Boycotts, viral videos, striking, protests, opt-out campaigns — all this brings to mind the Occupy Wall Street movement or even unrest in other countries. But that's not what we're discussing this time. No, in this instance we are talking school lunch here in the United States, specifically foodservice in schools participating in federally funded School Meal Programs (SMP).
While still working as a manufacturers' rep in 2000, I attended the annual conference hosted by the Manufacturers' Agents Association for the Foodservice Industry, where I heard foodservice design consultant Jim Webb deliver a keynote address titled "Integrity 2000."
Funny thing about anniversaries...their significance often depends on the relative success of whatever person, place, or thing, is being celebrated or remembered. For a failing sports team, for instance, crossing the century mark might go by as uneventfully as that Mayan End-of-the-World Calendar that we couldn't hear enough about last year.
As the incomparable Yogi Berra once said, "...making predictions is hard, especially when they're about the future." Before you Google that...if he didn't say it, then he should have, because it's a pretty good line and more than a little true.
Given that we are more connected than ever and as well informed as we have ever been, are trade associations still relevant in today's foodservice industry?
Wow! We owe a huge thank you to the record number of FE&S subscribers who participated in our 2012 Best in Class study. Completing a comprehensive study of this this type is no small task. So please know that we truly appreciate all of you who took the time and made the effort to ensure your voices are heard.
Despite the high national unemployment rate, it's still a challenge to find talented people who will mesh well with your corporate culture.
