The Foodservice Suppliers Association Australia represents manufacturers of food and grocery, commercial equipment, distribution, tableware and services. With membership totalling around 350, the FSAA operates networking events, industry education, and training and professional development services. It produces regular communications and industry insight publications and has established strategic alliances with complementary industry bodies.
FSAA is back in full swing
This past year has certainly been a trying one for everyone in the world and those in the foodservice industry have been especially hard hit. Here in Australia we are living in a world of uncertainty, fluctuating border restrictions and genuine concern for all people involved in the supply chain.
The tourism and hospitality channels have been particularly affected by loss of business, not to mention the impact of limited air travel. Recent news from Singapore states air traffic movements are down ~98% compared to pre-COVID-19 figures. There are also comments that it could take until 2025 to return to the pre-COVID numbers.
Other impacts include the “way we do business” such as redesigning internal policies and procedures that have been part of our business life for many years. Things such as the explosion of Zoom meetings will change forever the way we communicate both internally and externally, and that’s just one example!
About six years ago, after returning from my first International Food Manufacturers’ Association (IFMA) conference in the US, we recognised that suppliers to the foodservice industry would need to have a very close look at their e-commerce position and develop that area as a priority. This is even more of an imperative in today’s environment. Being digitally prepared is no longer a wish but an imperative!
“Recent moves from major retail grocery players into our foodservice market will clearly impact the structure of our industry – to what degree remains to be seen. This has been discussed over many years now and is likely to drive changes which will impact the entire industry.”
The FSAA is back in full swing with our various networking activities, education and training initiatives and professional development via our mentoring program, business management scholarship and emerging leaders think tank. Our Foodservice Today & Tomorrow Conference and National Awards of Excellence again promise to be the “must attend” events of the year – we would love to see you there.
If you have any questions - on any topic - please feel free to contact us at www.fsaa.org.au. Vince Crawley – CEO
