Subway and Yum! Brands executives were among the foodservice operators who took part in an invitation-only "Executive Think Tank" discussion of senior foodservice and produce industry leaders July 24.
More than two dozen produce and foodservice industry leaders, including Tina Fitzgerald, director of produce and social responsibility for Subway's Independent Purchasing Cooperation, and Mike Liewen, vice president, Global Quality Assurance for Yum! Brands, took part in the event. The think tank was co-led by Produce Marketing Association (PMA) president and CEO Bryan Silbermann, National Restaurant Association president and CEO Dawn Sweeney, and International Foodservice Distributor Association (IFDA) president and CEO Mark Allen.
As a result of the event, the industry leaders have announced an ambitious goal to double use of fresh produce in the foodservice sector over the next 10 years and have identified five strategies for doing so. The five priority areas identified to help achieve the goal of doubling produce use include:
- Re-imagine the restaurant experience, with produce having a stronger presence and telling its story from field to fork
- Increase consumer confidence in fresh produce, including product safety, trust and integrity
- Demonstrate social responsibility, balancing the needs of people, the planet and profitability
- Foster closer collaboration among the industry sectors, including operators, distributors and grower/shippers
- Foster closer collaboration with government and other stakeholders
"It will now be up to the three associations together to develop a plan for working these five priority areas to help increase use of fresh produce in foodservice, for healthier menus, healthier consumers and ultimately healthier industry," PMA's Silbermann said. "The journey has just begun, and we are all looking forward to sinking our teeth into that next phase of our project."
