Association news

Agency Sales,  Oct 2003  by LaPlante, Alane

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MAFSI Reports Overall Decrease in Sales With No Growth Predicted

The Manufacturers' Agents for the Foodservice Industry (MAFSI) Business Barometer reports-1.1% decrease in sales for the second quarter 2003, compared to the same time last year. While the Northeast had positive overall sales at + 1.6% and Canada showed a modest increase at +0.5%, the rest of the United States was down in overall sales. In the third quarter 2003, MAFSI reps from across the U.S. and Canada forecast no growth at -0.1%, compared to overall sales the same time last year. This is according to the latest results of the MAFSI Business Barometer.

Compared to the second quarter 2002, the MAFSI Business Barometer revealed that during second quarter 2003 overall:

* Equipment sales decreased -1.2%

* Supply sales decreased -2.2%

* Tabletop sales decreased -0.9%

* Furniture sales increased +0.4%

Manufacturers' representatives were surveyed from agencies across the United States and Canada for the MAFSI Business Barometer Survey. The quarterly survey is a leading economic indicator in the foodservice industry that provides an invaluable outlook on sales trends and forecast regionally and nationally. This survey is the industry's most definitive non-food sales/trend indicator.

MAFSI releases the Business Barometer on a quarterly basis. Third quarter results will be released the first week in November. For more information please contact MAFSI at (770) 433-9844 or e-mail Suzanne Fraga, director of communications at sfraga@mafsi.org or go to www.mafsi.org.

MAFSI is a non-profit, 501 (c) (6) membership association. MAFSI's mission is to promote the professionalism and continued growth of the manufacturers' representatives' function in the food service industry and enhance their sales and marketing methods.

MAFSI has 700 member companies in the U.S. and Canada, representing 2,200 sales and marketing professionals, manufacturing executives and others. MAFSI members are a major force in the equipment, supply and furniture segment in the foodservice industry.

NIRA Announces New Home

Effective August 1, 2003, NIRA's new headquarters office, managed by Thompson Management Associates, is located in historic Annapolis, Maryland, situated near the Baltimore/Washington airport and Washington, D.C. The NIRA offices are housed in a marina office complex overlooking the Chesapeake Bay.

NIRA's new staff team offers specialized expertise in communications and public relations, government affairs and legislative activity, meeting and convention management and planning, membership development, trade show management, data base management, web site design and the development of educational and professional programs and seminars. The staff of nine employees and two long-term independent contractors includes several individuals with ten to thirty years experience in working with associations.

The new NIRA Executive Director, Joseph Thompson, has over thirty years of experience in executive leadership and association management. Mr. Thompson has served as Executive Vice President for six national and international trade associations and one professional society. He has extensive skill and experience in managing a variety of association functions including membership development, marketing, financial development, community relations, program design and implementation, leadership training, conference and convention management, and volunteer relations.

NIRA's new address and contact information is: 105 Eastern Ave., Suite 104, Annapolis, MD 21403; phone: (410) 263-1014; fax: (410) 263-1659; web site: www.nira.org.

Copyright Manufacturers' Agents National Association Oct 2003
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