The Leading Foodservice Focused Sales & Marketing Experience

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July 14-16, 2024

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Marriott City Center, Charlotte, NC

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Overview

Cutting-Edge Approaches to the Foodservice Industry

IFDA SMart examines the key trends and challenges facing sales and marketing professionals in today’s dynamic landscape.

Attendees will address the importance of a growth mindset and prioritizing customer needs while leveraging data and adopting agile approaches to navigate an increasingly competitive market.

About SMart

Future Trends and Innovations

Dive into future trends shaping the sales and marketing landscape and discuss their potential impact on industry practices.

Customer-Centric Approach

Highlights the significance of customer-centricity in sales and marketing. Deeply explore strategies to understand customer needs, personalized experiences, and relationship impact that drive sustainable growth.

Agility and Adaptability

Emphasizes the need for agility in a rapidly changing market landscape. Explore how agile methodologies and nimble approaches can enable quick adaptation to market shifts and capitalize on emerging opportunities.

Bridging the Gap

Recognize the current challenges with talent in the foodservice industry and look for new ways to address the generational gaps, helping to attract and retain talent. 

2024 Speakers

Bucky Dodd
Bucky Dodd

CEO, Principal Consultant, ClearKinetic

Jeff Bloomfield Headshot
Jeff Bloomfield

Author of Neuro Selling Mastering the Customer Conversation Using the Surprising Science of Decision Making

Hannah Ubl Headshot
Hannah Ubl

Co-Founder of Good Company, and Public Speaker

Matthew Luhn Headshot
Matthew Luhn

Top Storytelling and Creativity Speaker, Disney/Pixar Veteran

Agenda At Glance

Consumer Restaurant Trends

Join us for an insightful session led by a representative from Yelp, where we delve into the latest consumer and restaurant trends shaping the food and beverage industry. In this dynamic discussion, we’ll explore how distributors are utilizing data to effectively manage their businesses, catering to evolving consumer preferences and staying ahead of the curve. Discover how restaurants are leveraging platforms like Yelp to glean valuable insights and enhance their operations.

AI for Foodservice

This powerful and interactive session will delve into the transformative power of artificial intelligence in the realm of sales and marketing within the food distribution industry. Throughout this session, we’ll explore the current landscape of AI technologies, discuss practical applications, and hear from industry leaders about their experiences with AI innovation.

NeuroSelling® – The Science Behind World Class Communicators

Impactful and influential communicators have one thing in common – they deliver the right information, the right way, in the right order. This session teaches the science behind trust, change resistance, and how to create urgency that turns information into motivation and ultimately application!

Communicating Across Generations

Renowned generational expert Hannah Ubl as we explore the intricacies of communicating across different age groups in the workplace. In today’s diverse work environment, it’s essential to understand and appreciate the perspectives of all generations. This session will debunk common myths surrounding generational differences, offering valuable insights into how each generation contributes to the workplace tapestry. Walk away with practical strategies to navigate and leverage the changing generational landscape, fostering collaboration, understanding, and synergy across all age groups.

Storytelling for Business

Storytelling is the #1 business skill necessary to connect, motivate, and lead people in today’s world. Stories compel us to engage in experiences, learn lessons, and define our values and ourselves within our organization. Matthew Luhn, a 20-year Pixar story veteran, brings his experience creating and developing 10 blockbuster films at Pixar, and provides practical strategies that teach and inspire people and teams to connect more effectively with audiences on an emotional level. Matthew uses the power of storytelling to bridge the gap between business and heart, driving your story toward one unforgettable selling point.

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Learning Exchanges

IFDA Learning Exchanges is the new and improved version of our long-running IFDA Share Groups.

This Learning Exchange meeting, held in conjunction with SMart, will hold small, peer-driven discussions on the issues important to your business and bring a valuable chance to discuss shared experiences, common challenges, and forward-looking solutions.

Please note: Learning Exchanges are for IFDA distributor members only, and space is limited. Pre-registration is required to attend.

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