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FEDA Celebrates Member Achievements at 2026 Gold Awards Breakfast
The Gold Awards Breakfast during the 2026 FEDA Annual Executive Leadership Conference recognized distributor and manufacturer members for outstanding performance in workplace practices, customer service, and the development of young professionals.
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Save the Date! The 2027 FEDA Annual Executive Leadership Conference Heads to Southern California
Get ready to take your business insights to new heights. The 2027 FEDA Annual Executive Leadership Conference will bring foodservice equipment and supplies leaders together at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa, where coastal surroundings, championship golf, and a world-class spa create an inspiring setting for fresh thinking. Against the backdrop of La Costa’s lush grounds and relaxed atmosphere, you’ll explore the latest strategies, research, and technological innovations shaping distribution and alignment within the foodservice equipment and supplies industry. Mark your calendar now for Sept. 13-16, 2027, and plan to join us for four unforgettable days of learning, networking, and inspiration at one of Southern California’s premier resort destinations.
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Gold Award Spotlight: Matthew Yaz, Chef’s Deal
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. From strengthening operations and developing employees to embracing technology and identifying new opportunities, their stories offer useful insights that can benefit others throughout the industry. This week, FEDA is featuring Matthew Yaz, CEO of Chef's Deal. Yaz was honored with an Ascending Young Industry Leaders Award for demonstrating visionary leadership in expanding operations, strengthening employee development, and advancing comprehensive foodservice solutions.
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The Legacy Companies Taps Industry Veteran for Commercial Leadership Role
The Legacy Companies (TLC) has named Mark Easterday as its new chief commercial officer, a role in which he will lead the company’s commercial sales organization and growth strategy. Easterday brings decades of experience in the commercial foodservice equipment industry to the FEDA manufacturer member company. Most recently, he served as executive vice president of Middleby Brand Sales.
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Atosa USA Elevates Sales Leader to Senior Director of National Accounts
Jill Hunt joined the FEDA manufacturer member in 2023 and previously held sales roles at Welbilt and Vero Water.
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RSG Bolsters Retail Sales Team
Blaine Berr has joined Refrigerated Solutions Group (RSG) as a retail key account director. His career in the foodservice equipment and supplies industry has spanned more than 25 years, most of which has been spent working directly with convenience and fuel retailers on the equipment programs behind their new builds and remodels.
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Salvajor Names New National Sales Manager
Salvajor, a manufacturer of food waste disposal solutions, has added Tanya Sieber as a national sales manager. Sieber brings 30 years of experience in the foodservice industry to the role. Her background spans culinary operations, distribution, and manufacturer representation. Over the past decade, she has focused primarily on the education channel, serving as K-12 segment manager for Burlis Lawson Group.
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Proposed AI Rules Could Reshape Government Contracts
There’s no getting away from artificial intelligence in today’s distribution operations. From productivity software and inventory management platforms to e-commerce automation, distributors are deploying AI to connect their data and expand their customer reach. Even the foodservice equipment itself is tapping into AI for features like predictive maintenance and optimized cooking times. The amount of proprietary information now flowing between AI-powered systems is endless, but, like anything, that innovation and convenience come with a downside. The ability for AI systems to act without human intervention only heightens those security risks. Federal policymakers are responding by regulating not only AI developers but even businesses that use AI tools to complete government contracts. In March, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) published a draft contract clause aimed at safeguarding government data within large language model (LLM) AI systems. While the goal of ensuring secure and trustworthy AI for the federal government is an important one, the execution outlined in the GSA Acquisition Regulation (GSAR) clause has raised concerns that extend well beyond AI.
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NAW Takes Oregon EPR Challenge to 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
The appeal focuses on two principal issues. First, Oregon’s EPR law disrupts nationally integrated supply chains by imposing fees on wholesaler-distributors who control neither the packaging nor the final destination of their products. This forces multistate companies — including many foodservice equipment distributors — to reengineer their operations and, in some cases, route products around Oregon entirely. Additionally, NAW states the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality anticipated producers would recover some of their costs for the EPR program by charging more to customers in other states. The association argues that funding a new statewide recycling program at the expense of out-of-state wholesaler-distributors and consumers violates the U.S. Constitution’s Dormant Commerce Clause.
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From FEDA News & Views: Infrastructure Bill Could Help Keep Foodservice Equipment Moving
Sitting in highway traffic is aggravating for anyone, but for U.S. manufacturers, that aggravation comes with an annual price tag of about $25 billion. Highway congestion adds roughly 65 million hours to the time it takes to move finished goods and supplies across the supply chain, according to the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). Foodservice equipment distributors absorb those delays through longer transit times, stalled deliveries, and higher freight costs as orders travel from their point of origin to the customer’s facility. Relief may be on the near horizon. Congress is considering the Building Unrivaled Infrastructure and Long-term Development for America’s 250th Act, the BUILD America 250 Act for short. The bill would fund highways, bridges, transit, rail, and freight programs after the current funding authorization expires on Sept. 30, giving Congress a firm deadline for passing a new bill or extending the existing law.
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Upcoming FEDA and Other Industry Events
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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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