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SEFA Launches Long-Term Succession Plan

Buying group ownership to transition to dealer members and members of the management team.

SEFA (Supply & Equipment Foodservice Alliance, Inc.) has initiated a multi-year plan to transition ownership of the group to all of its dealer members and Chris Perrotte and Tom Stritch, two longtime members of its management team. At the completion of the plan SEFA's current owners, Tedde and Jim Reid, will step away from the organization they founded in 1986.

SEFA announced the plan, which has been in development since 2008, to its membership during the organization's recently completed partnership conference. "The dealers are very enthusiastic about it," Tedde Reid said. "We are taking a multiple year approach. This won't happen right away."

One main reason SEFA will take a multi-year approach to this transition is to ensure the group's training-and-relationship oriented culture continues and grows stronger. "Our members have great relationships with the factories we partner with and Chris and Tom have been involved with developing all of our training and marketing programs," Tedde said. "We want to continue enhancing those programs because of the value they bring our dealers, our suppliers and the industry."

Another reason for a multi-year approach is to ensure a smooth management transition to the leadership of our dealers and Perrotte and Stritch, who have been with SEFA for 18 and 7 years respectively. "The management team's having an ownership position should help SEFA maintain continuity," Tedde said. "We want to support Chris and Tom and give them as much input as we can."

As she prepares to write a new chapter in her storied career, Tedde remains very optimistic. "This is the right decision. It is the best decision for SEFA, our dealers and for Jim and me," she said. "The best days are ahead for SEFA and us."