A Note From The Chairman
Spring is in the air! And that means the end of our Fiscal Year 2021 is approaching quickly on April 30th. With all the turmoil and uncertainty from COVID-19, I think we can all agree that we are happy to wrap up FY2021 and move forward to FY2022. I am glad to report that the staff and Board of Directors is doing just that – looking forward and developing plans for FY2022.
We just finished our Annual Operating Plan meetings on March 25th. As with all well-run organizations, planning is a key exercise to complete. With Frosty Acres’ fundamental mission of “Creating a Better Everyday Experience for our Members and Partners,” plans have been made to support that mission. Some new key initiatives for FY2022 will be:
- Focused Collective Purchasing Initiatives/Opportunities
- Enhanced and expanded Virtual Learning Academy
- Improved Member Quarterly Review Opportunities
- New Rollout of FCAT and other Business Intelligent Tools
Of course, these initiatives are in addition to all the services that make up the fundamentals of our cooperative – purchasing leverage, branding/marketing support, training, earned income programs, etc.
On the behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to send my best to you and your businesses. I hope your businesses are seeing growth once again as we wrap year-over-year from the effects of COVID-19. While attending our Annual Operating Plan meeting, I discussed the recent uptick in volume that my company has experienced. Other board members reported they are also experiencing volume increases as well. As COVID-19 impacts lessen, vaccines become more prevalent, and weather improves, our future is bright. Americans are tired of being cooped up and want to get out and enjoy foodservice. Our cooperative staff is ready and willing to support your business in capturing any growth this comeback may bring.
Bob Mackie
Chairman, Frosty Acres Brands
President, IWC Food Service
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An Update From Bill Lewis
We are closing our books for our FY 21, and on May 1, 2021 we will begin another fiscal year. I will not be reminding you of the events and challenges of this last year; surely they are forever embedded in your memories. What I do want to share with all of you is our theme for FY 22 and its meaning to you, to us, and to the industry we serve and love.
Our theme is “Frosty Acres Strong”. As simple as the phrase is, it stands for strength, resilience, commitment, and stability. I think of you when I use these words. Our cooperative, comprised of all of you, has endured and persevered. You, me, we are strong!
We as your Frosty Acres Staff are:
Strong in our Commitment to your growth, to the cooperative, and to our industry.
Strong in our Connection to our Frosty Acres Family, to our Supplier Partners, and to our communities.
Strong in our Convictions to help our Members, help our Supplier Partners, and to help each other.
We are moving into this new fiscal year with immense anticipation and excitement as to what is ahead. We have great news to share with you in this newsletter from our staff. All of our projects and initiatives that we are working on reinforce our Mission Statement: To create a better everyday experience for our members and supplier partners.
You, me, we are Frosty Acres Strong!
Bill
Bill Lewis
President and CEO
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GS1 Initiative – Attribytes Data
Frosty Acres Brands (Frosty) is a member of the GS1 US Foodservice Initiative and has been working diligently to meet GS1 standards and improve data quality. In order to connect to the Global Data Synchronization Network (GDSN), Frosty has partnered with Syndigo, formerly known as Attribytes. Syndigo’s focus is to deliver “comprehensive content management and syndication solutions to the foodservice industry”.
Since the start of Frosty’s relationship with Syndigo, and the addition of Mallory Montgomery to the Frosty Acres GS1 project team, we have seen a steady increase in data accuracy and product information. Since May of 2020, our compliance percentage for marketing, nutrition, allergen, product images, and other core data elements has increased steadily.
Every day we are synchronizing new items that will provide enriched product attributes. These new and existing items can be made available to the Frosty Membership via a daily flat file on the Frosty FTP server. In addition to the data elements mentioned, this flat file contains URL links to easily access sales sheets and product images. Please contact Mallory at MMontgomery@frostyacres.com if you would like to retrieve this flat file from the FTP process.
Over the past six months we have made including data and product images for Frosty Acres brand items in the Syndigo system a top priority. We are currently at 89% complete with this process and should reach 100% over the next ninety days.
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Scott MacKaben, Sr. Vice President, Procurement |
Frosty Acres concluded another successful virtual conference! Several suppliers commented that this was the best and most organized conference in the industry.
“Frosty provided enough time for Sugar Foods to effectively meet with members, discuss opportunities, connect and listen to members. The schedule was perfect, and very easy to navigate the virtual booth and zoom links. I think Frosty, designed, and developed a conference that had everything members and suppliers could ask for, well thought out… well done. Definitely one of the best virtual events that I have participated in.” – Michael Walsh, Sugar Foods
"The FAB winter conference was simply a pleasure. The member engagement was excellent, there is enthusiasm in the air and kudos to the entire FAB team putting a best-in-class virtual platform to bring us together. The ease in which we were able to join our meetings and bring our individual Regional Managers across the country allows meaningful and actionable follow-up to help move the ball forward. While we are all looking forward to getting together in person, the FAB virtual conferences offer an excellent platform and I highly recommend them for the manufacturer community." - Ryan Ewald, Holten
We are very proud of the show we put on and hopefully this translates to greater partnerships and more sales. We are looking forward to seeing you at our live event at the end of August in St. Louis.
In June, we will be hosting our first live event with our Supplier Advisory Committee. We are inviting 15 of our top level MarketShare partners to come to Alpharetta to discuss several topics happening in the industry. We will focus on key initiatives like re-opening after the pandemic, supply chain obstacles, partnering in local markets, and what does a best-in-class local marketing program look like. We will be sharing our findings with the membership at our annual Stockholders’ meeting in June and in other communications to the membership. This is going to be a great event and we are very excited to host. Stay tuned for more great programs and initiatives coming from the Frosty Acres Procurement Department.
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Josh Pike, Vice President, Member Services |
I would like to thank our Members for participating in our FY21 3rd Quarter Reviews. Quarterly reviews focus on financials, opportunities, and cooperative happenings on a consistent schedule.
“I love the idea of quarterly reviews with Josh and Christy. It keeps our opportunities fresh and moving forward. It allows us to address any glaring issues before it becomes too late to correct them. Having the data and access to the team to ask questions in a structured manner is extremely helpful. Quarterly is the PERFECT time frame. The length of the review is perfect as well. It gives us the time to hit all the key pieces of information but not get bogged down in the minutia.”
- Frank Hoffman, Schenck Foods
“I find the Quarterly Review extremely helpful; it forces me to stop and take a look at Vendor Opportunities with Frosty along with Brand Conversion Opportunities and to really examine the Member Return to ask where we can improve.”
- Brenda Thompson, Atlantic Food Distributors
“FAB Quarterly Reviews are an integral part of our business here at Stanz. An extra set of eyes on how we are trending and suggestions on areas that potentially benefit our company, our associates, and our customers. We look forward to the reviews and they are a regular part of our marketing and purchasing planning.”
- Todd Stearns, Stanz Foodservice
“The quarterly review is a good touch point during the year to see where I am at and what we need to work on going forward. The information helps me validate against the data I am collecting and confirm we are going in the right direction. Great addition to go with great service from Frosty Acres.”
- Brian Kostelecky, McDonald Wholesale
FY21 4th Quarter Reviews will take place July 8th - 13th and 26th - 28th.
School for Eagles continues with two additional courses over the next several months:
- Sales Leadership School
- Adding Value to the Sales Process
Lastly, I’m excited to announce an addition to the Member Services Manager position, Briana Whitfield! Briana’s excellent customer service experience is a perfect fit for servicing our members.
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Stephanie Nicholson, Vice President, Member Development |
Wow – what an exciting time to join Frosty Acres Brands! I am so excited to be on the team to help deliver our amazing message for potential new members. In my role, I will help bring members that align with what we know will be the best addition to our cooperative.
At Frosty Acres, we know that what we have to offer is completely different than any other buying group and a competitive advantage. Our offering - whether it be our FAB Focus DSR incentive program, our NextLogistix program to help manage freight costs, or our School for Eagles program that helps develop our member associates - is what I will be taking out in the field, highlighting our key differences.
Additionally, we know our three unique qualities are being consultative, having a family bond, and a being “true cooperative.” First, in being consultative, we want to provide solutions regardless of the size of our members’ business. We want to deliver something more than just a financial return. With anyone our members engage with at FAB, we do our job with heart and desire to help our members grow. Second, our family bond is one that is so important to why we do what we do. We build purposeful, caring, invested relationships. Third, we are a true cooperative because we are fully member owned, transparent, provide proportionate member dividend, and have participative equality. We know that these three unique qualities are something that makes us “Different by Design.”
When we think about members that would make perfect additions to our cooperative, we look for a few key attributes:
- A partnering spirit to maintain our family culture
- Looking for growth in food service
- Geographically they make a good fit
With our value proposition, our family of members, and the team at Frosty Acres Brands, we are relevant, have an amazing story, and are on a path for growth. Thank you for all the warm welcomes and acceptance into your family.
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Phillip Lamb, Director of Logistics |
FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Share Group for Frosty Acres Brands Members
I am looking to form a collaborative share group with interested members from across the cooperative. The intent for this group will be to help all our members be prepared for the new proposed rule under Section 204d of the FSMA regulation, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), which will be the NEW Proposed Food Traceability Rule.
The FDA recently closed the commentary period for the proposed rule. There were many groups and individuals that made commentary on this section as the impacts financially and process wise could be high and far reaching. We are all now waiting to see what the FDA does based on all the commentary submitted.
The proposed rule could be out by September 2021 at its earliest. Once the rule is out and in its final form, there will be only 60 days from the date it is put into the federal register to become compliant.
Once we have information on how the FDA will be proceeding, I will look to engage those that are interested in being a part of this group, so we can move forward as well.
Goals:
- Educate
- Engage
- Understand the business Regulatory Impact
- Learn and understand key terms
- Develop a FSMA 204d strategy
I will also be working with Jared Piatt here at Frosty Acres to create on our website a repository area for all the information we collect regarding FSMA and the learnings from the share group that will be accessible to all the membership.
If you would be interested in joining this share group, please send your contact information to plamb@frostyacres.com.
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Jared Piatt, Sr. Director, Information Systems |
I am excited to announce that the re-write of the FCAT system is being validated now. The project has been very involved and has uncovered opportunities for improvement that we did not even know existed when we started. The outcome is that the FCAT system will be streamlined, faster, and most importantly, it will have accurate data. You will be receiving information about how to register for access as soon as the final testing is complete with the Member Experience Group.
The next large project that we are starting is a re-development of the Frosty Acres website Member Dashboard. I will be working with our Member Experience Group to determine how we can improve and add new functionality to this portal.
Lastly as a PSA, there is a security vulnerability that is getting actively exploited in Apple’s iOS software. This impacts the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. You will want to install the latest update 14.4.2 (7.3.3 for the watch) if you have not done so already.
Our goal is to be an asset to your organization. Please contact me if I can be of assistance.
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67th Annual Stockholders' Meeting |
June 29 - July 1, 2021
Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
Scottsdale, Arizona
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Summer Sales, Marketing, and Procurement Conference |
August 31 - September 1, 2021
Marriott St. Louis Grand
St. Louis, MO
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Frosty Acres 2021 Incentive Trip |
October 4-12, 2021
Rhine River - Basel to Amsterdam
Cruise the Rhine River from Basel, Switzerland to Amsterdam, Holland aboard the Amadeus Silver III!
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Winter Sales, Marketing, and Procurement Conference |
January 25-26, 2022
Caesar's Palace
Las Vegas, NV
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