillo, Founder & CEO of Starfish. Together they explored how advanced product traceability is shaping the future of foodservice supply chains—improving safety, reducing waste, and building consumer trust from farm to fork. false full 11 tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/2112890148 Food CEO Xchange: Mani Kulasooriya Phil talks about the need for standardized technologies in the food away from home industry with Mani Kulasooriya, co-founder and CEO of Cut+Dry. Kulasooriya got his start in foodservice by helping to transform Sysco into a digital powerhouse. Now, through Cut+Dry, he says that embracing technology and digital solutions isn't just for the "big guys." He says his company isn't selling technology. "We’re giving food service businesses a tech solution to enhance their operations, grow sales and have a positive impact."

]]> Mon, 16 Jun 2025 14:55:30 +0000 ifmaworld519@gmail.com (Food CEO Xchange) https://www.ifmaworld.com/ Phil talks about the need for standardized technologies in the food away from home industry with Mani Kulasooriya, co-founder and CEO of Cut+Dry. Kulasooriya got his start in foodservice by helping to transform Sysco into a digital powerhouse. Now, through Cut+Dry, he says that embracing technology and digital solutions isn't just for the "big guys." He says his company isn't selling technology. "We’re giving food service businesses a tech solution to enhance their operations, grow sales and have a positive impact."

]]> Food CEO Xchange: Mani Kulasooriya Food CEO Xchange 00:38:58 Phil talks about the need for standardized technologies in the food away from home industry with Mani Kulasooriya, co-founder and CEO of Cut+Dry. Kulasooriya got his start in foodservice by helping to transform Sysco into a digital powerhouse. Now, through Cut+Dry, he says that embracing technology and digital solutions isn't just for the "big guys." He says his company isn't selling technology. "We’re giving food service businesses a tech solution to enhance their operations, grow sales and have a positive impact." Phil talks about the need for standardized technologies in the food away from home industry with Mani Kulasooriya, co-founder and CEO of Cut+Dry. Kulasooriya got his start in foodservice by helping to transform Sysco into a digital powerhouse. Now, through Cut+Dry, he says that embracing technology and digital solutions isn't just for the "big guys." He says his company isn't selling technology. "We’re giving food service businesses a tech solution to enhance their operations, grow sales and have a positive impact." false full 10 tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/2088982941 UnPHILtered with Reilly Berk UnPHILtered was taped onsite at our COEX 2025 event in Kansas City on March 2, 2025.

Reilly Berk is the CEO of Berk Enterprises a 78-year-old company selling premium foodservice disposables. She is the third-generation head of the company and one of the youngest association board members in our history. She was tapped for the CEO job in her mid-20s but always knew she wanted to be there.

]]> Fri, 2 May 2025 17:14:09 +0000 ifmaworld519@gmail.com (Food CEO Xchange) https://www.ifmaworld.com/ UnPHILtered was taped onsite at our COEX 2025 event in Kansas City on March 2, 2025.

Reilly Berk is the CEO of Berk Enterprises a 78-year-old company selling premium foodservice disposables. She is the third-generation head of the company and one of the youngest association board members in our history. She was tapped for the CEO job in her mid-20s but always knew she wanted to be there.

]]> UnPHILtered with Reilly Berk Food CEO Xchange 00:12:00 UnPHILtered was taped onsite at our COEX 2025 event in Kansas City on March 2, 2025. Reilly Berk is the CEO of Berk Enterprises a 78-year-old company selling premium foodservice disposables. She is the third-generation head of the company and one of the youngest association board members in our history. She was tapped for the CEO job in her mid-20s but always knew she wanted to be there. UnPHILtered was taped onsite at our COEX 2025 event in Kansas City on March 2, 2025. Reilly Berk is the CEO of Berk Enterprises a 78-year-old company selling premium foodservice disposables. She is the third-generation head of the company and one of the youngest association board members in our history. She was tapped for the CEO job in her mid-20s but always knew she wanted to be there. false full 9 tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/2082707490 UnPHILtered with Mark Ourada UnPHILtered was taped onsite at our COEX 2025 event in Kansas City on March 2, 2025.

Mark Ourada, Group VP of Foodservice at Hormel Foods, has served on the association board of directors for ten years. As he plans his retirement, he talks with Phil about his 35+ year career at Hormel and what he's learned about the keys to getting ahead in the food-away-from-home industry.

]]> Mon, 21 Apr 2025 21:59:23 +0000 ifmaworld519@gmail.com (Food CEO Xchange) https://www.ifmaworld.com/ UnPHILtered was taped onsite at our COEX 2025 event in Kansas City on March 2, 2025.

Mark Ourada, Group VP of Foodservice at Hormel Foods, has served on the association board of directors for ten years. As he plans his retirement, he talks with Phil about his 35+ year career at Hormel and what he's learned about the keys to getting ahead in the food-away-from-home industry.

]]> UnPHILtered with Mark Ourada Food CEO Xchange 00:06:17 UnPHILtered was taped onsite at our COEX 2025 event in Kansas City on March 2, 2025. Mark Ourada, Group VP of Foodservice at Hormel Foods, has served on the association board of directors for ten years. As he plans his retirement, he talks with Phil about his 35+ year career at Hormel and what he's learned about the keys to getting ahead in the food-away-from-home industry. UnPHILtered was taped onsite at our COEX 2025 event in Kansas City on March 2, 2025. Mark Ourada, Group VP of Foodservice at Hormel Foods, has served on the association board of directors for ten years. As he plans his retirement, he talks with Phil about his 35+ year career at Hormel and what he's learned about the keys to getting ahead in the food-away-from-home industry. false full 8 tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/2075656464 UnPHILtered with Kelly Crouse UnPHILtered was taped onsite at our COEX 2025 event in Kansas City on March 2, 2025.

Kelly Crouse, SVP & Chief Commercial Officer at C.H. Guenther & Son and long-time member of the association board of directors, talks with Phil about his 37-year career as he nears his planned retirement. He shares some words of wisdom to those looking to enter the food-away-from-home industry.

]]> Thu, 10 Apr 2025 18:19:20 +0000 ifmaworld519@gmail.com (Food CEO Xchange) https://www.ifmaworld.com/ UnPHILtered was taped onsite at our COEX 2025 event in Kansas City on March 2, 2025.

Kelly Crouse, SVP & Chief Commercial Officer at C.H. Guenther & Son and long-time member of the association board of directors, talks with Phil about his 37-year career as he nears his planned retirement. He shares some words of wisdom to those looking to enter the food-away-from-home industry.

]]> UnPHILtered with Kelly Crouse Food CEO Xchange 00:07:21 UnPHILtered was taped onsite at our COEX 2025 event in Kansas City on March 2, 2025. Kelly Crouse, SVP & Chief Commercial Officer at C.H. Guenther & Son and long-time member of the association board of directors, talks with Phil about his 37-year career as he nears his planned retirement. He shares some words of wisdom to those looking to enter the food-away-from-home industry. UnPHILtered was taped onsite at our COEX 2025 event in Kansas City on March 2, 2025. Kelly Crouse, SVP & Chief Commercial Officer at C.H. Guenther & Son and long-time member of the association board of directors, talks with Phil about his 37-year career as he nears his planned retirement. He shares some words of wisdom to those looking to enter the food-away-from-home industry. false full 7 tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/2051884500 Food CEO Xchange: George Holm Listen in on our exclusive conversation with George Holm, Performance Food Group President and CEO. This discussion was recorded at the association's annual President Conference, November 2024.

Phil talks acquisition strategy, corporate culture and more with George Holm, CEO of PFG. The company is an industry leader and one of the largest food and foodservice distribution companies in North America with more than 150 locations. Holm became leader of PFG when it was acquired by Vistar Corporation in May 2008. Prior to that, he served as President and CEO of Vistar, which he founded in 2002. George grew Vistar, a multi-channel food, snack and beverage distributor, into a $3.5-billion company.

Find Food CEO Xchange on these platforms: Spotify, Apple Podcasts , and SoundCloud

]]> Tue, 11 Mar 2025 00:00:00 +0000 ifmaworld519@gmail.com (Food CEO Xchange) https://www.ifmaworld.com/ Listen in on our exclusive conversation with George Holm, Performance Food Group President and CEO. This discussion was recorded at the association's annual President Conference, November 2024.

Phil talks acquisition strategy, corporate culture and more with George Holm, CEO of PFG. The company is an industry leader and one of the largest food and foodservice distribution companies in North America with more than 150 locations. Holm became leader of PFG when it was acquired by Vistar Corporation in May 2008. Prior to that, he served as President and CEO of Vistar, which he founded in 2002. George grew Vistar, a multi-channel food, snack and beverage distributor, into a $3.5-billion company.

Find Food CEO Xchange on these platforms: Spotify, Apple Podcasts , and SoundCloud

]]> Food CEO Xchange: George Holm Food CEO Xchange 00:34:15 Listen in on our exclusive conversation with George Holm, Performance Food Group President and CEO. This discussion was recorded at the association's annual President Conference, November 2024. Phil talks acquisition strategy, corporate culture and more with George Holm, CEO of PFG. The company is an industry leader and one of the largest food and foodservice distribution companies in North America with more than 150 locations. Holm became leader of PFG when it was acquired by Vistar Corporation in May 2008. Prior to that, he served as President and CEO of Vistar, which he founded in 2002. George grew Vistar, a multi-channel food, snack and beverage distributor, into a $3.5-billion company. Find Food CEO Xchange on these platforms: Spotify, Apple Podcasts , and SoundCloud Listen in on our exclusive conversation with George Holm, Performance Food Group President and CEO. This discussion was recorded at the association's annual President Conference, November 2024. Phil talks acquisition strategy, corporate culture and more with George Holm, CEO of PFG. The company is an industry leader and one of the largest food and foodservice distribution companies in North America with more than 150 locations. Holm became leader of PFG when it was acquired by Vistar Corporation in May 2008. Prior to that, he served as President and CEO of Vistar, which he founded in 2002. George grew Vistar, a multi-channel food, snack and beverage distributor, into a $3.5-billion company. Find Food CEO Xchange on these platforms: Spotify, Apple Podcasts , and SoundCloud false full 6 tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/2009044119 Food CEO Xchange: Chris Tomasso In this episode of Food CEO Xchange, Phil discusses brand growth and daypart strategies with Chris Tomasso, CEO of First Watch. Tomasso, who has been with the brand for 18 years, explains how the breakfast/lunch concept leans into their commitment to quality fresh ingredients and has added alcohol to their beverage program to meet consumer trends and stay successful in challenging times.

]]> Mon, 13 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000 ifmaworld519@gmail.com (Food CEO Xchange) https://www.ifmaworld.com/ In this episode of Food CEO Xchange, Phil discusses brand growth and daypart strategies with Chris Tomasso, CEO of First Watch. Tomasso, who has been with the brand for 18 years, explains how the breakfast/lunch concept leans into their commitment to quality fresh ingredients and has added alcohol to their beverage program to meet consumer trends and stay successful in challenging times.

]]> Food CEO Xchange: Chris Tomasso Food CEO Xchange 00:23:30 In this episode of Food CEO Xchange, Phil discusses brand growth and daypart strategies with Chris Tomasso, CEO of First Watch. Tomasso, who has been with the brand for 18 years, explains how the breakfast/lunch concept leans into their commitment to quality fresh ingredients and has added alcohol to their beverage program to meet consumer trends and stay successful in challenging times. In this episode of Food CEO Xchange, Phil discusses brand growth and daypart strategies with Chris Tomasso, CEO of First Watch. Tomasso, who has been with the brand for 18 years, explains how the breakfast/lunch concept leans into their commitment to quality fresh ingredients and has added alcohol to their beverage program to meet consumer trends and stay successful in challenging times. false full 5 tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/1990822163 Special Edition: UnPHILtered Listen in and take a look to our inaugural Special Edition Food CEO Video Podcast “UnPHILtered.” It features Teri Trullinger from Cargill, our 2025 Board Chairperson; Hugh Roth from Pepsi Foodservice, our Chairman Emeritus and the 2024 Oberkfell Award winner; and Scott Barnewolt from PFG distribution.

UnPHILtered was taped onsite at Presidents Conference 2024 and focuses on our #ifmaworld organization’s evolution. We're excited to enter a new era with new branding that symbolizes our #strongertogether mission. Also, we're extremely proud to have Teri take over Board leadership; she's the third female Chairperson in our 70+ year history.

]]> Tue, 17 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000 ifmaworld519@gmail.com (Food CEO Xchange) https://www.ifmaworld.com/ Listen in and take a look to our inaugural Special Edition Food CEO Video Podcast “UnPHILtered.” It features Teri Trullinger from Cargill, our 2025 Board Chairperson; Hugh Roth from Pepsi Foodservice, our Chairman Emeritus and the 2024 Oberkfell Award winner; and Scott Barnewolt from PFG distribution.

UnPHILtered was taped onsite at Presidents Conference 2024 and focuses on our #ifmaworld organization’s evolution. We're excited to enter a new era with new branding that symbolizes our #strongertogether mission. Also, we're extremely proud to have Teri take over Board leadership; she's the third female Chairperson in our 70+ year history.

]]> Special Edition: UnPHILtered Food CEO Xchange 00:16:15 Listen in and take a look to our inaugural Special Edition Food CEO Video Podcast “UnPHILtered.” It features Teri Trullinger from Cargill, our 2025 Board Chairperson; Hugh Roth from Pepsi Foodservice, our Chairman Emeritus and the 2024 Oberkfell Award winner; and Scott Barnewolt from PFG distribution. UnPHILtered was taped onsite at Presidents Conference 2024 and focuses on our #ifmaworld organization’s evolution. We're excited to enter a new era with new branding that symbolizes our #strongertogether mission. Also, we're extremely proud to have Teri take over Board leadership; she's the third female Chairperson in our 70+ year history. Listen in and take a look to our inaugural Special Edition Food CEO Video Podcast “UnPHILtered.” It features Teri Trullinger from Cargill, our 2025 Board Chairperson; Hugh Roth from Pepsi Foodservice, our Chairman Emeritus and the 2024 Oberkfell Award winner; and Scott Barnewolt from PFG distribution. UnPHILtered was taped onsite at Presidents Conference 2024 and focuses on our #ifmaworld organization’s evolution. We're excited to enter a new era with new branding that symbolizes our #strongertogether mission. Also, we're extremely proud to have Teri take over Board leadership; she's the third female Chairperson in our 70+ year history. false full 4 tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/1957043231 Food CEO Xchange: Dick Tracy Dot Foods went from a little mom and pop business based out of a small Midwestern town in the 1960s to the largest foodservice redistribution company in the U.S. today. Episode Three of Food CEO Xchange, has our host, Phil Kafarakis, exploring the family-owned company's business model and history with Dick Tracy, CEO of Dot. He's the 12th child of Dot's co-founders and joined the family business full-time in 1991. Dot Foods has about 7,000 employees and had $8.6 Billion in revenue in 2022.

]]> Tue, 12 Nov 2024 00:00:00 +0000 ifmaworld519@gmail.com (Food CEO Xchange) https://www.ifmaworld.com/ Dot Foods went from a little mom and pop business based out of a small Midwestern town in the 1960s to the largest foodservice redistribution company in the U.S. today. Episode Three of Food CEO Xchange, has our host, Phil Kafarakis, exploring the family-owned company's business model and history with Dick Tracy, CEO of Dot. He's the 12th child of Dot's co-founders and joined the family business full-time in 1991. Dot Foods has about 7,000 employees and had $8.6 Billion in revenue in 2022.

]]> Food CEO Xchange: Dick Tracy Food CEO Xchange 00:28:48 Dot Foods went from a little mom and pop business based out of a small Midwestern town in the 1960s to the largest foodservice redistribution company in the U.S. today. Episode Three of Food CEO Xchange, has our host, Phil Kafarakis, exploring the family-owned company's business model and history with Dick Tracy, CEO of Dot. He's the 12th child of Dot's co-founders and joined the family business full-time in 1991. Dot Foods has about 7,000 employees and had $8.6 Billion in revenue in 2022. Dot Foods went from a little mom and pop business based out of a small Midwestern town in the 1960s to the largest foodservice redistribution company in the U.S. today. Episode Three of Food CEO Xchange, has our host, Phil Kafarakis, exploring the family-owned company's business model and history with Dick Tracy, CEO of Dot. He's the 12th child of Dot's co-founders and joined the family business full-time in 1991. Dot Foods has about 7,000 employees and had $8.6 Billion in revenue in 2022. false full 3 tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/1931014229 Food CEO Xchange: Lance Trenary Golden Corral has been experiencing incredible growth and customer satisfaction since the pandemic - here's your chance to hear why and how they're continuing to build on their success. Episode Two of Food CEO Xchange, has host Phil Kafarakis in conversation with Lance Trenary, President and CEO of Golden Corral Corporation. The company is a nearly two-billion-dollar organization with 35,000 employees and 500 restaurants across 42 states. Trenary is deeply committed to the brand; he has been a part of Golden Corral for 35+ years and has held virtually every leadership role within the company.

]]> Tue, 8 Oct 2024 00:00:00 +0000 ifmaworld519@gmail.com (Food CEO Xchange) https://www.ifmaworld.com/ Golden Corral has been experiencing incredible growth and customer satisfaction since the pandemic - here's your chance to hear why and how they're continuing to build on their success. Episode Two of Food CEO Xchange, has host Phil Kafarakis in conversation with Lance Trenary, President and CEO of Golden Corral Corporation. The company is a nearly two-billion-dollar organization with 35,000 employees and 500 restaurants across 42 states. Trenary is deeply committed to the brand; he has been a part of Golden Corral for 35+ years and has held virtually every leadership role within the company.

]]> Food CEO Xchange: Lance Trenary Food CEO Xchange 00:24:10 Golden Corral has been experiencing incredible growth and customer satisfaction since the pandemic - here's your chance to hear why and how they're continuing to build on their success. Episode Two of Food CEO Xchange, has host Phil Kafarakis in conversation with Lance Trenary, President and CEO of Golden Corral Corporation. The company is a nearly two-billion-dollar organization with 35,000 employees and 500 restaurants across 42 states. Trenary is deeply committed to the brand; he has been a part of Golden Corral for 35+ years and has held virtually every leadership role within the company. Golden Corral has been experiencing incredible growth and customer satisfaction since the pandemic - here's your chance to hear why and how they're continuing to build on their success. Episode Two of Food CEO Xchange, has host Phil Kafarakis in conversation with Lance Trenary, President and CEO of Golden Corral Corporation. The company is a nearly two-billion-dollar organization with 35,000 employees and 500 restaurants across 42 states. Trenary is deeply committed to the brand; he has been a part of Golden Corral for 35+ years and has held virtually every leadership role within the company. false full 2 tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/1910938577 Food CEO Xchange: Frances Allen In this first episode of Food CEO Xchange, host Phil Kafarakis sits down with Frances Allen, Former President & CEO at Checkers & Rally's. Frances, known for her expertise in revitalizing iconic brands, shares her insights from her leadership journey across major restaurant chains like Dunkin’ Donuts, Jack in the Box, Boston Market, Denny’s, and most recently Checkers & Rally's.

]]> Thu, 5 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000 ifmaworld519@gmail.com (Food CEO Xchange) https://www.ifmaworld.com/ In this first episode of Food CEO Xchange, host Phil Kafarakis sits down with Frances Allen, Former President & CEO at Checkers & Rally's. Frances, known for her expertise in revitalizing iconic brands, shares her insights from her leadership journey across major restaurant chains like Dunkin’ Donuts, Jack in the Box, Boston Market, Denny’s, and most recently Checkers & Rally's.

]]> Food CEO Xchange: Frances Allen Food CEO Xchange 00:30:52 In this first episode of Food CEO Xchange, host Phil Kafarakis sits down with Frances Allen, Former President & CEO at Checkers & Rally's. Frances, known for her expertise in revitalizing iconic brands, shares her insights from her leadership journey across major restaurant chains like Dunkin’ Donuts, Jack in the Box, Boston Market, Denny’s, and most recently Checkers & Rally's. In this first episode of Food CEO Xchange, host Phil Kafarakis sits down with Frances Allen, Former President & CEO at Checkers & Rally's. Frances, known for her expertise in revitalizing iconic brands, shares her insights from her leadership journey across major restaurant chains like Dunkin’ Donuts, Jack in the Box, Boston Market, Denny’s, and most recently Checkers & Rally's. false full 1 tag:soundcloud,2010:tracks/1905073979 Introducing the IFMA Food CEO Xchange Podcast Join the President & CEO of IFMA, Phil Kafarakis, on a journey into the minds of some of the most remarkable industry executives in food-away-from-home. Each episode is a personal conversation, giving you direct access to hard-won wisdom and practical insights from leaders who are shaping the future of the industry. Go beyond the headlines, hear their stories, and discover how these CEOs have achieved success. They'll share how they navigate industry trends, overcome obstacles, and build thriving businesses. Whether you're a seasoned executive or just starting your food industry adventure, the IFMA Food CEO Xchange podcast has something for you. Get inspired, gain actionable strategies, and discover how to take your own career or business to the next level.

]]> Sun, 25 Aug 2024 00:00:00 +0000 ifmaworld519@gmail.com (Food CEO Xchange) https://www.ifmaworld.com/ Join the President & CEO of IFMA, Phil Kafarakis, on a journey into the minds of some of the most remarkable industry executives in food-away-from-home. Each episode is a personal conversation, giving you direct access to hard-won wisdom and practical insights from leaders who are shaping the future of the industry. Go beyond the headlines, hear their stories, and discover how these CEOs have achieved success. They'll share how they navigate industry trends, overcome obstacles, and build thriving businesses. Whether you're a seasoned executive or just starting your food industry adventure, the IFMA Food CEO Xchange podcast has something for you. Get inspired, gain actionable strategies, and discover how to take your own career or business to the next level.

]]> Introducing the IFMA Food CEO Xchange Podcast Food CEO Xchange 00:08:21 Join the President & CEO of IFMA, Phil Kafarakis, on a journey into the minds of some of the most remarkable industry executives in food-away-from-home. Each episode is a personal conversation, giving you direct access to hard-won wisdom and practical insights from leaders who are shaping the future of the industry. Go beyond the headlines, hear their stories, and discover how these CEOs have achieved success. They'll share how they navigate industry trends, overcome obstacles, and build thriving businesses. Whether you're a seasoned executive or just starting your food industry adventure, the IFMA Food CEO Xchange podcast has something for you. Get inspired, gain actionable strategies, and discover how to take your own career or business to the next level. Join the President & CEO of IFMA, Phil Kafarakis, on a journey into the minds of some of the most remarkable industry executives in food-away-from-home. Each episode is a personal conversation, giving you direct access to hard-won wisdom and practical insights from leaders who are shaping the future of the industry. Go beyond the headlines, hear their stories, and discover how these CEOs have achieved success. They'll share how they navigate industry trends, overcome obstacles, and build thriving businesses. Whether you're a seasoned executive or just starting your food industry adventure, the IFMA Food CEO Xchange podcast has something for you. Get inspired, gain actionable strategies, and discover how to take your own career or business to the next level. false full 0