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FEDA Annual Conference: What a Tech Revolutionary Can Teach the Foodservice Equipment Industry
During his 60-minute fireside chat at the 2026 FEDA Annual Executive Leadership Conference, Steve Wozniak will discuss Apple’s early days and share how the company created a culture of innovation that persists to this day. Attendees will learn what it was like to be at the dawn of the technological revolution from the viewpoint of one of the key figures who ushered in today’s digital age.
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Last Chance to Submit Your Data for the 2026 FEDA Profit Survey
The FEDA Profit Survey is the industry’s most comprehensive resource for foodservice equipment and supplies distributors who want to measure their overall operating performance against their peers. If your company has not yet submitted data, please do so by July 10 to take advantage of this complimentary member benefit. Contact Isabelle Piotrowski, director of membership and business development, at isabelle@feda.com to get started.
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Now On Demand: Critical Skills for Front-Line Leaders in Distribution - Session 1
You cannot lead what you do not understand. Part one of this new webinar series focuses on the operational foundation every distribution leader needs: how the building works, how the functions connect, and how to spot root problems before they become customer failures. Available at no cost to FEDA members.
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Don’t Miss Your Chance to Apply for the 2026 FEDA Gold Awards!
The association is excited to again recognize the unique achievements of members during the Gold Awards presentation at the 2026 FEDA Annual Executive Leadership Conference. FEDA distributor and manufacturer members are encouraged to nominate their own companies, a colleague, or a team member for any of the five award categories.
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TriMark Announces CEO Transition
TriMark USA has announced the retirement of CEO Terry O'Brien, effective July 1, 2026, with Chief Financial Officer James Noonan appointed as his successor. O'Brien will remain with the company as an advisor during the transition and continue serving on TriMark's Board of Directors. The leadership change comes as the company continues to advance its strategic priorities and has initiated a search for its next chief financial officer.
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Commercial Kitchen Stop’s Back Nine Beach Bash Sets Fundraising Record
Held at Palm Beach National Golf Club, the tournament brought together 144 golfers across 36 teams for a four-person scramble built around community, competition, and giving back. “This event has become so much more than a round of golf,” said Chris Russo, director of revenue at Commercial Kitchen Stop and the tournament’s event chair and organizer. “Every year our sponsors, our golfers, and our partners show up for a cause that matters, and this year they delivered in a big way.”
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Clark Associates Welcomes 76 Interns for 2026 Summer Program
Clark Associates has launched its 2026 Summer Intern Program, welcoming 76 students from 49 colleges, universities, and technical schools across the country. The program provides hands-on experience in areas including equipment distribution, sales, e-commerce, and technology, while offering professional development, networking opportunities, and exposure to the foodservice industry through leadership sessions and volunteer activities.
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New Member Q&A: Fluentis
Fluentis explains how AI-infused enterprise resource planning software helps distributors streamline operations, improve decision-making, and gain real-time business insights.
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Wood Stone Announces Sales Leadership Promotions
Wood Stone Corporation has announced two promotions within its sales organization. Anthony Mukerjee has been promoted to Regional Sales Manager for the Western U.S. and Canada, while Guy Johnston has assumed an expanded role focused on Business Development and International Sales. The appointments broaden the responsibilities of both leaders as the company continues serving customers across North America and international markets.
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Fisher Manufacturing Expands Curate Partnership Into Midwest-South
The FEDA manufacturer member extended Curate's coverage to MAFSI Region 16, strengthening distributor support across five states.
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Check Out the Latest Issue of FEDA News & Views Magazine!
Disruption rarely announces itself as an opportunity — but for businesses built to respond, it’s the accelerator that pushes them ahead. This issue of FEDA News & Views previews the 2026 FEDA Annual Executive Leadership Conference, where Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and growth strategist Verne Harnish headline a program centered on exactly that premise. Their sessions anchor a broader conference theme of alignment across business segments and the partners who shape the end customer experience, a concept that itself is rooted in the ongoing work of the Future of Distribution Council.
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Preparing for the Great Wealth Transfer Starts Inside the Family Business
For many family-owned businesses, succession planning represents one of the most consequential, yet frequently deferred, strategic decisions a founder will face. While significant time and focus are typically devoted to building enterprise value, comparatively less attention is usually given to the structured transition of that value to subsequent generations. According to a 2026 study from Chase, 40% of small business owners plan to retire within the next decade, but only 8% said they were fully prepared to transition ownership. That gap between retirees with a succession plan and those without is underscored by broader economic and demographic trends. The looming “great wealth transfer” from baby boomers to younger generations is projected to move $105 trillion in assets by 2048, according to consulting firm Cerulli Associates. Without proper preparation, this shift could lead to widespread disruption in industries where family ownership is predominant, such as foodservice equipment and supplies.
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Restaurant Performance Index Returns to Growth in May Despite Ongoing Traffic Challenges
The National Restaurant Association's Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) rose 0.2% in May to 100.1, returning to expansion territory for the first time in three months. While half of restaurant operators reported higher same-store sales compared to a year ago, customer traffic remained sluggish, with only 29% seeing an increase. Despite ongoing concerns about the broader economy, a majority of operators continue to plan investments in equipment, remodeling, and expansion, signaling confidence in the industry's long-term outlook.
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U.S. Economy Shows Resilience Despite Headwinds, Economist Tells FEDA’s Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Council
For most countries, the mix of high tariffs, immigration restrictions, and a foreign war would likely prompt an economic recession. But for Curtis Dubay, chief economist for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the United States’ durability in the face of those challenges is a testament to the power of the free enterprise system. “I’ve been talking a lot about the free enterprise system as it relates to the founding of the country on the 250th anniversary,” Dubay told the FEDA Legislative and Regulatory Affairs Council at a recent presentation. “Having a free enterprise system that creates a real resilient economy really comes in handy in times like this, because we've thrown three major headwinds in front of the economy that any one of which would have thrown every other country in the world into recession.”
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NAW Enters Federal Lawsuit Over California Packaging Law
The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors has joined a 17-state coalition in a federal lawsuit challenging California's extended producer responsibility law, arguing it places unconstitutional requirements and fees on businesses selling into the state. The law requires businesses to register with and pay fees to the Circular Action Alliance (CAA), a private entity appointed by the state to set and collect fees on everything from glass and aluminum to paper, cardboard, and plastic packaging. CAA’s fee methodology is confidential, and businesses cannot challenge those fee assessments in court.
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Trade Disputes, Middle East Conflict Driving Up Construction Costs
The Building Unrivaled Infrastructure and Long-Term Development for America’s 250th Act (BUILD America 250 Act), H.R. 8870, would include $474.4 billion in guaranteed funding for the Highway Trust Fund, which supports roadway infrastructure projects that distributors and other businesses depend on. This money would go toward improving roads, bridges, railroads, transit systems, and ports. The bill would also reform the permitting process for new transportation projects, helping to deliver critical infrastructure with fewer delays and at a lower cost.
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FEDA Supports Congressional Effort to End CTA Reporting Requirements
FEDA has joined a coalition of trade associations and business advocacy groups urging Congress to repeal the Corporate Transparency Act's (CTA) beneficial ownership reporting requirements for small businesses by including the measure in upcoming must-pass legislation, such as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Although the U.S. Treasury suspended enforcement of the reporting requirements in 2025, business groups are seeking a permanent legislative repeal to prevent future administrations from reinstating the mandate. The coalition argues that eliminating the requirement would provide regulatory certainty for more than 32 million small businesses while avoiding an estimated $128 billion in compliance costs.
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Upcoming FEDA and Other Industry Events
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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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