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Our Story

A Legacy of Leadership in Foodservice Distribution

Our story began in 1906, when a group of food wholesalers, concerned with advancing legislation to ensure food safety, founded the National Wholesale Grocers’ Association (NWGA). As the food industry evolved, so did the need for more focused representation. In 1969, the foodservice division of NWGA formed its own organization, what is now the International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA). This organization now serves as the collective voice of foodservice distributors across the United States.

Since then, IFDA has grown alongside the industry, supporting its members through decades of change in regulation, technology, logistics, and consumer behavior. From independent, family-owned distributors to national and multinational operations, our members reflect the full diversity and strength of the foodservice distribution sector. IFDA has championed distributor interests in public policy, provided high-value research and education, and created powerful spaces for connection and innovation.

While the landscape continues to evolve, IFDA remains committed to strengthening the supply chain that keeps America’s foodservice sector thriving, for today and for generations to come.

A Brief History of IFDA

1906

  • A group of food wholesalers concerned with advancing legislation to ensure food safety founded the NWGA (National Wholesale Grocers’ Association).
  • The association had two primary areas of interest: presenting food distributor views to government and serving as a social forum. There was, at that time, no technical services provided to members, and members provided little more to their customers than products for purchase.

1933

  • Formed by food distributors from the Northeast and Midwest, NWGA merged with the American Wholesale Grocers’ Association, a group serving mostly the Southeast. The new group was renamed the National-American Wholesale Grocers’ Association (NAWGA).

1969

  • NAWGA merged with the U.S. Wholesale Grocers Association and that organization’s “Institutional Food Distributors of America (IFDA)” became NAWGA’s foodservice division. As IFDA’s membership expanded outside of the U.S., the name was changed to the International Foodservice Distributors Association.

1996

  • The association’s Board of Governors voted to adopt a new name, Food Distributors International (NAWGA/IFDA), which more directly described the overall membership of the association.

2002

  • Dan Gordon (Gordon Food Service) becomes IFDA Chair
  • The Board votes to establish IFDA as an independent entity to advocate for foodservice distributors
  • Reimagine the Partners Executive Forum, setting the stage for future growth
  • Launch the Daily Update e-newsletter

2003

  • IFDA becomes fully independent on January 1
  • Launch of the Cornerstone Award
  • Introduce the Day in Washington Program
  • The Productivity Conference, Thomas Jefferson Awards, and Truck Driving Championship launch in partnership with FMI
  • Release the Finance and Operations Benchmark Study
  • Establish the Partner of the Year Award

2004

  • Mike Roach (Ben E. Keith Foods) becomes Chair
  • Mark Allen becomes IFDA President & CEO, succeeding John Gray
  • Formation of the Government Relations Committee
  • Create the Supplier Advisory Council

2005

  • The Grand Prix New Products Awards is launched in partnership with the Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors

2006

  • Robert Sledd (Performance Food Group) becomes Chair
  • IFDA assumes full ownership of the Productivity Conference and Thomas Jefferson Awards from FMI
  • Introduce the Most Valuable Partners (MVP) program for manufacturers

2007

  • Create the Food Safety Committee
  • The Board establishes an Audit Committee
  • Undertake a Member Needs Assessment
  • IFDA joins the Coalition for a Democratic Workplace
  • Release The State of the U.S. Foodservice Industry study in partnership with McKinsey & Co.

2008

  • John Martin (Martin Bros. Distributing Co.) becomes Chair
  • Establish the Human Resources Committee
  • The Productivity Conference is renamed the Distribution Solutions Conference

2009

  • Co-found the GS1 Foodservice initiative with NRA, IFMA, and GS1-US to advance global product data standards

2010

  • Mac Sullivan (Pate-Dawson Southern Foods) becomes Chair
  • Launch Supply Chain Connect to strengthen supplier-distributor collaboration

2011

  • IFDA Korea is established

2012

  • Tom Zatina (McLane Food Service) becomes Chair
  • Launch the Safety & Risk Committee

2013

  • Introduce the Share Group Program
  • Launch the Women Leaders in Foodservice Distribution Committee

2014

  • Launch the Foodservice Essentials online training program in partnership with Technomic

2015

  • Introduce the IFDA Executive Development Program with the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business
  • Rename the Sales & Marketing Conference to SMart
  • Debut Monthly Economic Reports
  • Launch the Hourly Compensation Benchmark Report

2016

  • Andy Mercier (Merchants Foodservice) becomes Chair
  • Establish the Mike Roach Leadership Award for Executive Development participants
  • Engage Deloitte to develop IFDA’s first strategic plan
  • Launch the Online Buyers Guide

2017

  • Invest in communications and research capabilities to support the new strategic plan

2018

  • John Tracy (Dot Foods) becomes Chair
  • Launch the Truck Driver Hall of Fame
  • Conduct the inaugural Executive Leadership Summit
  • Publish the first-ever Industry Economic Impact Study
  • Lead introduction of the DRIVE-Safe Act

2019

  • Release PR 101, a communications resource

2020

  • Craig Hoskins (Performance Food Group) becomes Chair
  • In response to the pandemic, shift focus to industry advocacy and support
  • Cancel all in-person events except the Partners Executive Forum

2021

  • Continue pandemic-era support and adjustments
  • Host the Partners Executive Forum and Solutions Conferences virtually

2022

  • Rich Wolowski (Gordon Food Service) becomes Chair
  • Launch the Rising Stars Program
  • Introduce a Food Donation Resource Kit

2023

  • Expand government affairs capabilities
  • Add warehouse events to The Truck Driving Championship, renaming it the IFDA National Championship
  • Rebrand the Distribution Solutions Conference as the IFDA Solutions Conference

2024

  • Suzanne Rajczi (Ginsberg’s Foods) becomes Chair
  • Introduce Essentials of Foodservice, an online industry primer
  • Develop a new strategic plan focused on workforce and innovation

2025

  • Mike Sweet (Ben E. Keith Foods) becomes Chair
  • Launch an industry awareness campaign to raise the profile of foodservice distribution
  • Debut Knowelle, an AI tool for industry research navigation
  • Launch Crave – The IFDA Podcast
  • Introduce The Changemaker Awards for Members of Congress
  • Present the first-ever IFDA Advocacy Award
  • Launch MealsGiving Congressional Reception
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IFDA Members are problem solvers and supply chain experts who work tirelessly behind-the-scenes to deliver food safely and efficiently to every corner of America. IFDA’s membership spans the breadth of the industry to include broadline, systems, convenience, and specialty foodservice distributors that supply food and related products to restaurants, schools, universities, hospitals and care facilities, hotels and resorts, and other foodservice operations.

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