IFDA unveils 2026 Distributor’s Choice Awards to highlight top-performing foodservice manufacturers
Key takeaways
- Sugar Foods earned overall winner, product innovator, and supply chain leader recognition, showing excellence across distribution partnerships.
- Cavendish Farms earned strategic partner for aligning with distributor models and engaging in long-term planning at the executive level.
- General Mills North America Foodservice was recognized for collaborative sales and supply chain performance, including reliability for refrigerated goods.
The International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA) recently unveiled the winners of the 2026 Distributor’s Choice Awards at the IFDA Partners Executive Forum in Scottsdale, Arizona. The association, which represents foodservice distribution professionals, recognizes manufacturers that demonstrate exceptional performance as voted by their distributor customers.
The Distributor’s Choice Awards celebrate manufacturers excelling in strategy, product innovation, sales support, and supply chain performance, including the challenges of refrigerated and temperature-sensitive logistics. Distributors cast ballots for manufacturer partners that show collaboration, operational excellence, and responsiveness to distributor needs.
2026 award winners:
- Overall winner: Sugar Foods
- Strategic partner: Cavendish Farms
- Product innovator: Sugar Foods
- Sales leader: General Mills North America Foodservice
- Supply chain leader: General Mills North America Foodservice and Sugar Foods (tie)
“These awards reflect the voice of foodservice distributors recognizing the manufacturers that truly understand their business needs and deliver meaningful partnership,” Mark S. Allen, president and CEO of IFDA, stated. “Congratulations to Sugar Foods, Cavendish Farms, and General Mills for earning the trust and votes of their distributor partners.”
