The IFDA Distribution Solutions Conference 2019: What to Expect

The 2019 International Foodservice Distributors Association’s (IFDA) Distribution Solutions Conference takes place October 27 through 29, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. So what do they have in store for the industry this year?

First off, it’s important to understand the significance of the IFDA Distribution Solutions Conference within the industry. This is the major annual meeting for distributors who work within the foodservice space. Food warehouses, cold chain transportation, and supply chain specialists gather at the IFDA Distribution Solutions Conference every year to navigate the latest issues and discoveries in the field of foodservice distribution.

In other words, this event offers unparalleled networking within this fairly niche industry. In addition to the professional relationships that emerge from this IFDA conference, the event includes an industry expo, educational workshops, and informative presentations from supply chain experts. Here are a few of the highlights in each area.

General Sessions at the IFDA Distribution Solutions Conference

The event opens Monday morning with a general session featuring Robert Safian, founder of strategic advisory firm Flux Group. Safian’s program is titled “How Great Leaders Thrive Amid Chaos,” of which there’s been plenty in the foodservice distribution industry over the past year. Safian will discuss new ways to approach business goals in a world that’s constantly changing.

Tuesday’s general sessions, which takes place just after lunchtime, is titled “What Makes a Leader: Emotional Intelligence and the Keys to High Performance. Psychologist and author Daniel Goleman will educate the audience on the four elements of emotional intelligence with a special focus on how they relate to business leadership.

IFDA Distribution Solutions Conference Workshops

Workshops at the IFDA event take place concurrently, which means visitors have some difficult decisions to make. More than 20 workshops are available, but a few of the standouts include: the Warehouse Idea Exchange, a roundtable discussion in which participants can ask and answer questions about warehouse challenges; Blockchain — A Case Study, in which experts discuss the potential of blockchain technology to reimagine food supply chains; and The Fundamentals of Budgeting Transportation and Warehouse Operations, an introduction to creating operating budgets for key supply chain functions.

The IFDA Distribution Solutions Conference Expo

In between networking events and educational sessions, visitors to this event can wander the floor of the exposition. The expo hall will be open 12:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, October 28, and 1:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, October 29. It features dozens of companies demonstrating the latest products and services designed to solve all the problems of the foodservice distribution industry.

Needless to say, the exposition hall is also the site of some of the most valuable networking of the whole event. Meet representatives of the companies that can take your business to the next level at the IFDA Distribution Solutions Conference 2019.

References:

“IFDA Distribution Solutions Conference.” IFDAOnline. International Foodservice Distributors Association, 2019. Web. 13 Aug. 2019.