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Take Advantage of Early Bird Pricing By Registering Today for the 2026 FEDA Annual Executive Leadership Conference
Set for Sept. 15–18 in Park City, Utah, the FEDA Annual Executive Leadership Conference will equip foodservice equipment and supplies professionals with actionable strategies for building successful, enduring enterprises. The program features industry-shaping speakers, including Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and Verne Harnish, business author and founder of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization, who will expand on the flywheel concepts introduced by Jim Collins at last year’s event. Early bird pricing ends April 30, so reserve your spot today!
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Now Available On Demand: AI-Powered Excel for Financial Modeling Part 3
FEDA has once again partnered with the Association for Financial Professionals (AFP) to deliver a customized finance education course at no cost to FEDA members. This webinar series equips finance practitioners with the knowledge and skills needed to implement best practices for financial modeling, lead in analytics, harness AI technologies, and drive sustainable organizational change. Part 3 of the series is now available on demand through the FEDA Learn Institute.
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Sign Up for the FEDA Young Industry Leaders Retreat at ITW Headquarters Near Chicago
Taking place June 10–11, 2026, the FEDA Young Industry Leaders Retreat will offer interactive leadership development sessions led by executives at ITW. Participants can look forward to insightful discussions on industry trends, challenges, and opportunities, as well as networking opportunities with like-minded professionals.
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AeriTek Acquires Continental Refrigerator’s Parent Company
AeriTek said Continental’s commercial kitchen equipment portfolio — which includes reach-in coolers and freezers, sandwich prep worktops, pizza prep units, and griddle stands — is highly complementary to its existing front-of-house beverage merchandising and display offerings. Additionally, Continental’s long-standing distributor relationships and buying group partnerships are expected to strengthen AeriTek’s go-to-market infrastructure and accelerate its inroads into the U.S. foodservice channel.
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Two FEDA Members Earn Top Workplace Awards
USA Today has recognized KaTom for its company culture, while Alto-Shaam was honored for its ability to innovate and deliver solutions that serve customers across dozens of countries.
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Flexeserve Adds Experienced Sales Leader for National Accounts
Following a career in the U.S. Army, during which he rose to the rank of captain, Scott Turbeville transitioned to foodservice and found he had a natural talent for sales. He brings more than 10 years of experience to Flexeserve, having worked for other foodservice equipment manufacturers such as Electrolux Professional Group, UNOX, and Middleby.
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New Age Industrial Employee Retires After 43 Years
Don Arehart leaves behind a legacy of dedication and craftsmanship at the FEDA manufacturer member’s Kansas facility.
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Check Out the Latest Issue of FEDA News & Views Magazine!
AI solutions and other emerging technologies aren’t merely helping distributors and manufacturers improve efficiency, they are opening the door to entirely new ways of operating. From restructuring warehouse layouts and reducing picking errors to implementing more accurate and thorough equipment testing procedures, technology is becoming an even bigger part of FEDA members’ strategies. But it’s not just the technology that is undergoing an upgrade. This issue of FEDA News & Views also explores how distributors are creating more value for customers after the sale through services such as warranty management and repair coordination.
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Standing Out Through Post-Sale Service
Commercial kitchens operate like orchestras where every piece of equipment must perform in sync. A hospital cafeteria may serve thousands of meals a day, while a 24/7 diner can’t afford to miss a rush. When equipment fails, the disruption is immediate — and costly. In 2026, more distributors are building their businesses around that reality, knowing that the real customer relationship starts after delivery, when they become the partner who keeps that equipment running right. A $15,000 combi oven becomes a 15-year partnership and a recurring revenue stream when distributors stick around to train staff, maintain equipment, and solve problems before those issues drain a customer’s profits.
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Missouri, Rhode Island Weigh EPR Laws Targeting Packaging
The two states are considering legislation that would require producers of packaging and paper products, including distributors, to join or form a nonprofit producer responsibility organization (PRO) that would fund and manage a statewide recycling system. FEDA, the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW), and other business advocacy groups oppose EPR laws because they create new costs and reporting requirements for distributors that have little to no say in how the products they sell are packaged.
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Lawmakers Move to Halt Federal Agency Heat Standard
The text of the proposed bill says that the requirements published by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are “overly prescriptive, burdensome to businesses, and confusing for workers.” OSHA’s attempt to impose prescriptive requirements on employers, including high-heat triggers, makes the proposal unworkable and fails to account for unique considerations, such as local climates and geographies, that affect heat.
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Upcoming FEDA and Other Industry Events
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National Restaurant Association Show
May 16–19, 2026
LEARN MORE
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FEDA Young Industry Leaders Retreat
June 10–11, 2026
LEARN MORE
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Full Calendar of Industry Events
Ongoing
LEARN MORE
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Support the FEDA Learn Institute
The FEDA Learn Institute is supported in part by donors to the FEDA Education Foundation, which develops important and relevant education and training programs for dealers. Learn about becoming a Diamond Donor and be recognized within FEDA for your support.
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The FEDA Weekly News is published by the Foodservice Equipment Distributors Association. FEDA's mission is to provide advocacy, education, and service on behalf of foodservice equipment and supplies distributors and dealers.
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