IFMA The Food Away from Home Association is the premier association representing all facets of food-away-from-home

The food-away-from-home industry is essential to our teams, customers, communities, and the economy. IFMA exists to lead the industry and facilitate opportunities to meet common challenges; share ideas, innovations, and advancements; and contribute to continued success.

IFMA is the industry hub for facilitating relationships and illuminating business opportunities. We prepare the way for you to form invaluable connections, both with industry partners and customers, as you collaborate to address current issues and relevant topics. Be empowered to lead and build your industry presence as you gain a fresh perspective that will shape the future of your business and the food-away-from-home industry.

 

Our Membership Structure - Creating a Powerful Industry-Wide Ecosystem

Bringing all stakeholders together is essential for driving meaningful action within the industry. IFMA The Food Away from Home Association is dedicated to fostering an inclusive platform that amplifies and integrates all voices crucial to advancing the industry as a unified ecosystem. Our four distinct membership categories are designed to address specific industry needs:

  • Manufacturers: This category includes sectors such as Food & Beverage production, Equipment manufacturing, Packaging, Food Safety & Cleaning, and Ingredients supply.
  • Supply Chain: This category covers Broadline and Specialty Distributors, Cash & Carry services, and Redistributors, ensuring the efficient movement of goods across the industry.
  • Operators: This category encompasses Commercial Restaurants, Non-Commercial entities (such as K-12 schools, Colleges/Universities, Healthcare facilities, Business & Industry dining services), Convenience Store Foodservice, Grocery Foodservice, and Foodservice Management Companies.
  • Service Providers: This category includes businesses involved in Commerce Facilitation, Transaction Facilitation, Financial Services, Sales & Marketing Services, and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) that support the industry's infrastructure.

Manufacturers

Service Providers

Supply Chain

Operators

Beginning in 2024, IFMA moved from two membership categories to four—creating and developing an updated membership strategy that is inclusive and brings the voices of the entire industry together.

Top Reasons to Consider Joining
IFMA The Food Away from Home Association

Enjoy opportunities to meet one-on-one with top decision makers.

  • Share powerful ideas and gain insightful industry knowledge
  • Meet with the right channel partners and leaders
  • Grow your network and build strategic partnerships throughout the supply chain

Get a wealth of fresh industry research in the most affordable way possible.

  • Know what’s happening in the industry and how you should respond
  • Take action with market-ready ideas
  • Gain a new perspective for your business

Establish systems and parameters that benefit everyone.

  • Align with industry partners to set new standards and guidelines
  • Discover tried and true strategies
  • Collaborate to uncover more profitable solutions

Access industry training and education in-person and on-demand.

  • Learn and apply industry best practices in collaborative settings
  • Attend in-person trainings on industry basics and beyond
  • Join educational webinars on industry hot-button topics
  • Take virtual on-demand courses through our Education Center

IFMA Centers of Excellence

The Centers of Excellence are our method of categorizing our programs, events, initiatives, and other member benefits. In addition to being a change agent and leading the creation of new industry best practices, we evaluate and enhance our Centers of Excellence to ensure that our ongoing programs are adequately meeting our purpose to Empower, Nurture, and Connect the industry.

Centered Circles
Empower
 
Insights &
Best Practices
Nurture
 
Training &
Education
Connect
 
Networking &
Collaboration