Welcome to Farm to Fork: The Innovators. In today's special bonus episode, we explore Off Premise Revenue and Food Service from our latest Datum FS Advisors webinar.

This topic is crucial given the current restaurant recession. We're joined by Datum FS advisors Andy Raabe and Tom Healey. In this episode, we delve into key best practices for boosting restaurant sales off-premise and the resulting impact on the supply chain, including optimizing third-party delivery, brand exposure, and retail channels. We also tackle the challenges these off-premise strategies pose for the supply chain and the future of off-premise in the food service industry.

Connect With the Host:

David Maloni’s LinkedIn

Connect With Our Guest:

Tom Healey’s LinkedIn

Andrew Raabe’s LinkedIn

Connect with Datum FS:

https://datumfs.com/

Timestamps:

00:00 - Introduction and Episode Overview by David Maloni

05:23 - Innovations in Food Supply Chain Technologies

10:45 - Addressing Climate Change and Resource Scarcity

18:12 - Impact of Supply Chain Disruptions on Food Systems

25:36 - Community Initiatives and Solutions

30:45 - Future Trends in Food Production and Distribution

39:14 - How to Get Involved and Contact Information

39:36 - Closing Remarks and Podcast Wrap-Up

I’d like to introduce you to Datum Advisors, a new offering from Datum FS. Our team is composed of seasoned Food Supply Chain Executives from every sector. We stand ready to offer valuable advisory services for your company.

Click here to find out more,

In this exciting podcast episode, we have an eye-opening chat with Angela Fields, a Senior Consumer Safety Officer at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), about her fascinating role and the agency's crucial mission.

Angela shares her journey and passion for food safety, along with her love for travel and outdoor adventures. We dive into the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and its Rule 204, shedding light on traceability and recalls in the food supply chain.

She also breaks down the rule's requirements, exemptions, and compliance dates, highlighting the significance of industry collaboration and tech innovations. This episode unpacks the complexities of food safety regulations and the essential need for transparency and efficiency in our food supply chain.

Once Again, Thank You for tuning in to what proves to be an insightful discussion.

Connect With the Host:

David Maloni’s LinkedIn

Connect with Datum FS:

https://datumfs.com/

Timestamps

01:52 - Welcome To The Show, Angela!

04:25 - Angela Explains The FDA's Mission, Her Role In Responding To Foodborne Illness Outbreaks, And Investigations

06:07 - The FDA's Regulatory Role And Scope Of Recalls

10:15 - Angela Explains The Complexities And Challenges Of The Recall Process For The FDA.

14:28 - Benefits Of Efficient Traceback Investigations

18:14 - Impact Of The Lack Of Traceability

22:25 - Angela's Passion For Traceability And The CORE Group

25:45 - The History, Creation And Mandate Of The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)

28:24 - Understanding FSMA Rule 204 And Its Exemptions, Applicability, And Exemptions

37:23 - The FDA's Approach To Educate And Regulate, With A Focus On Collaboration

46:46 - Potential Lessons From The Cannabis, Shellfish, And Pharmaceutical Industries In Implementing Traceability

53:12 - Benefits And Value Of Traceability

56:05 - The Future Of Food Traceability

58:28 - Accessing FDA Resources: The Food Traceability Rule Landing Page, Faqs, And Technical Assistance Network.

1:02:29 - Wrapping Up!

I’d like to introduce you to Datum Advisors, a new offering from Datum FS. Our team is composed of seasoned Food Supply Chain Executives from every sector. We stand ready to offer valuable advisory services for your company.

Click here to find out more,

Welcome to Farm to Fork Innovators! Today, we have the pleasure of hosting Russ Gold, a veteran cattle rancher from rural Oklahoma with 60 years of experience. Russ has played a pivotal role in producing some of the finest premium beef in the world.

In our discussion, we delve into several important topics, including an overview of the cattle industry from calf to plate, the major challenges the industry faces both on a macro level and day-to-day, the impact of inflation, the future of the cattle industry, predictions on herd expansion, and the future of family farming in America amidst the current challenges.

Connect With the Host:

David Maloni’s LinkedIn

Connect with Datum FS:

https://datumfs.com/

Timestamps:

00:00

01:06 - Welcome to the show, Russ!

02:11 - Russ’s background

05:35 - The Cattle Cycle: From Ranch to Plate

09:02 - Marketing Cattle: Selling Cattle in Auctions

11:44 - Russ’s unique approach to the Cattle Industry

15:30 - How Calf Producers Operate

17:35 - Russ’s Cattle Feeding System

19:32 - What’s the day-to-day in a rancher’s life

23:10 - How Russ defines success

25:00 - How inflation affects the cattle industry

26:34 - How has the cattle industry evolved in the last 60 years

30:40 - The future of the cattle industry

36:40 - The current downcycle in the cattle industry

38:25 - Being environmentally friendly in the cattle industry

39:50 - What everyday consumers should know about the cattle industry

42:00 - How can grocery stores, retailers, and restaurants tell a better story about the cattle cycle and industry

43:40 - 50% of farms in America are family farms

46:07 - Thanks for coming to the show, Russ!

I’d like to introduce you to Datum Advisors, a new offering from Datum FS. Our team is composed of seasoned Food Supply Chain Executives from every sector. We stand ready to offer valuable advisory services for your company.

Click here to find out more,

In today’s episode, Ian Navarro, founder of Navarro Culinary Connection, shares his journey from distribution roles to establishing his own food service brokerage in Denver, Colorado. Ian explains the concept of food brokerage as a fractional sales team aiding brands in navigating the food service industry.

Highlighting the importance of storytelling, building relationships, and leveraging technology, particularly social media, to connect chefs, brands, and distributors, Ian further discusses the challenges of customer acquisition, managing expectations, and the evolving role of digital platforms in creating brand relevance and authenticity and we conclude with insights into the future direction of his business.

Once Again, Thank You for tuning in to what proves to be an insightful discussion.

Connect With the Host:

David Maloni’s LinkedIn

Connect With Our Guest:

Ian Navarro’s LinkedIn

Navarro Culinary Connections’ Website

Connect with Datum FS:

https://datumfs.com/

Timestamps

02:40 - Welcome To The Show Ian

06:13 - Starting Navarro Culinary Connection

09:19 - Innovative Food Service Brokerage

13:01 - Ian Talks About Curating A Product Mix, The Importance Of Storytelling And Regional Foods

17:06 - Food Brokerage And Relationship Management

20:44 - Ian Talks About Starting His Business, The Challenges, And The Growth In The First Six Months

26:43 - Differentiation In The Market

31:10 - The Challenges Of Introducing New Products To The Market

36:57 - Ian Talks Emphasizing Using Technology To Build Relationships And Create Credibility Virtually

42:24 - Challenges In Food Distribution

47:38 - The Challenges Of Food Brokerage

50:29 - The Role Of Digital, Strategic Accounts, And The Focus On Creating Value For Brands.

52:22 - Scaling And Evolving Navarro

1:03:24 - Wrapping Up!

I’d like to introduce you to Datum Advisors, a new offering from Datum FS. Our team is composed of seasoned Food Supply Chain Executives from every sector. We stand ready to offer valuable advisory services for your company.

Click here to find out more,

Join us as we sit down with Kim Spalding, CEO of Cheetah Technologies and a visionary transforming the food supply chain through technology.

Starting as a Texas girl with a love for wine and music, Kim shares her fascinating transition from running a winery to pioneering product innovation at Starbucks, and later, enhancing shipping security with blockchain at TradeLens. Kim's tenure at Google shines through as she discusses the company's strategy to revolutionize data structuring for businesses big and small.

Her excitement is infectious as we ponder the industry's 5 to 10-year horizon, brimming with data-driven tools that promise a level playing field. This episode illuminates the critical role of digitization and collaboration in the industry, showcasing Kim's unique blend of tech-savvy and operational expertise that's reshaping how we handle our food from farm to fork.

Once Again, Thank You for tuning in to what proves to be an insightful discussion.

Connect With the Host:

David Maloni’s LinkedIn

Connect With Our Guest:

Kim Spalding’s LinkedIn

Connect with Datum FS:

https://datumfs.com/

Timestamps

02:13 - Who Is Kim Spalding?

05:16 - Blockchain Data 101

08:06 - Kim Narrates Her Journey To Cheetah Technologies

13:07 - How The Restaurant Operations Business Differs From Other Establishments

15:16 - Merging Tech And The Food Industry

16:54 - Cheetah Technologies’ Mission

22:40 - How Does Cheetah Technologies Operate?

25:39 - Cheetah Technologies And The Restaurateur

29:20 - Kim Details How Cheetah Technologies Benefits All Aspects Of The Food Service Industry

34:37 - Cheetah Technologies And The Customer

37:37 - The Balancing Act: Tipping The Scales With The Leverage Of Distribution

41:28 - The Future Of Cheetah Technologies

46:36 - Wrapping Up!

I’d like to introduce you to Datum Advisors, a new offering from Datum FS. Our team is composed of seasoned Food Supply Chain Executives from every sector. We stand ready to offer valuable advisory services for your company.

Click here to find out more,

In this episode of Farm to Fork: The Innovators, we sit down with Debi Gann, Vice President, of Marketing and Business Development at ARMADA Supply Chain Solutions to explore the critical role of data and technology in the food service supply chain.

With almost a decade in the supply chain industry, Debi shares her background and ARMADA's focus on innovation, including predictive analytics and warehouse advancements.

Debi dives into the company’s approach to supply chain solutions, emphasizing the importance of data-driven decision-making and the integration of AI to enhance operations, with the conversation also touching on the significance of sustainability and the impact of the pandemic on supply chain vulnerabilities and concludes with predictors and sage advice for anyone within the industry.

We invite you to tune in to the full episode to gain valuable insights and sage advice directly from this vetted industry expert.

Once again, welcome to the show.

Connect With the Host:

David Maloni’s LinkedIn

Connect With Our Guest:

Debi Gann’s LinkedIn

Connect with Datum FS:

https://datumfs.com/

Timestamps

01:53 - Welcome To The Show Debi

04:00 - Debi Shares Her Professional Journey In Supply Chain And Explores Her Interests

05:02 - The Evolution Of Supply Chain Planning And Its Impact On A Company's Resilience

06:45 - Debi’s Journey To ARMADA

09:53 - Advantages And The Unique Features Of FoodService Supply Chain

13:03 - ARMADA's Approach To Supply Chain Efficiency

17:33 - Debi Shares The History And Mission Of ARMADA

19:57 - Debi Discusses ARMADA's Expansion And Service Offerings

28:36 - The Role Of Technology In Supply Chain Management

31:25 - Challenges In Managing Data In The FoodService Supply Chain

36:54 - ARMADA's Services And Innovation

39:23 - ARMADA's Approach To Leveraging Technology And AI

44:53 - Data-Driven Decision-Making

47:04 - Exploring The Positive Effects Of An Efficient Supply Chain On The Consumer

50:46 - Debi’s Predictions For The Future Of The FoodService Supply Chain

53:34 - Wrapping Up!

I’d like to introduce you to Datum Advisors, a new offering from Datum FS. Our team is composed of seasoned Food Supply Chain Executives from every sector. We stand ready to offer valuable advisory services for your company.

Click here to find out more.

Welcome back to another episode of Farm to Fork: The Innovators. This monthly webinar episode is especially geared toward those sprouting new food service ventures or who consider the industry second nature.

Today we are joined by esteemed industry veterans Jeff Abramson, Brendan Clarke, and James Kennedy as light is shed through the lens of the three key players in the supply chain: Supplies, Distributors and Operators on the often-misunderstood world of Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs).

Their combined experiences illuminate the significant value of GPOs for various stakeholders in the supply chain including how GPOs streamline purchasing for restaurants and foodservice providers, and how they offer financial advantages such as deviated pricing and rebates all while providing a comprehensive view of the future these orginazations will serve in the foodservice industry

Tune into the full podcast for a hearty serving of knowledge that's sure to satisfy your hunger for industry insights.

This is one you do not want to miss.

P.S. If you're a more visual consumer, click here to access the video webinar:

Connect With the Host:

David Maloni’s LinkedIn

Connect With Our Guests:

Jeff Abramson’s LinkedIn
Brendan Clarke’s LinkedIn
James Kennedy’s LinkedIn

Relevant Assets for this episode:

(insert a link to survey reports)

Connect with Datum FS:

https://datumfs.com/

Timestamps

01:51 - Meet Our Advisors

07:19 - Examine What GPOs Are And Their Significance In Streamlining Purchasing

08:53 - James Details How Large Restaurant Chains Form Contracts With Suppliers

12:00 - Brandon Elucidates How Distribution And GPOs Work

14:22 - Jeff Notes The Benefits Of Operators Working With GPOs

19:33 - Two Main Financial Advantages: Spend Management And Rebates

21:58 - How do GPOs Serve The Supplier?

26:20 - How do GPOs Generate Income?

31:37 - The Major Challenges Of Working With GPOs

41:48 - What Lies Ahead With GPOs And Industry Stakeholders?

48:09 - Wrapping Up!

I’d like to introduce you to Datum Advisors, a new offering from Datum FS. Our team is composed of seasoned Food Supply Chain Executives from every sector. We stand ready to offer valuable advisory services for your company.

Click here to find out more,

In this episode of Farm to Fork: The Innovators, we are joined by seasoned tech entrepreneur Mani Kulasooriya, who has spent the last decade dissecting the kinship between the foodservice industry and technology.

With a laid groundwork in building Fintech payment systems at Citibank and Yahoo to co-founding CAKE, a restaurant technology startup acquired by Sysco, Mani engages us in a captivating conversation that sheds light on the challenges, successes, and aspirations within the industry.

The discussion revolves around the need to balance technology with the fundamental human connections that drive the food service distribution business while also unraveling the staggering inefficiencies in the food service leading to cumulative billion-dollar losses and discloses the restorative power of embracing data as a means to increase security, generating additional revenue through advertising, and making business more efficient to boost margins for all stakeholders.

We invite you to tune in to the full episode to gain valuable insights directly from this vetted industry expert and visionary.

Once again, welcome to the show.

Connect With the Host:

David Maloni’s LinkedIn

Connect With Our Guest:

Mani Kulasooriya’s LinkedIn

Cut + Dry Website

Connect with Datum FS:

https://datumfs.com/

Timestamps

01:53 - Welcome To The Show, Mani!

04:20 - Mani’s Introduction To The Foodservice Industry

07:05 - Consistent Innovation Leads To Long-Term Success: The CAKE Corporation And Sysco Acquisition Story

10:42 - Open Vs Closed Systems

13:08 - An Introduction To Sysco Labs

17:09 - The Food Distribution Business: Observing, Interacting, And Uncovering Digital Limitations.

20:57 - Mani Details How To Avoid Low Efficiency, Equating To Low Margins

28:36 - What is Cut + Dry (fka Codify AI)?

33:58 - Mani Introduces The Seasoned Cut + Dry Team

36:44 - Mani Explains The Role Of Cut + Dry In The Foodservice Industry

43:58 - Why Is Data So Important To The Supply Chain?

48:50 - Sustainability As A Key Outcome In Effective Data Management

51:08 - The Future Of The Foodservice Industry And How Cut + Dry Fits In

54:06 - Wrapping Up!

I’d like to introduce you to Datum Advisors, a new offering from Datum FS. Our team is composed of seasoned Food Supply Chain Executives from every sector. We stand ready to offer valuable advisory services for your company.

Click here to find out more.