Future of Distribution Project
The purpose of FEDA’s Future of Distribution Council (FDC) is to provide dealers and manufacturers a forum to collaborate and advise the association about areas of critical importance for the continued and future success of the foodservice equipment and supplies distribution industry. The council considers 1) industry strengths that could avail new opportunities and 2) potential risks that could stifle the industry’s growth and threaten viability. The council’s discussions and recommendations guide FEDA as it prioritizes resources and implements programs.
Phase 1 Subcommittee: Shipping, Packaging & Handling Standards (SPHS)
The SPHS subcommittee will lead the development of industry guidelines to reduce freight damage and improve packaging practices for LTL shipping. Building from the initial project proposal, members will examine current inbound inspection standards and extend those learnings to outbound shipments, ensuring consistency across dealer–manufacturer operations. The group will also explore emerging solutions such as sensors or smart packaging to determine their potential role in improving visibility and accountability. The goal is to produce a set of recommended guidelines and procedures by September 2026. **standards do not apply to company-owned fleets.
Phase 2 Subcommittee: Product Data Standards & Integration (PDSI)
The PDSI subcommittee will focus on advancing product data consistency across dealer and manufacturer systems. During Phase 1, the subcommittee will examine FEDA Data Portal standardized product data fields and definitions to identify gaps in manufacturer-populated data and understand the data entry challenges preventing dealers from accessing necessary information — such as freight classification codes — that are critical to achieving data connectivity across the supply chain. The subcommittee will prepare recommendations for promoting consistent product data standards by September 2026. Phase 2 work of this subcommittee is to guide the resolution of these challenges to realize successful data sharing. For example, product information could flow from business systems to populate contracts, purchase orders, invoices, etc.
Transportation Management System Pilot Project and Subcommittee (TMS)
The TMS pilot project and subcommittee will test if broader outbound TMS use by manufacturers and/or distributors significantly improves logistics visibility and process efficiency for LTL shipments. During Q1 2026, FEDA staff, the Dorn Group, and Kuehne + Nagel will define the data points and prepare the pilot framework. Data points from pilot participants who currently use TMS will be benchmarked alongside those who do not, highlighting measurable differences. The pilot will launch in Q2 2026, with three quarters of data collected and analyzed through year-end, and early insights shared by September 2026.
