Listen in and take a look to our inaugural Special Edition Food CEO Video Podcast “UnPHILtered.”UnPHILtered was taped onsite at our COEX 2025 event in Kansas City on March 2, 2025. 

 

Kelly Crouse, SVP & Chief Commercial Officer at C.H. Guenther & Son and long-time member of the association board of directors, talks with Phil about his 37-year career as he nears his planned retirement. He shares some words of wisdom to those looking to enter the food-away-from-home industry.

Find Food CEO Xchange on these platforms: Spotify, Apple Podcasts , and SoundCloud

 

 

YOUR HOST: Phil Kafarakis - President & CEO of IFMA The Food Away from Home Association

Phil is a 30-year insider of the food industry, operating at the crossroads of the global food ecosystem. He has been deeply involved in both the commercial and non-profit sides of the industry. Phil began his career on the manufacturing side of the business, successfully managing businesses at Kraft, Jones Dairy Farm, Cargill, and McCormick & Co. Just prior to joining IFMA in 2021, he served as President of the Specialty Food Association (SFA), representing more than 4,000 small and emerging food entrepreneurs. Before SFA, Phil served as the Chief Innovation and Member Advancement Officer at the National Restaurant Association.