FEATURE ARTICLE: The Five Families of Foodservice: Driving Excellence Through Partnership and Collaboration - Aug/Sept 2024

The "Five Families" of the foodservice industry — CFESA, FCSI, FEDA, MAFSI, and NAFEM — play a crucial role in supporting and advancing the commercial foodservice equipment and supplies sector. While each organization serves a unique part of the industry, they are tied together by their shared commitment to excellence, education, and advocacy.

The Five Families, convened in 2015, constantly strive to improve the practices and processes of the industry and, in doing so – improve the people within it. They each have unique challenges and opportunities, but they have much more in common. They're all working hard for their businesses, their customers, colleagues, families, and this great industry. 

"As individual organizations, we each bring unique strengths to the table, but when we work together, we truly make an impact. By combining our efforts in education, certification, and advocacy, we are supporting our members and driving the innovation and growth that will define the future of foodservice," said Neil Inverso, Board President of MAFSI. 

Pictured L to R: Nick Cribb, CFESA President; Rick Packer, NAFEM Ex-Officio; Christine Guyott, FCSI NAD Chair; Neil Inverso, MAFSI President and Dave Stafford, FEDA Chairman.

Collaborating for Growth 

The "Five Families" organizations do not operate in a vacuum. As Nick Cribb, President of the CFESA Board of Directors, stated, "The strength of the foodservice industry is each individual association. The strength of each association is the foodservice industry."

For instance, NAFEM's CFSP designation is one of the most recognized certifications in the industry. In exciting news, MAFSI members, other Five Families' members and other foodservice professionals can now use credits earned through MAFSI's Foodservice 101 and Pantry of Knowledge (POK) courses to meet the initial 15-credit industry requirement to start the certification process while enhancing their overall qualifications.

Additionally, NAFEM leaders like current president, Steve Spittle, Middleby Corporation, past president, Rich Packer, American Metalcraft, Inc., who served two great years, and Deirdre Flynn, Executive Vice President, are furthering their initiative to end food insecurity with Feeding America®. NAFEM members have donated 34.14 million meals to their neighbors fighting hunger in just four years through their signature social purpose program. 

And of course, we’re all looking forward to our industry’s greatest tradeshow, The NAFEM Show ’25. Headed this time to Atlanta, hometown of MAFSI’s headquarters and our staff. 

The same can be said for the great folks at FCSI. According to MAFSI President, Neil Inverso and Executive Director, Alison Cody, their conference last April was terrific and highlighted the great creative forces moving the consultant community to new heights. FCSI NAD Chair, Christine Guyott, Rippe Associates, FCSI, RDN is a true leader in every way, along with FCSI NAD Past Chair Eric Norman, FCSI, recently elected as FCSI Worldwide President, and Executive Director Wade Koehler, CAE.

In a few weeks, Neil and Alison are honored to be attending FEDA’s conference in Colorado Springs, CO. They look forward to learning about all the great initiatives led by FEDA Chairman Dave Stafford, Stafford-Smith, Inc., and Tracy Mulqueen, President and CEO.

Rounding out the fall, they’ll be in Savannah, GA, in October for CFESA’s conference and look forward to being amazed by their education programs and member engagement, which are a direct result of the great leadership of Nick Cribb, CFESA President and President of Sam Service Inc., and Executive Director Heather Price.

And finally, they are excited to announce that MAFSI, NAFEM, CFESA, and FCSI are building the “Why Foodservice Rocks" website. 

The reasoning being, many young individuals need a more comprehensive understanding of foodservice careers, typically thinking only of professional chefs or fast-food workers. While these roles are vital, there is an opportunity to generate more interest by showcasing sales, marketing, design, engineering, technical service opportunities, and more.

The “Why Foodservice Rocks” website allows visitors to explore their areas of interest and access detailed information about various careers in the foodservice industry. For example, if visitors choose Engineering, they'll discover that a foodservice manufacturer is the best fit for them. Look for more information on “Why Foodservice Rocks” towards the end of this year. 

Together, the Five Families form the backbone of the foodservice equipment, supplies, tabletop and furniture sector, collaborating to address shared challenges and advancing industry standards. Through education, advocacy, and a shared commitment to excellence, the Five Families ensure the continued success of the foodservice equipment and supplies industry.

The Five Families of Foodservice 

CFESA – Commercial Food Equipment Service Association
CFESA focuses on the service side of the industry, ensuring food equipment repair professionals are highly trained and certified. With a rigorous testing program that awards seals of excellence in various technical areas, CFESA guarantees the highest quality service.

FCSI – Foodservice Consultants Society International
FCSI is a global organization of design and management consultants dedicated to improving the foodservice and hospitality industries. The FCSI Educational Foundation offers programs and grants that support research and conference attendance, ensuring a steady stream of highly qualified consultants for the future.

FEDA – Foodservice Equipment Distributors Association
FEDA represents the distributors and dealers who connect manufacturers with end-users, advocating for policy changes that impact the economy, trade, and labor. FEDA is essential in facilitating the flow of foodservice equipment and supplies from manufacturer to operator.

MAFSI– Manufacturers' Agents Association for the Foodservice Industry
Representing over 2,800 professionals across North America, MAFSI is vital in connecting manufacturers with end-users like restaurants, schools, and hospitals. Through education, market forecasting, and online training programs, MAFSI ensures our members have the tools they need to succeed in a highly competitive market. 

NAFEM – North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers
NAFEM supports the manufacturers who create the equipment that powers the foodservice industry. Known for its Certified Foodservice Professional (CFSP) program, NAFEM promotes high knowledge and quality standards and leads industry advocacy efforts within the industry.