Farm to Fork: The Innovators with David Maloni
Welcome to Farm to Fork: The Innovators, the podcast where decades of industry expertise meet the future of the food supply chain. I'm David Maloni, your host, and with over 40 years in the food production, distribution, and operations sectors, I've seen the industry evolve. But now, it's time to push the boundaries of innovation further.
Every other week, join me as I sit down with pioneers from the past, the game-changers of today, and the visionaries shaping the future of our field. Together, we'll explore new ideas, technologies, and strategies that can revolutionize how we farm, produce, move, and serve food to the world.
I invite you, our listeners, to be a part of this journey. If you know someone or have a topic in mind that aligns with our mission, please reach out. Your input matters, and it could be the spark that ignites the next big breakthrough in the food supply chain.
For more insights and to connect with my consultancy, visit www.DatumFS.com. Thank you for tuning in. Together, let's drive innovation and transform the way we nourish our communities
Farm to Fork: The Innovators with David Maloni
Strategies for Enhancing Foodservice Distribution: Maximizing Chain and Supplier-Manufacturer Relationships with Rich Wolverton, Former VP of Category Management at US Foods
Welcome back to another episode of Farm to Fork: The Innovators. Our guest for today is Rich Wolverton, a current Datum FS advisor who served as former VP of category management at Food Services of America and led their merchandising integration into US foods.
Tapping into Rich’s 40+ years wealth of knowledge in food sales and merchandising leadership, we explore the intricacies of food service distribution, discuss the importance of customer service, labor, and supply chain reliability challenges, and strategies for acquiring business from independent and chain restaurants.
Our conversation explores the approaches new start-ups and seasoned businesses can take to break into and break even in the already competitive distribution market, uncovers pivotal factors that keep the industry giants thriving, and unearths secrets that could revolutionize sales. Tune in to learn even more about FSMA 204 and how the Food Service Industry will be impacted because of its implementation.
This is one episode you do not want to miss.
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Timestamps
00:00
03:00 - Meet Rich Wolverton
04:08 - The History And Expansion Of Food Services Of America
06:31 - Rich Elucidates How Distributors Operate Are The Gatekeepers To The Consumers
09:27 - Efficient Customer Service As The Secret Sauce To A Distributor's Success
13:13 - Navigating The Major Challenges In Food Distribution
15:26 - Rich’s Take On How To Win The Independent Restaurant Customer Acquisition Game
18:57 - Salesperson Incentives And Benefits Of A Consultative Approach
21:33 - Data: The New Currency For Businesses
22:48 - The Formula For Attracting And Keeping Chain Business
24:33 - Rich Details The Complex Dance Between Suppliers, Chains, And Distributors
27:40 - Incentivizing Distributors To Sell Effectively.
30:09 - Challenges In Navigating The Dynamic Of Private Label Vs. Branded Products.
36:32 - Rich’s Insight On Tackling Manufacturer-Distributor Tensions
40:03 - The Pros, Cons, And The Significant Impact Of Group Purchasing Organizations
43:28 - The Constraints Of Distribution Capacity And The Potential For Innovation
47:53 - Warehouse Expansion and Operational Strategies Used By Key Industry Players
49:58 - Assessing the impact of the Food Safety Modernization Act 204 On Distributors and Operators
54:20 - Wrapping Up
I’d like to introduce you to Datum Advisors, a new offering from Datum FS. Our team is composed of seasoned Food Supply Chain Executives from every sector. We stand ready to offer valuable advisory services for your company.