Operator members are defined as companies that are Commercial Restaurants, Non-Commercial Foodservice, Convenience Store Foodservice, Grocery Foodservice, and Foodservice Management Companies.
We provides operators with unique opportunities to stay informed through unique insights and data, and connected through networking conferences with suppliers, supply chain partners, and service providers. In exchange for service to the association, operators will be eligible for corporate-wide membership.
Operator Membership is available to three groups of operators.
Advocate Operator Member
Commercial and non-commercial operator companies are eligible for this dues-free category of membership, enabling all individuals within the company to access member benefits if at least one individual at the organization fulfills one or more of these service requirements:
Eligibility for Advocate Operator Membership Include:
For Commercial Operations Individuals attending above must be a purchase decision-maker affiliated directly with an operation with responsibility for 10 or more units for either a restaurant, convenience store, lodging, or grocery chain.
For Non-Commercial Direct F&B decision maker of any non-commercial segment, including K-12, College/University, Healthcare, Business & Industry, and Military. Also includes those who work for a corporate office of a Foodservice Management Company.
Foodservice Leadership Council (FLC) Member
FLC operators have shown a tremendous level of commitment and engagement within their own communities and IFMA The Food Away from Home Association. FLC Operator membership is a company-wide membership, dues-free, and benefits will extend to individuals within the same company. FLC operators must be a member in good standing, as defined by the requirements laid out in their respective council charters.
Learn more about our Foodservice Leadership Councils
Individual Operator Member
While Advocate and FLC Operator Memberships are company-wide, We also offer an Individual Operator Membership for qualified decision makers that are either currently working for a non-commercial operator or restaurant chain with 10+ units OR are no longer with an operator company but have 5+ years of experience working for a restaurant chain or non-commercial operation. All individuals will be reviewed by IFMA The Food Away from Home Association for approval. Dues are $450 annually.
Operator Member Benefits
Complimentary conference registration & hotel accommodations for Presidents Conference and COEX (for one person)
Advocate operator members will have one complimentary registration and hotel accommodations per company to COEX and Presidents Conference. A second individual will need to be approved at our discretion and may register for all of our conferences and events at the operator-rate.
Access to IFMA Scope® (full)
In addition to having access to the Operator Landscape and Segments portions of IFMA SCOPE, all individuals within member companies will have access to the Markets portion of the portal, enabling them to access information on all 211 designated market areas (DMAs).
Access to Web Content
All individuals within member companies will have access to all webinars, whitepapers, research, video, and other insights and best practices that reside on IFMAworld.com.
Access to Webinars
Company-wide access to all webinars hosted on our platform, available to all individuals within member organizations.
Datassential 500 Report
Member-Pricing for Trainings
Preferred member pricing for training classes including Foodservice Fundamentals and other curriculum to be developed.
Industry project participation & outputs*
In addition to participating in and steering the direction of the cross-industry initiative, companies will receive the best practice deliverables/outputs from the initiative. Other members will be able to purchase these for an additional cost.
Committee Participation (COEX)
Ability to assign one individual to COEX planning committee (chain operators)
Monthly Newsletter
All individuals at member company have access to our monthly newsletter, providing key updates on the association and the industry.
Listing in Member Directory*
Organizations will be able to search the member directory as well as list their company name, website URL, and contact information on the directory.
*Under Development
Everything received by Advocate Members PLUS:
Access to FLC monthly meetings & share groups
Participate in monthly FLC calls per segment, sharing learnings, challenges, and best practices with other leaders within common segments and across segments.
Participation in FLC projects and access to outputs
Ability to shape work on Vision 2025 within each segment, FLC members will help create deliverables to be shared out with the community at large and have access to these deliverables to share within their own organizations and communities.
Industry recognition for work on FLC
Highlighted on the website, at events, on social media, and in deliverables (e.g., Vision 2025), FLC members will be highlighted and recognized for their thought leadership, including as speakers and panelists.
Participation on select Association program committees
FLC representation will be included on several Association program committees, including:
Presidents Conference
COEX
Marketing & Sales Conference
Consumer Planning Program
Gold & Silver Plate Committee
Input into our Long-Range Plan
On an annual process, members of the FLCs will provide direct input into our strategic and annual operating plans.
Exclusive access to IFMA Board of Directors and other networking events
FLC Executive Committee Members will have the ability to participate in select board meetings throughout the year.
Opportunity to participate in Next Gen Execs program
Next Gen Execs is a nomination-based program that provides
executive leaders the opportunity to identify and provide high potential leaders with meaningful connectivity and engagement in the industry. FLC Members will have the ability to nominate up to three individuals within their company to participate in this program.
Ability to register for Association events at member rate
This includes member-only events such as Presidents Conference and COEX. Individual operator members will be required to pay for registration and hotel accommodation.
Access to web content
Access to all whitepapers, research, video, and other insights and best practices that reside on ifmaworld.com. IFMA SCOPE not included.
Access to webinars
Access to all webinars hosted on our platform, available to all individuals within member organizations.
Member-pricing for trainings
Discounts for industry project outputs
As part of the cross-industry initiative that we will lead, outputs will be made available to the industry. Individual operator members tier will have the opportunity to purchase these deliverables at a member discount.
Monthly newsletter
All individuals at member company will be able to access our monthly newsletter, providing key updates on the association and the industry.
Listed on member directory
Organizations will be able to list their company name, website URL, and contact information on the our member directory as well as search for other Association members.
For more on our long-range plan, see the "Level Up 2027: A New Path Forward for IFMA" report for details
See the Level Up: 2027 Plan Now >>
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