Featured Product Presentations and Product Educator Booths to Help Solidify Industry Expertise

Featured Product Presentations

During the opening sessions of the Learn 2021 educational conference, top manufacturers will highlight featured foodservice equipment that is relevant to solving today’s operator challenges. The Tuesday, May 11, general session will include presentations from Hatco and Marra Forni while the following day, Wednesday, May 12, will have presentations from Irinox and Metro. Attendees who participate in all four Featured Product Presentations and complete the follow-up quizzes may receive 0.50 credits toward the FEDA Product Education Certification.

Product Educator Booths
The product educator booths at the Learn 2021 education conference offer distributors a chance to learn more about highly sought-after foodservice equipment and supplies in a small group setting. Each 30-minute session will occur in intervals beginning at 1 p.m. CT Tuesday, May 11, and will repeat until 4 p.m. CT. They will include a video presentation followed by a live Q&A with the manufacturer. On Wednesday, May 12, the product educator booths will be open for one hour beginning at 11:30 a.m. CT. Attendees can receive up to four certification credits for visiting the virtual booths.

Manufacturers that will have a product educator booth include Hatco, Equipex, Continental Refrigerator, Metro, Vulcan, American Metalcraft, T&S Brass, Nemco, Marra Forni, Irinox and Jackson WWS.

Next week, registrants will receive an invitation to join the Learn 2021 conference platform. Once you open that link, visit the "Agenda" link at the top of the page and click on the plus sign for your desired session to add each session to your schedule.

In addition to the manufacturers who are generously giving their time to provide these product education opportunities, FEDA would like to thank DDI System for its support as a conference sponsor.

Sales Leaders to Provide Insights on Using Digital Technologies to Grow Business

More than ever before, today's salespeople are relying on digital technologies to make connections with operators. The Modern Sales Strategies Panel at the Learn 2021 education conference, May 10-12, aims to help sales leaders better understand these tools and maximize their effectiveness.

The panel will feature Mark Howes, president of Culinex; Tony Yeung, COO of Action Sales; and Mark Wallace, vice president of sales and marketing for Canadian Restaurant Supply. The group will share how their sales teams generate new business using technology and digital tools throughout the sales process, from the initial customer contact to after-sale service. Attendees will learn how to:

• Develop and qualify better leads in less time
• Automate how you market to new prospects and existing customers
• Monitor and follow up with online shoppers to provide sales support as soon as it is needed
• Move sales to closing more quickly
• Provide immediate customer service after purchases to encourage additional and future buys

How Learn 2021 Will Develop Young Leaders' Skills to Help Dealers Grow

The Learn 2021 educational conference, May 10-12, will continue FEDA’s mission of helping the next generation of leaders in the foodservice equipment and supplies industry hone their skills. The following two sessions are designed to teach young professionals the entrepreneurial and leadership skills they need to make their companies more successful.

Young Industry Leaders Q&A with Robert Herjavec

The first session is the Young Industry Leaders Q&A with Robert Herjavec, set for 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 12. Returning from his appearance at the FEDA Annual Conference last September, Shark Tank’s Robert Herjavec will participate in an engaging and interactive Q&A discussion facilitated by Heather Kogan, vice president of sales at The Sam Tell Companies. Kogan will guide participants through a conversation with Herjavec about how they can think like an entrepreneur to help their organizations move forward as the economy recovers.

Mentor Up Mentor Down Leadership Panel with Q&A

Following the Q&A discussion will be the Mentor Up Mentor Down program at 2:45 p.m. Wednesday, May 12. This session, moderated by TriMark's Jacob Morgan, will feature executives and emerging leaders from two FEDA distributor members: Burkett Restaurant Equipment & Supplies and Zepole Restaurant Supply. Each team will explain the model for how their senior leaders work with young professionals to create and embrace a shared vision for their organization and how mentors and mentees engage in two-way learning to develop best practices and make their company stronger.

Partner Exchange Sessions to Closely Examine Operator Needs

The Partner Exchange Sessions at the Learn 2021 educational conference, May 10-12, will connect foodservice equipment distributors, manufacturers, and other supply chain partners to examine the new operator challenges shared by National Restaurant Association President and CEO Tom Bené during his keynote presentation.

The three concurrent sessions, scheduled for 11:40 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CDT May 11, will be facilitated by David Greene of DDI System, Brian Kadel of ITW Food Equipment Group, and Steve Willoughby of Jackson WWS. Each facilitator will walk participants through a series of tough questions designed to identify potential short and long-term solutions for supply chain recovery and revisions they can make that will benefit the operator.

Among the topics that will be addressed will be how channel partners can manage supply chain constraints and lengthy lead times, including ways to plan further ahead to secure equipment when it is needed, vigilant order tracking, practicing proactive communication, allowing for flexibility on design and specifications, and educating customers about supply chain issues to set expectations. Participants will also discuss other ways channel partners can contribute toward meeting evolving operator needs.

FEDA’s channel partners from the manufacturing, service, rep, and consulting segments are encouraged to attend these partner exchange sessions with distributors.

Learn 2021 Speakers Will Provide Insights to Help Guide Distributors

With the foodservice industry poised to rebound in the second half of 2021, many equipment distributors and dealers are preparing for a renewed period of growth. Two of the big questions on everyone’s mind are “how will operators’ needs change” and “how can I restructure my sales strategy to meet these changing needs?”

The two major speakers for the FEDA Learn 2021 online educational conference will address those questions head-on and provide actionable information and insights that will help dealers and distributors grow their business alongside their customers.

Keynote Speaker Tom Bené President and CEO National Restaurant Association 10:30 a.m. CDT Tuesday, May 11
In his keynote presentation, Tom Bené will outline the National Restaurant Association’s recovery response and its efforts to secure financial resources for the 500,000 restaurants the organization represents. He’ll also dive into how operator needs and trends are evolving as new business models emerge out of the pandemic, and how foodservice equipment and supplies distributors can collaborate with operators to develop solutions.

Guest Speaker Rand Fishkin CEO and Co-Founder SparkToro 1:30 p.m. CDT Wednesday, May 12
As the business world continues to become increasingly connected, companies are looking for effective ways to ensure their messaging don’t get lost in the digital void. During his presentation at Learn 2021, Rand Fishkin will share his journey toward becoming one of the world’s foremost experts on search algorithms and digital marketing and will discuss how dealers and distributors can expand their sales tactics.