Coming during one of the most dramatic hurricane seasons in U.S. history, a four-part disaster recovery program will be held as part of the educational program at the 2005 Productivity Convention and Expo to be held October 23-25 in Orlando, Fla. Hosted by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI, Washington, D.C.) and the International Foodservice Distribution Association (IFDA, Falls Church, Va.).
Coming during one of the most dramatic hurricane seasons in U.S. history, the four-part program module will be led by Robert Zegarra, a global consultant and recognized expert in disaster planning and business recovery.
“Food distributors are an absolutely critical force in times of natural or terrorist-made disasters,” Zegarra said. “Not only are they a key element in the food delivery supply chain, they also serve as important collection and delivery points for all disaster relief materials, provide trucks for transporting goods, and dedicate staff trained in logistics operations.”
Sessions include getting started on a disaster recovery plan, planning for the safety of employees and products, keeping the power on and the data flowing, and how to get a business running again.
The disaster planning module is part of an intensive, 40-session education program featuring presenters from across the industry -- retail and wholesale operators, foodservice distributors, consultants, government officials and experts from various disciplines -- addressing key subjects such as transportation and distribution logistics, technology and human resources. Sessions will be presented in multiple formats, including general sessions, workshops, roundtable discussions, and idea exchanges.
Complementing the program will be a wide-ranging exposition featuring 150 top food industry suppliers, tours of Orlando-area distribution facilities, the 19th Annual Truck Driving Championship, and a variety of networking events.
For details and registration, please visit the 2005 Productivity Convention & Expo Web site.
Source: International Foodservice Distribution Association
