CHICAGO, JULY 23, 2014—The International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA) proudly-announced its industry leading Marketing & Sales Leaders Forum (MSLF) at Rich Products Corp.’s new Innovation Center in Buffalo, NY, Aug. 5-6. IFMA along with Rich Products and co-sponsors;  including Datassential, The NPD Group and Food Genius, provide for powerful and current insights to drive successful sales and marketing initiatives in the foodservice industry. 

“Participants will get critical insights and best practice pilot updates on key industry projects such as Category Management. In addition, they will also receive traditional information on segments and industry trends. This is THE conference for Sales & Marketing planning and execution,” said IFMA President and CEO Larry Oberkfell.

Focus on Critical Foodservice Trends:

Key industry indicators that drive forward-looking marketing and sales decisions will be covered at the conference. MSLF 2014 co-sponsors, and other subject-matter-experts, will either present or be available to discuss cutting-edge industry trends and visions. A sampling of these topics include: 

•        “Small” is big news—Datassential reports new restaurant concepts feature streamlined menus that are on average 30% smaller, with an emphasis on quality and a unique food focus. How does this impact your product strategies?

•        National chains must think locally—The NPD Group notes that national chains must act more like independents to drive increased visits and profitability. Understanding what local customers and consumers want requires being more nimble than ever before.

•        Don’t lose the forest for the trees—Food Genius sees an explosion of interest and buzz around sriracha, but is increasingly concerned that manufacturers are missing huge opportunities in the broader “spicy” trend taking place by focusing on just one of its components.

•        Successful food needs a story—Datassential indicates Limited Time Offers (LTOs) have exploded over the past decade, growing from 32% of chain menu activity in 2006 to a whopping 70% today. But as a result of this rapid proliferation, LTOs have lost meaning with consumers, which is why “food with a story” helps everything from specific dishes to entire restaurants stand out from the crowd.

2014 MSLF Conference Overview:

The MSLF conference is attended by foodservice business unit leaders, sales and marketing professionals, research and insights professionals and industry partners, providers and suppliers. Key conference features and benefits for attendees include:

·         A complimentary copy of IFMA’s Insights Library (valued at $1,095). Prepared by Datassential, the Insights Library provides accurate industry numbers and extensive content for each operator segment to support planning and execution.

·         An expert lineup of seasoned foodservice panelists presenting data and industry forecasts while also leading discussions on relevant topics, such as category management; operator collaboration best practices; the effective of globalization, supply chain changes and increased contracted business on the industry and more. 

·         Breakout sessions providing group interaction and deeper knowledge to help attendees break down the silos and provide better collaboration with internal colleagues, partners and customers.

Attendees should contact John Lehmann, IFMA Director Member Value, for more details at 312-253-4683 or via email john@ifmaworld.com. Or register to attend the 2014 MSLF Conference.