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

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 associationÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢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 IFDAÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢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.

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