Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/105134
Distributor Profits continued reversal of the current trend, higher profit levels will be very difficult to achieve. In addition, firms need to continue to make strides with regard to operating expenses.The declines related to sales growth were somewhat disappointing. K About th e Auth or Dr. Albert D. Bates is founder and president of Profit Planning Group. His latest book,Triple Your Profit! is available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble. It provides a guideline on how to drive higher profit. It also includes two Excel templates to help firms understand the profit patterns in their own business. President's Message continued wants to see that outcome. However, fighting the battle takes resources—primarily in the form of money. In 2012, every major foodservice buying group, along with FEDA, NAFEM, MAFSI and FCSI, and several individual companies, came together to fund the efforts of the IDPC. Recently the invoices for 2013 were sent out and all of the major groups are back on board for the fight. Additionally, we are asking our members to help support this cause. I encourage you, if you have not done so, when you pay your 2013 dues to include an additional amount earmarked for support of the IDPC. This is not an issue that will be going away anytime soon. The ASID has a large support network and funding behind them. They will continue to press this issue state by state looking at any small victory as a milepost along the way. We as an industry must continue to press on as well for our own survival. K For more information, check out the IDPC website http://www.idpcinfo.org/. Industry Insights continued quotes are set and they know they'll lose all their dealer support. Joe Dealer: Sorry Ralphie, but I'm going to find suppliers who have some integrity—people we can trust and will honor the agreements we have in place. I'll move my business elsewhere. Sorry you got caught in the middle. Maybe it's time to go fishing. Ralphie Rep: I'm in! Closing Comments from FEDA President Brad Wasserstrom: Many thanks to Hal Schroeder who so creatively helped to illustrate the growing trust gap between manufacturers and their dealer channel partners on issues of confidentiality, pricing and rebates. Now the ball is in your court. Only you can determine who you believe you can fully place your confidence in within the channel of distribution and then vote with your dollars. It's a big decision and only you can decide who you will trust. K 44 FEDA New s & View s