If you take a moment to check out the table of contents page of this issue you may notice the postal marking at the top of the page that indicates that this is volume 74, number 12 for this publication. That means that in January of 2022 we will be entering our 75th year of continuous publication.
Although some days, especially during the past two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has felt like I’ve been at the helm for that entire time, the truth is that at a mere 20 years of involvement with the publication; I’m a relative newcomer.
The mission and audience for FE&S have shifted and evolved over the years. Originally called Dealer Magazine, the audience then was much narrower. That reach has expanded immensely and today our audience includes operators, dealers, consultants, service reps … qualified readers who buy, sell, or recommend foodservice equipment and supplies.
The one thing that I am most struck by on the cusp of our 75th year is just how much we have to write about and to tell you about. The industry, like the world, is undergoing enormous and fundamental changes that will impact every facet of our lives. Technology continues to make inroads that will change the way we interact with each other. Sustainability and green initiatives represent a macro trend that will, by necessity, garner more and more of our attention as we fight to stave off the effects of climate change.
Through it all, we will strive to maintain our focus on you, the reader, and the information that you need in order to do your job effectively. We look forward to seeing many of you again, live and in person, at the many industry events scheduled to resume in 2022 after a two-year hiatus.
We are really excited about the resumption of our Dealer of the Year and All Industry Awards Gala at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago on May 21st, the Saturday night of the 2022 National Restaurant Association Show. And, after that, the return of our exclusive FED Thought Leadership Summit on Sept. 12-14 at Loews Chicago Hotel.
After all, no matter what the future has in store … it will always be all about the people!
All the best,
Maureen
