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In effort to help IFDA members and the foodservice distribution industry at large navigate the business landscape, we have compiled a list of external information sources covering a range of topics relevant to today's industry professionals.

For requests to include additional sources, email IFDA's Director of Research & Innovation Annika Stensson. Please see the sponsored content guidelines for more information.

IFDA Allied Member Content

The Evolution of Ordering Systems & DSRs within Foodservice Distribution (Pepper, 2023)

Entry-Level Driver Training: Significant Changes on the Horizon (J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc., 2022)

Sustainable Warehouse Slotting (Optricity, 2021)

Warehouse Slotting: Canadian Case Study (Optricity 2021)

Transforming the Traditional: How Digital Promotions Revitalized a Distributor's Business (Pepper 2022)

E-Commerce Platform Investment Pays for Itself (Pepper 2022)

The 3G Sunset Dilemma (PLM Fleet LLC)

Perfecting the Pick Path to Drive Warehouse Efficiency (ProCat Distribution Technologies, 2021)

The Cost of Doing Nothing is Not Nothing (ProCat Distribution Technologies, 2021)

Closed Loop Scanning Systems Whitepaper (ProCat Distribution Technologies, 2021)

Incentive Planning for Distribution Centers (ProCat Distribution Technologies, 2021)

Government Sources

Bureau of Labor Statistics: Data on employment, wages, wholesale food and commodity price inflation, menu and grocery store price inflation, and more.

Consumer Price Index (BLS, released second Wednesday of each month)

Monthly employment data (BLS, released first Friday of each month)

Producer Price Index (BLS, released second Tuesday of each month)

U.S. Census Bureau: Data on retail and eating-and-drinking place sales, and more.

U.S. Census Bureau: Data on US population composition and demographics.

U.S. Department of Agriculture: Food price outlook.

U.S. Energy Information Administration : Data on energy trends and prices.

Miscellaneous Sources

Commercial vehicle industry data (ACT Research blog)

White paper: Distribution eCommerce and Marketplaces (Applico Q4 2021)

Consumer Confidence Index (The Conference Board, released last Tuesday of each month)

Resources on food safety and traceability (GS1 US Foodservice)

Restaurant Performance Index (National Restaurant Association, released on the last business day of each month)

Industry Trade Associations


American Transportation Research Institute Engaged in critical transportation studies and operational tests, including traffic congestion, hours-of-service, automonous vehicle technology, etc.	American Trucking Associations Produces reports, trends and statistics on the trucking industry.	International Foodservice Manufacturers Association Provides research and insight on the foodservice supply chain and manufacturing industry.	National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors The NAW Institute for Distribution Excellence sponsors and disseminates research into strategic management issues covering the merchant wholesale distribution industry.

National Restaurant Association Provides restaurant industry and consumer research on a number of topics, including menu, technology and economic trends.	NextGen Trucking A non-profit association that promotes trucking as a positive career field and creates programs that encourage CDL and Diesel Technician training.	Warehousing Education & Research Council A professional organization focused on logistics management and its role in the supply chain.	Women in Trucking A non-profit organization focusing on gender diversity in the transportation industry.

Industry Research and Consulting Firms


ITR Economics Economic intelligence that helps you make business decisions. Produces quarterly economic reports for IFDA.	Datassential Market research for the food industry, including trends and menu analysis.	Deloitte Research and insights into various industry verticals, including foodservice, wholesale and distribution.	Mintel Market research on the foodservice industry, including trends and menu analysis.

NPD Group Market intelligence research on foodservice industry, including distribution, restaurants, retail and food consumption.	Oxford Economics Focus on forecasting and quantitative analysis in a variety of industries.	Pentallect Consulting firm with industry insight.	Technomic Consumer and industry research on foodservice, including distribution, restaurants, convenience stores, retail. IFDA's GPO study, and white papers on off-premise packaging trends and operators' e-sourcing practices are produced by Technomic.

These links are provided for informational purposes only and do not indicate IFDA's endorsement, or approval of specific products, services, or opinions. IFDA is not responsible for the accuracy, legality, or content of external sites.

Allied sponsored content guidelines

Materials must be free, open-source links on your company website (i.e. no login or forms required to access the resource). Alternatively, we can accept PDF documents to host on our website with the option to put them behind the member wall if you want them available only to IFDA distributor members.
Materials must provide information/education/solutions to common distributor challenges and opportunities.
White papers and case studies are preferred.
Marketing pieces, sales sheets and company news releases are not accepted.
Materials may not include product/service pricing or discounts.
Submitting company must own the content.
Materials must contain a publishing date; only items published in 2021, 2022 or 2023 are accepted.