Exhibiting at World Tea Expo 2025

IFMA – The Food Away from Home Association – is the leading nonprofit trade association for the food-away-from-home industry, representing manufacturers, distributors, operators, and suppliers in the U.S. and globally. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, IFMA has served as a pivotal industry convener for over 70 years, driving collaboration, innovation, and performance across the entire supply chain. Formerly known as the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association, IFMA rebranded in 2023 to reflect its broader mission supporting all facets of the dynamic away-from-home food ecosystem.

Core Business

IFMA exists to connect and advance the interests of food-away-from-home stakeholders by offering actionable insights, best practices, strategic networking, and thought leadership. The association facilitates partnerships between foodservice manufacturers, operators, and distributors while offering professional development programs and proprietary market research to its members.

Product and Service Offerings

IFMA delivers value through a structured portfolio of events, research tools, and membership services:

• Industry Events:

  • Gold & Silver Plate Awards – Celebrating excellence in foodservice operations
  • Presidents Conference – High-level executive networking and forecasting
  • COEX (Chain Operators EXchange) – Strategic collaboration between manufacturers and multi-unit operators
  • Marketing & Sales Leaders Forum – Focused sessions on trends, performance, and consumer engagement

• Research & Insights:

  • Industry Forecasts – Annual and quarterly updates on market conditions
  • Consumer Trends Studies – Tracking away-from-home dining behavior
  • Segment Landscape Reports – Analysis of commercial, non-commercial, and emerging foodservice channels
  • IFMA Scope™ – Proprietary foodservice sizing and segmentation model

• Education & Training:

  • Online webinars and interactive workshops
  • Leadership Development Programs for rising professionals
  • Guidebooks and Playbooks focused on category management and operational efficiencies

• Membership Services:

  • Cross-sector networking with 400+ companies
  • Benchmarking and best practice sharing
  • Legislative and advocacy representation
  • Sponsorship and thought leadership opportunities

Specialization and Core USP

IFMA’s strength lies in its multi-stakeholder model, bringing together the full spectrum of foodservice participants under one organizational umbrella. Key differentiators include:

• A data-rich, insights-led approach to industry leadership
• Deep operator engagement, including partnerships with over 150 national and regional chains
• Access to exclusive benchmarking data and forecasting models
• A collaborative platform where brands can co-create solutions for foodservice challenges

The association fosters transparency and standardization in areas such as category growth, distributor partnerships, and menu innovation.

Financials

As a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization, IFMA does not publish conventional financials but maintains transparency through IRS filings and annual reports. Key figures include:

• Over 400 member companies, including 85 of the top 100 foodservice manufacturers
• Event participation from more than 5,000 executives annually
• Sponsorship revenues accounting for ~40% of operating budget
• Annual membership retention rate of 93% as of 2024

Shipment and Export Records

As a trade association, IFMA does not ship physical products. However, it facilitates the exchange of operational, market, and educational resources across:

• United States (core focus)
• Select international partners through knowledge-sharing initiatives and global affiliate forums

All reports and research are digitally distributed to members and partners through the IFMA portal.

Target Market

IFMA serves a broad membership base within the foodservice ecosystem:

• Food manufacturers (ingredient producers, CPG brands, frozen/refrigerated food suppliers)
• Distributors (broadline, specialty, national and regional)
• Operators (restaurant chains, K-12 foodservice, colleges, healthcare institutions)
• Allied suppliers (packaging, marketing, logistics, equipment)

The association’s programming is designed for C-level executives, category managers, sales and marketing leaders, and strategy professionals.

Capabilities

• Year-round calendar of in-person and virtual events
• Customizable sponsorship packages and member branding exposure
• Dedicated insights and research division
• Technology-enabled member portal for collaboration and resource sharing
• Real-time updates on legislation, compliance, and policy issues

IFMA also supports diversity and inclusion initiatives, sustainability advocacy, and workforce development strategies within the foodservice space.

Certifications and Compliance

• Recognized by ANSI and USDA for research alignment and industry standards support
• Compliant with U.S. federal nonprofit disclosure and lobbying regulations
• All data handling aligns with GDPR and CCPA data privacy protocols

The association partners with accredited research and policy firms to maintain accuracy and objectivity in all reports.

Customer Testimonials

“IFMA is the heartbeat of the foodservice industry. Their insights and events help us anticipate changes and align our strategy.” – SVP of Marketing, Top 10 Food Manufacturer

“No other organization offers this depth of research and operator access. It’s essential for our national accounts team.” – Director of Foodservice Sales, Packaging Supplier

Major Achievements

• Host of the industry’s most prestigious recognition event – the Gold & Silver Plate Awards
• Developer of IFMA Scope™, the gold standard for sizing the $1.3 trillion food-away-from-home market
• Created Education Foundation for Foodservice Leadership, supporting future leaders through scholarships and training
• Rebranded in 2023 to reflect expanded commitment beyond manufacturing to the entire away-from-home value chain