FLC Operator Guidebooks

IFMA’s five Foodservice Leadership Councils (FLCs) have spent 2023 developing tools to enable better collaboration across their segment’s ecosystem. The work provides perspective and tools for how to work within each segment—providing clear direction and guidance on how best to partner and provide support.

The FLCs represent foodservice at Elementary & Secondary Schools, Colleges & Universities, Business & Industry, Healthcare, and Restaurants, providing visibility into the consumer at all different life stages and as part of their food journey.

As a benefit of membership, IFMA members can access the guidebooks for free by signing into the website. Non-members may purchase each guidebook for $3,950. If you’re an individual at a member company, but you don’t have a member login contact your company administrator to get your member account. For more information on IFMA membership, please contact Membership@ifmaworld.com

In 2021, the C&U Foodservice Leadership Council (FLC) created a custom Operator Collaboration Model (OCM) tailored to the C&U segment. This Collaboration Handbook builds on the (OCM) framework and provides a review of the model and tactical examples of how a supplier can elevate and build their relationship with C&U operators.

View C&U Handbook

This guidebook is a comprehensive overview of the Elementary & Secondary Foodservice segment (E&S). It is designed to provide a working understanding of the market this segment serves, how they purchase, the government regulations and funding that are critical for suppliers to understand, and an overall process and guide for doing business with the segment.

View E&S Guidebook

This playbook provides a detailed overview of how the Business & Industry Foodservice segment views and manages the critical area of sustainability. It summarizes B&I operator’s common sustainability needs and goals across the key dimensions of how this segment views sustainability. They’re sustainability goals.

View B&I Playbook

This Best Practice Guide was built based on the input from IFMA's Heathcare Foodservice Leadership Council (FLC). It provides operators and suppliers with a fundamental overview of bowls program, and best practices for collaborating on innovation initiatives both with operators and suppliers, and amongst suppliers for cross-functional alignement around commong goals. 

View HealthcareGuide

In early 2023 the Restaurant Foodservice Leadership Council (FLC) decided to tap into their group's collective experience and build a Margin Optimization Model to identify the top areas of cost-management and long-term margin enhancement. The goal was to develop a framework where they could focus, in collaboration with their suppliers, to improve margins and strengthen their overall business models. 

ViewRestaurantOptimization

Not a member and want to purchase the guidebooks? Contact programs@ifmaworld.com for information on how to purchase and access the 5 guidebooks.