Registration is continuing for the 66th Annual Food Shippers of America Conference to be held February 28 - March 2, 2021 at the JW Marriott in Palm Desert, California

We have completed the voucher invitation release schedule for all attendee types. If you have not attended the event in the past and would like to receive a voucher invite please complete the information by clicking here. 

Please note that attendance will initially be limited (anticipating 800-900 attendees) due to State of California COVID-19 related requirements, and each category of attendee will be proportionally capped. As we get closer to the actual conference date, and if the State relaxes its COVID-19 restrictions, we will add additional registration openings for each attendee type.

Please contact Paul Newbourne, Executive Director, if you have any questions at ExecutiveDirector@FoodShippersofAmerica.org or 847-302-1496.

2021 Conference Co-Chairs Peter Andrews, Schreiber Foods and Ricky Stover, C.R. England, along with the Food Shippers of America Officers, Board Members and Advisors, are pleased to present the 66th Annual Food Shippers of America's Conference Agenda as of February 28 - March 2, 2021 at the JW Marriott Resort in Palm Desert, California. (subject to updates and changes).

Food Shippers of America has implemented the following change to its membership dues structure effective July 1, 2020.

Membership in the Food Shippers of America trade association is limited to individuals engaged in the business of shipping or receiving food and related productions in the Food and Beverage industry where an individual is someone who conducts business on behalf of a company who has, or maintains, physical ownership of these products within the supply chain.

The 2021 John J. Murphy Scholarship program is again available for a child or dependent of a Supply Chain Logistics department employee of a Food Shippers of America member company or individual member whose membership has been paid for in full. 

Total of $22,500 will be awarded.

Scholarship applications and references must be received by December 15, 2021.

Our Winter 2020 issue of Food Shippers of America magazine is also available in digital format. This issue features articles from industry leaders on topics ranging from the changes an ongoing global pandemic is having on the food and beverage supply chain, including warehouse capacity, e-commerce and order fulfillment, and how driver capacity and employment continues to be impacted. In additional FreightWaves analyst Kevin Hill will give us insight into the Spot Rate Market. Please click here for immediate access. 

Previous issues of Food Shippers of America may be found in our association website archives, or by clicking here.

Food Shippers of America is looking for FSA Members to profile in upcoming issues of the bi-annual Food Shippers of America magazine.

Tell us what your New Normal looks like. Perhaps how your company jump-started its own recovery in the wake of the pandemic or the best practices your team has developed to ensure continued resilience and adaptability moving forward. We offer a unique opportunity for FSA Members to share with our readers their company's goals and successes, visions and innovations. 

If you would like your FSA Member profile to appear in our print and digital publications, please contact Food Shippers at media_advisor@foodshippersofamerica.org.

Who Is Eligible for FSA Membership?

Thank you to all our members for your continued support!

Award Recipients Are Top Environmental Performers and Leaders for Freight Supply Chain Efficiency

Several of our members and member service providers were honored with a SmartWay® Excellence Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as true industry leaders in freight supply chain environmental performance and energy efficiency.  These companies represent the top performing, environmentally responsible SmartWay Partners that move more goods more miles with lower emissions and less energy.

Progressive Grocer
Becoming the first-ever, four-time winner of EPA's SmartWay Excellence Award, Michigan-based Meijer's fleet of 250 semi-trucks and nearly 400 drivers is being recognized for its commitment to safety and their efforts to increase freight efficiency and better air quality within the supply chain.

SupplyChainDive
PepsiCo announced it is piloting an automated micro-fulfillment warehouse in Joliet, Illinois. Initial results of the new technology report 7.5x more units an hour being processed than in a traditional e-commerce fulfillment operation.

Transport Topics
Pandemic-induced disruptions and changes in consumer buying patterns have impacted food and beverage industry in several areas, while holiday shopping and seasonal changes are like to further impact this sector. How prepared is the food supply chain?

Food Business News
Stating their case for food, agriculture, retail and CPG workers, 15 food and beverage associations have sent a second letter to President Donald Trump requesting priority COVID-19 vaccine access and essential worker designation for those "responsible for ensuring the continuity of the nation's food supply."

Food Logistics
The coronavirus ushered e-commerce ahead by an estimated 3-5 years, with online grocery service up 133% YoY according to a recent Brick Meets Click survey. Yet, in the rush to add an e-commerce channel, companies often underestimate the warehousing and distribution operations needed to accommodate order fulfillment.

FreightWaves
Driven by consumer spending and a strong holiday outlook, both outbound tender volumes (contract market) and the spot rate indices continue to rise as capacity demand for food shippers will likely continue through the holiday peak.

The Transportation Intermediaries Association (TIA) is making its monthly magazine, 3PL Perspectives, available to all FSA members and suppliers. Please click here for a view of TIA's November issue. 

For more information about any articles appearing in 3PL Perspectives, contact Chris Burroughs at burroughs@tianet.org

SupplyChain247
When it comes to freight auctions where bidders can see the lowest bid, many shippers would either a) not participate for fear of driving down freight rates, or b) incorrect conclude that the lowest bid will win -- which is true only about 13% of the time.

AJOT
Setting an all-time record of 56,500 U.S. net trailer orders for October, preliminary reports show a 9% MoM and 68% YoY increase, with a large portion of those orders being replacement dry van and refrigerated vans, according to FTR Transportation Intelligence. The surge rivals the huge orders placed September-October 2018, said Don Ake FTR VP of commercial vehicles.

Food Logistics
The food and beverage industry's excess inventory challenges have been underscored by the unique aspects of COVID-19. What strategies can manufacturers and shippers implement to curb waste in the post-pandemic industry?