The food service industry is one of the most dynamic and diverse sectors in the world. It includes businesses, institutions, and companies that prepare and serve food and beverages outside the home, such as restaurants, grocery stores, school and hospital cafeterias, catering operations, and many others. According to a report by Technavio, the global food service market size is expected to grow by USD 822.31 billion during 2020-2024.
But how can you connect and grow with the food service community? How can you learn from this industry’s best practices, trends, and innovations? How can you network with other professionals, suppliers, customers, and stakeholders in this field? How can you leverage the opportunities and overcome the challenges in this competitive and fast-changing market?
In this article, we will share some tips and strategies to connect and grow with the food service community. Whether you are a food service operator, manager, consultant, or enthusiast, you will find some useful insights and resources to help you achieve your goals.
Join Professional Associations and Organizations
One of the best ways to connect and grow with the food service community is to join professional associations and organizations that represent your interests and needs. Many such groups cater to different segments and specialties of the food service industry, such as:
- Foodservice Consultants Society International (FCSI): A global association of professional food service consultants that provides education, networking, and certification opportunities for its members.
- [National Restaurant Association (NRA)]: A leading trade association for the restaurant industry that advocates for its members on policy issues, provides research and insights, and offers training and certification programs.
- International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA): An association of food service distributors that serves as a voice for the industry, provides industry data and analysis, and organizes events and conferences.
- School Nutrition Association (SNA): A national organization of school nutrition professionals that promotes healthy school meals, provides education and professional development, and supports legislative initiatives.
- American Society for Healthcare Foodservice Administrators (ASHFSA): A professional society of healthcare food service managers that fosters excellence in patient care, food quality, and operational efficiency.
By joining these associations and organizations, you can benefit from their membership services, such as:
- Access to industry news, publications, reports, and newsletters
- Opportunities to attend webinars, workshops, seminars, and conferences
- Networking with peers, mentors, experts, and influencers
- Participation in committees, task forces, awards, and recognition programs
- Discounts on products, services, education, and certification
Follow Industry Blogs, Podcasts, Magazines, and Social Media
Another way to connect and grow with the food service community is to follow industry blogs, podcasts, magazines, and social media channels that provide relevant and timely information, insights, tips, and inspiration for your work. Some of the most popular and influential sources of food service content are:
- Food Management: A website and magazine that covers trends, best practices, and innovations in noncommercial food service segments such as colleges, schools, healthcare facilities, etc.
- Foodservice Director: A website and magazine that features news, analysis, and ideas for noncommercial food service operators and managers.
- Restaurant Business: A website and magazine that provides strategic insights, data, and solutions for restaurant operators and leaders.
- Foodservice Equipment & Supplies (FE&S): A website and magazine that showcases the latest products, technologies, and design trends in food service equipment and supplies.
- The Food Service Consultant Podcast: A podcast that interviews leading food service consultants and experts on various topics related to food service design, operations, management, and innovation.
- The Food Service Podcast: A podcast that explores the stories, challenges, and successes of food service professionals and entrepreneurs.
- Foodable Network: A digital media network that produces original video content, podcasts, blogs, and reports on the restaurant and hospitality industry.
By following these sources of content, you can stay updated on the latest developments, learn from the best practices, get inspired by the success stories, and discover new opportunities in the food service industry.
Engage in Online Forums and Communities
A third way to connect and grow with the food service community is to engage in online forums and communities where you can interact with other like-minded professionals, ask questions, share opinions, seek advice, and offer support. Some of the most active and helpful online forums and communities for food service are:
- ChefTalk: A forum for chefs and culinary enthusiasts to discuss cooking, recipes, techniques, and careers.
- Foodservice.com: A forum for food service professionals to exchange ideas, information, and resources on various aspects of the industry.
- Foodservice Central: A forum for food service operators and managers to network, learn, and grow in their careers.
- r/foodservice: A subreddit for food service workers and managers to share experiences, advice, and humour.
- r/restaurantowners: A subreddit for restaurant owners and operators to share tips, tricks, and challenges of running a restaurant business.
By engaging in these online forums and communities, you can expand your network, learn from others’ experiences, solve problems, and find new opportunities in the food service industry.
Hire a Professional Food Service Consultant
A fourth way to connect and grow with the food service community is to hire a professional food service consultant who can help you with your specific needs and goals. FSCI states that a food service consultant is an independent professional advisor who, for a defined scope of work and related fee, advocates for their client in achieving their goals through the design and implementation of food service facilities and/or operations/management systems.
Some of the benefits of hiring a professional food service consultant are:
- They have the expertise, experience, and knowledge of the food service industry and its best practices, trends, and innovations.
- They can provide objective, unbiased, and customized solutions that suit your budget, timeline, and vision.
- They can help you optimize your space, equipment, menu, staff, operations, and profitability.
- They can help you comply with the relevant codes, regulations, and standards of the industry.
- They can help you avoid costly mistakes, delays, and risks that may arise from poor planning, design, or execution.
But how do you find and choose the right food service consultant for your project? Here are some tips to help you:
- Define your project scope, objectives, expectations, and budget clearly and realistically.
- Research and shortlist potential consultants based on their credentials, portfolio, references, and testimonials.
- Request and compare proposals from different consultants that outline their approach, methodology, deliverables, timeline, and fee structure.
- Interview and evaluate the consultants based on their communication skills, rapport, understanding of your needs, and ability to add value to your project.
- Negotiate and finalize the contract terms and conditions that protect your interests and rights.
Connecting and growing with the food service community is not only beneficial but also essential for your success in this industry. By joining professional associations and organizations, following industry blogs, podcasts, magazines, and social media, engaging in online forums and communities, and hiring a professional food service consultant, you can access a wealth of information, insights, resources, opportunities, and support that will help you achieve your goals.
If you are looking for a reliable, experienced, and reputable food service consultant who can help you with your food service project, look no further than HPG Consulting. HPG Consulting is a leading food service consulting firm that offers end-to-end solutions for food service design, planning, engineering, management, and training. HPG Consulting has a team of qualified and certified consultants who have completed over 500 projects across various sectors such as hotels, restaurants, hospitals, schools, etc. HPG Consulting has a proven track record of delivering high-quality results that exceed client expectations.