IFDA Announces 2026 Distributor’s Choice Award Winners
Foodservice manufacturers recognized for excellence across strategic partnership, innovation, sales and supply chain categories
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – Jan. 26, 2026 – The International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA) announced the winners of the 2026 Distributor’s Choice Awards at the IFDA Partners Executive Forum in Scottsdale, Arizona. Sugar Foods earned the highest honor as the Overall Winner based on total votes across all categories, while also taking home awards for Product Innovator and Supply Chain Leader (tie).
The Distributor’s Choice Awards recognize foodservice manufacturers that demonstrate exceptional performance in collaborative business practices as voted by their distributor customers. Foodservice distribution professionals cast ballots for manufacturer partners that exhibit excellence in strategy, supply chain, product innovation, and sales and marketing support.
2026 Award Winners:
Overall Winner: Sugar Foods
Strategic Partner: Cavendish Farms, Inc.
Product Innovator: Sugar Foods
Sales Leader: General Mills North America Foodservice
Supply Chain Leader: General Mills North America Food Service and Sugar Foods (tie)
Sugar Foods’ Overall Winner recognition represents comprehensive excellence across all partnership dimensions, demonstrating well-rounded performance that distributors value throughout their business relationships. The company also earned recognition for its commitment to R&D that solves real market problems as Product Innovator, coupled with transparency in sharing their innovation roadmap with distributor partners.
Cavendish Farms, Inc. took home the Strategic Partner award for understanding distributor business models and engaging in C-suite level joint planning for long-term strategic alignment. General Mills North America Foodservice captured the Sales Leader honor, recognizing collaborative sales teams that work in partnership with distributor sales organizations.
In the Supply Chain Leader category, General Mills North America Food Service and Sugar Foods tied for their operational excellence in data integrity, fulfillment reliability and supply chain efficiency initiatives.
“These awards reflect the voice of foodservice distributors recognizing the manufacturers that truly understand their business needs and deliver meaningful partnership,” said Mark S. Allen, president and CEO of IFDA. “Congratulations to Sugar Foods, Cavendish Farms and General Mills for earning the trust and votes of their distributor partners.”
The voting process for the 2026 awards closed on Dec. 5, 2025, with individuals at foodservice distribution companies casting votes based on their professional experience working with manufacturers in each category.
More information about the Distributor’s Choice Awards, including expanded category criteria, is available at ifdaonline.org/distributors-choice-awards.
About IFDA
The International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA) is the premier trade organization representing the $400 billion foodservice distribution industry. This industry ensures a safe and efficient supply of food and products to more than one million restaurants and foodservice outlets in the U.S. daily. Learn more at ifdaonline.org.
Media Contact:
Kristen Petersen
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
International Foodservice Distributors Association
kpetersen@ifdaonline.org
