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FEDA Conference Networking: Raise a Glass With Industry Leaders While Touring High West Distillery
Looking to extend the conversations beyond the conference room? Join fellow FEDA executives for an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour and guided whiskey tasting at High West Distillery on Sept. 17. During the 45-minute guided tour, you’ll get an inside look at High West’s distillation, blending, aging, and bottling operations. Along the way, you’ll learn from a whiskey ambassador how to properly evaluate each pour while enjoying a selection of cheese and charcuterie. After the tour, you’ll have time to continue tasting High West’s award-winning offerings while connecting with fellow distributors, manufacturers, and industry partners. Available at no cost to conference registrants!
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2026 FEDA Profit Survey Results Now Available
Thank you to all distributors who participated in the 2026 FEDA Profit Survey! Participants can log in to the Dynamic Benchmarking platform to explore personalized benchmarking dashboards and compare company performance with industry peers. If you need assistance logging in to your dashboard, please contact Cindy Yancy of Dynamic Benchmarking at cyancey@dynamicbenchmarking.com.
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Craft Your Leadership Flywheel at the Next Young Industry Leaders Virtual Session
Young professionals at FEDA member companies are invited to attend the next FEDA Young Industry Leaders (YIL) virtual session, Building Your Leadership Flywheel: Creating Momentum Through Consistent Action. This session will build on the flywheel effect concept presented by Jim Collins at the 2025 FEDA Annual Executive Leadership Conference and discuss how it can be applied to individual leadership development. For those attending the 2026 conference, the program provides a valuable foundation for Verne Harnish’s keynote, which will tie Collins’ teachings to the four critical areas of people, strategy, execution, and cash. Rather than focusing on organizational strategy, participants will develop a personal leadership flywheel that identifies the habits, strengths, relationships, and experiences that create long-term leadership momentum. There is no cost for FEDA members to participate.
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Reminder: Share Your Flywheel With Conference Keynote Speaker Verne Harnish
As Verne Harnish prepares for his keynote at the 2026 FEDA Annual Executive Leadership Conference, he is asking FEDA member companies to share their organization’s flywheel — the self-reinforcing cycle of actions that drives sustained growth and success. Your contribution will help Verne tailor his presentation to the real-world experiences, opportunities, and challenges facing distributors and manufacturers in the foodservice equipment and supplies industry, making the session even more relevant and actionable for attendees. Whether your flywheel is well established, recently developed, or still taking shape, we'd love to hear from you. Simply email your flywheel — and any questions you may have — to FEDA Director of Industry Programs and Professional Development Ashley Mueller at ashley@feda.com.
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Wasserstrom Expands Phoenix Distribution Center to Handle Heavy Equipment
The project will expand the facility by 77,730 square feet. By creating an additional shipping point for commercial kitchen equipment, the larger space will enable Wasserstrom to optimize supply chains and reduce delivery times for customers across the Southwest and Coastal regions.
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Host America to Debut at 2027 NAFEM Show
Host Milano and NAFEM originally announced their plan to create a cooperative program in 2025. The new announcement revealed additional details about what the organizations are now calling Host America. Host America will take place Feb. 11-13, 2027, in Orlando, Florida, at the NAFEM Show. The event will serve as a platform to connect international companies with the world’s largest professional hospitality market.
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Former Stafford-Smith CEO David J. Stafford Remembered
It is with heavy hearts that FEDA shares news of the passing of David J. Stafford, the second-generation leader of Stafford-Smith, Inc. Stafford spent more than 40 years in the foodservice equipment and supplies industry. His career began in 1969, when he joined his family’s business working in the vending machines segment. Stafford took over from his father, David D. Stafford, as owner and CEO in 1982 and focused on expanding the equipment and supplies distribution business.
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BSI Elevates Regional Sales Manager to Lead Business Development Strategy
Industry veteran Mandi Vessey will expand consultant training programs, strengthen manufacturer partnerships, and support long-term growth for the food guards and custom servery manufacturer.
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Flexeserve Adds Culinary Leader to Provide Direct Support to Operators
Based at the company's U.S. headquarters and Culinary Support Center in Southlake, Texas, Lucky Spears will help operators develop and refine grab-and-go food programs by providing support for cooking methods, packaging, merchandising, and operational efficiency.
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Restaurant Operators Report Continued Sales Improvement in June
In the latest National Restaurant Association Restaurant Performance Index, 51% of restaurant operators said their same-store sales rose between June 2025 and June 2026. That was up from 48% who said the same in April and 50% in May. Only 31% of operators said their sales had declined. Looking ahead, 29% of operators expect their sales volume to be higher in six months than in the same period a year ago. That was the lowest reading in 11 months, but still a net positive as just 18% said they expect sales to decline.
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Federal Lawsuit Filed Over Colorado EPR Law
The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors has filed a federal lawsuit challenging Colorado’s Producer Responsibility Program for Statewide Recycling Act, the state’s extended producer responsibility (EPR) packaging law. This is the third such lawsuit NAW has filed against a state EPR packaging law. Last year, the association sued Oregon after the state became the first in the nation to implement a packaging EPR law. The case went to trial at the end of January, and a ruling is expected as early as the end of August. In June, NAW joined a lawsuit brought by 17 states against California’s EPR law.
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NAW Framework Promotes Human-Centered AI Adoption
The AI Governance Architecture provides guidance on the responsible implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) across the wholesale distribution industry. According to the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors, the framework emphasizes using AI to support employees by developing new skills, improving decision-making, strengthening customer trust, and enhancing supply chain resilience, rather than replacing workers.
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Upcoming FEDA and Other Industry Events
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FEDA Young Industry Leaders Session
Aug. 25, 2026
LEARN MORE
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2026 FEDA Annual Conference
Sept. 15-18, 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 distributors. 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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