IFDA Urges Congress to Take Critical and Swift Action to Salvage Foodservice Industry
Mark Allen, President & CEO of the International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA), the industry that ensures a safe and efficient supply of food to more than one million restaurants and professional kitchens in the U.S., issued a statement in support of the National Restaurant Association’s Blueprint for Recovery submitted to Congressional leaders today.
“The restaurant industry has already suffered more than 30 billion dollars in losses and more than eight million employees have been laid off or furloughed,” Allen said. “The impact of this economic crisis is felt throughout the food supply chain and the Blueprint for Recovery is a strategic solution to help rebuild the hard-hit foodservice industry. Congress should authorize and appropriate the proposed emergency $240 billion Restaurant and Foodservice Industry Recovery Fund (RFIRF) as an urgent priority to avoid further damage to this portion of our economy.”
“Additionally, distributors and many other partners in the food supply chain were previously ignored in the CARES Act, but this industry will lose an estimated 24 billion dollars over the course of three months due to the closure of restaurants and professional kitchens nationwide. Congressional leaders will need to consider the big picture pandemic impact and consider strategic financial solutions for recovery of the foodservice industry as a whole to allow us to continue as the effective food supply chain support our customers need to serve our country,” IFDA President and CEO Mark Allen said.
The International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA) is the premier trade organization, representing the more than $300 billion foodservice distribution industry and the 350,000 people it employs. This industry ensures a safe and efficient supply of food and products to more than one million restaurants and foodservice outlets in the U.S. every day. For more information, visit www.ifdaonline.org.
