Committees and Councils
About Committees and Councils
IFDA is transitioning its leadership committees to become IFDA Communities. Visit our IFDA Communities page for more information.
Members of committees and councils are volunteers with expertise in the stated mission area. In an ongoing process, the groups identify issues that are priorities to IFDA members and develop appropriate work products that can provide insights to the broader IFDA membership. Participation provides a number of benefits including interaction with other leaders in your discipline area and hearing from experts such as IFDA legal counsel.
Food Safety Leadership Committee
Committee Mission:
The committee advises IFDA on matters related to food safety and provides a forum for members to share insights and best practices. It is responsible for identifying industry food safety issues and developing resources to assist IFDA member companies and enhance food safety practices. Committee members are quality assurance and regulatory compliance experts from member companies.
Human Resources Community
The Human Resources Community serves as the primary advisory board to assist IFDA in identifying critical industry needs in attracting, training, and retaining a strong workforce. It works with IFDA to develop industry solutions designed to address these issues and provides a forum to share information and collaborate with human resource leaders. The community also identifies topics for industry meetings and other educational or research opportunities. It meets twice a year and communicates among members frequently.
Safety & Risk Management Community
Provide an active forum in all areas of Safety and Risk Management for IFDA members by sharing expertise, participating in online and face-to-face discussions and mentoring those that are new to the field; review and set common KPIs and benchmarking metrics; lead the membership in advocating and promoting safe and effective methods and tools in all aspects of foodservice distribution operations.
The IFDA Safety & Risk Management Community functions primarily as a peer-learning and networking group. It also advises IFDA on ad hoc topics that may pop up in the safety/risk space. The community typically meets once a year in person for a full meeting, as well as an abbreviated meeting in conjunction with IFDA’s Solutions Conference in September. In addition, it meets via video-conference in between.
Requirements for individuals to join the committee is to be employed by a foodservice distribution company that’s an IFDA member and job responsibilities include safety and risk management.
SMart Planning Council
Council Mission: The SMart Planning Council serves as the advisory body for IFDA’s SMart Experience event, providing guidance on conference content, format, and speakers. Comprised of a diverse cross-section of IFDA member companies, the council ensures the conference addresses current industry challenges and emerging trends facing the sales and marketing functions within the foodservice distribution sector. Council members collaborate to develop programming that delivers maximum value to attendees and creates meaningful networking opportunities.
The council meets regularly throughout the year to evaluate previous conference feedback, identify key industry topics, and shape the overall conference experience. Members are selected for their industry expertise and commitment to advancing professional development within the foodservice distribution community.
Solutions Planning Council
Council Mission: The Solutions Planning Council guides the development and execution of IFDA’s Solutions Conference, focusing on delivering practical, actionable content for the industry. Drawing from a diverse representation of IFDA member companies, the council identifies critical industry challenges and opportunities that should be addressed through conference programming.
The council works collaboratively to curate relevant speakers, interactive sessions, and networking opportunities that provide attendees with valuable insights and applicable solutions. Meeting throughout the year, council members evaluate industry trends, previous conference metrics, and member feedback to continuously improve the conference experience. Participation in the council offers members the opportunity to shape industry conversations and contribute to the advancement of the foodservice distribution sector.