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See Highlights From the 2026 FEDA Conference in a New Gallery
Explore some of our favorite photos featuring the speakers and attendees who made this year's FEDA conference truly memorable.
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FEDA Seeks Public Comment on Two Draft Industry Standards
FEDA has opened the public review period for its product data and shipping, packaging, and handling draft standards. FEDA members and other industry professionals are asked to examine these standards and submit comments before Nov. 13, 2026. These two standards were developed by the FEDA Future of Distribution Council (FDC) and its subcommittees. The shipping, packaging, and handling standard is intended to provide practical, industry-informed guidance for reducing freight damage in the commercial foodservice equipment industry. Similarly, the product data standard offers guidance for the creation, management, maintenance, and exchange of product information used throughout the industry. FEDA is now seeking feedback from members and other interested industry participants before the standards move into the finalization phase. The purpose of the review is to identify issues, gaps, unclear language, implementation concerns, and opportunities to improve the standards.
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Gold Award Spotlight: Mackenzie Petersen, Avanti Restaurant Solutions
The FEDA Gold Awards recognize members who are advancing the foodservice equipment industry through exemplary leadership and service. Through this new Q&A series, we’re giving Gold Award recipients an opportunity to share the leadership approaches, lessons, and experiences behind their accomplishments. This week, FEDA is featuring Mackenzie Petersen, account manager for Avanti Restaurant Solutions. Petersen was honored with an Ascending Young Industry Leaders Award for demonstrating exceptional leadership in managing complex projects, driving process improvements, and strengthening collaboration across Avanti’s teams and customer partnerships.
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Hoshizaki Strengthens Commercial Strategy and Customer Support Across the Americas
Hoshizaki America is expanding its sales and distribution resources in Mexico and Latin America with a new strategic sales team led by Patricia Garcia, Sandra Raffe, and Rodrigo Flores. The company also appointed Craig Hammel as director of customer experience and aftermarket support to strengthen customer service, support, and lifecycle management across Hoshizaki Alliance companies in the United States and Canada.
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Victorinox North America Announces New Foodservice Director
Victorinox, a FEDA manufacturer member, announced that Audra Murray has been appointed director, foodservice, for Victorinox North America. In this role, Murray will lead the company’s foodservice growth strategy across the continent, overseeing new account acquisition, strategic customer development, and regional sales leadership. She will focus on helping foodservice operators reduce total knife program costs, improve cash flow, enhance employee safety and satisfaction, and optimize operational efficiency through solutions tailored to commercial kitchens and food preparation environments.
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Atosa USA Sales Leader Retires After 30-Year Industry Career
Rick Larkin, who joined Atosa in 2019 and returned to the company in 2026, is known for building lasting relationships with distributors, customers, and colleagues.
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Small Business Hiring Slows as Worker Shortages Persist
Hiring activity among small businesses slowed in September as employers continue to struggle to find qualified workers, according to the latest jobs report from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). NFIB found that 51% of small business owners reported hiring or trying to hire in September, down 5 points from August. Forty-five percent of owners, or 87% of those hiring or trying to hire, reported few or no qualified applicants for the positions they were trying to fill. Twenty-five percent reported few qualified applicants, and 20% reported none. “Overall employment conditions are softening, though the small business labor market is still tighter than normal,” NFIB Chief Economist Bill Dunkelberg said. “Between the ongoing difficulty of finding qualified workers and elevated operation costs, employers are proceeding more cautiously as they look to make hiring decisions.”
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Upcoming FEDA and Other Industry Events
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National Restaurant Association Show
May 22-25, 2027
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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