Note: this message was not AI generated. Not that there’s anything wrong with that!
August is upon us and if your office is anything like mine, it’s a mix of quiet but busy as we back up our colleagues on vacation or take advantage of slower days to dig in and get a few projects wrapped up. It’s one of my favorite times of the year, but I’ll inevitably get antsy to get back to the pace we thrive on as salespeople!
A few weeks ago, I hosted your MAFSI regional Board members in beautiful Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada for the annual Summer Board Meeting. We had three productive days and unpacked the feedback many of you provided prior to the meeting. If you were able to send in a response to the steering poll, thank you. Your candor and compliments were appreciated and over the course of the meeting your Board leaned into discussions about what you need from MAFSI, how you see the Association, and how we can continue to serve our members.
We heard when you challenged the cost of membership, and your need to see the value membership provides. The Board debated heartily in support of their respective regions on ways to bring the membership together more and to ensure all members feel supported by the Association. Plans to simplify processes and to reduce the a la carte fee system for services is on the agenda.
I’m excited to share an update about the M-Chef collective. We admit, it’s been a slow launch, but it’s now live, and if you’re part of the culinary team at your rep firm, please make sure you go to the Member Compass on the MAFSI website to update your profile and register through Food Service Academy https://www.mafsi.org/foodservice-academy. The great news is that the tiers of M-Chef – one through three stars, will now be included with your annual membership. We’re planning to host the first virtual M-Chef Collective meeting in October and again before the end of the year. The intention behind the collective is to celebrate the unique talents of our rep chefs, to amplify the value they bring to rep firms and how important they are in the sales process. I’d like to make sure the momentum of their collective is well underway before many of them gather in Palm Springs in January.
A major strength of MAFSI is networking opportunities and of course, the conference. Registration is open and the conference committee is dedicated to populating a schedule according to our theme and the pillars of MAFSI’s promise to you – We will Advocate, Educate, Collaborate and Elevate in January 2026. We have speakers and breakouts with a focus on true and tangible business tools, and speakers who plan to inspire you with more aspirational elements. There will be something for everyone.
How we work and the tools available to us are changing rapidly. Although MAFSI has put tremendous effort into developing tools to lift the members and the rep function in general, the Board is unified in acknowledging that we will need to make some tough decisions around the relevancy of the products and services we have been known for and invest wisely to keep pace with the members’ needs.
We left Halifax enthusiastic about the next steps toward this goal and committed to focusing on the individual rep members and manufacturers who, together, make up the second largest rep association in North America.
I hope this message finds you well and enjoying the summer months. If you’re available to join me and NAFEM President, Steve Spittle, for our webcast tomorrow - please do! Let’s keep the conversations going.
Register Now for the NAFEM/MAFSI: Navigating the Industry Together webinar, happening tomorrow, August 13, from 12–1 p.m. (EDT).
Stephanie Perry
MAFSI President
Permul Ltd.
