FEDA NEWS & VIEWS THE COVER
FEATURES 10
TABLE OF CONTENTS
What a Tech Revolutionary Can Teach Foodservice Equipment
Disruption rarely announces itself as opportunity — but for businesses built to respond, it’s the accelerator that pushes them ahead. This issue of FEDA News & Views previews the 2026 FEDA Annual Executive Leadership Conference, where Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and growth strategist Verne Harnish headline a program centered on exactly that premise. Their sessions anchor a broader conference theme of alignment across business segments and the partners who shape the end customer experience, a concept that itself is rooted in the ongoing work of the Future of Distribution Council.
VIEWS 04
I06 08
As data solutions and artifi cial intelligence reshape how businesses operate, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak’s playbook offers distributors a timeless guide for navigating disruption.
24
Embracing Connections, Transparency to Drive Effi ciency At the conference’s Distributor Focus panel, executives will share how improved data sharing, supply chain visibility, and shipping standards can drive operational improvements for the entire industry.
26 16 Finding Growth T at
Sticks Verne Harnish hits the FEDA Executive Leadership Conference stage to help foodservice distributors and manufacturers build companies that don’t buckle when growth kicks in.
22
Chairman’s Message By Marc Tell
ndustry Insights By J Schneider
Vision Forward By Joe Durham
60
Chief Operator Changes in the Industry
56 Inside the Digital
Supply Chain At the FEDA Tech Talks, Estes CIO Todd Florence will share how carriers are using AI, automation, and real-time data to improve transparency, address freight damage claims, and help create a more aligned supply chain.
28
An Inside Look at the Forces Reshaping Distribution
OPERATORS
Celebrating the Leaders Moving the Industry Forward
30 44
2026 FEDA Executive Leadership Conference
ON THE MOVE
Recent Promotions, Hires, and Retirements at FEDA Member Companies
54
new feda members
New FEDA Members Summer 2026 3
Preparing for the Great Wealth Transfer Starts Inside the Family Business
50
Building Momentum for FEDA’s Next Chapter
53
Learning Why Great Leaders Don’t Always Say “Yes”
OPERATIONS 40
Know Your Players: How the Hunter-Farmer Sales Model Drives Growth
for Distributors Three distribution executives share how they defi ne sales roles, manage handoffs, and align talent to maximize both customer acquisition and account growth.
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