Snack World - February 2011 - (Page 18)

New Chairman Focus on the Future Incoming chairman will help to put plans in place to strengthen the association and the industry. BY BOB GATTY or Blake Thompson, the Snack Food Association’s 2010 chairman, a major objective was to help develop a new strategic plan to be used as a foundation for the association’s growth in the decade ahead. The challenge for Matt Colford, who will assume the chairman’s post in March at SNAXPO 2011, will be to lead the implementation of that plan in 2011 as the association prepares to celebrate its 75th anniversary next year. During 2010, even as the association focused on representing members in the halls of government during a challenging time and helping members prosper in the midst of a difficult economy, its leadership realized it was time to look forward and plan for the future. “So we went through the strategic planning process,” explained Mr. Thompson, F Thompson senior vice-president, supply chain, Snyder’s-Lance, Inc., Charlotte, NC, “We looked at what we need to do to succeed in the future. The result was a plan for revenue growth in order to provide value to members in terms of services that they need, as well as to expand our membership both domestically and internationally.” Mr. Colford, director of marketing and strategic selling at Old Dutch Foods, Inc., Roseville, MN, chaired the strategic planning committee, and as chairman will help lead the plan’s implementation. “If you don’t reinvent yourself, you run the risk of stepping backwards,” he said. “This association is not moving backwards.” The plan, unanimously approved by the SFA board at last year’s SNAXPO, contains four building platforms: • Revenue development needed to sustain the association’s programs • Member services planning for business, associate and international members • Development of broad industry services in government affairs, consumer public relations and advocacy, marketing, and research and development • Organizational scope planning and positioning to Colford keep the association in tune to changes within the industry, both in the US and abroad. “Getting this done was a priority, and it is now during Matt’s term that it will be carried forward,” Mr. Thompson said. “Developing the long-range plan was a precursor for identifying what we really stand for at SFA,” Mr. Colford added. “For me, it was what we needed to do to be vibrant for the next 10 years.” OTHER CHALLENGES. Another highlight of Mr. Thompson’s tenure as SFA chairman involved a thorough examination of SNAXPO, the international conference and convention sponsored annually by the association, to determine its relevance and consider ways it can be improved to provide greater value. “SNAXPO is a major revenue source for SFA, and our committee discussed strategies for making it even more valuable,” Mr. Thompson explained. “We want to provide an even more valuable venue for suppliers and vendors to meet with industry manufacturers and leaders to present new concepts and to network. We want to make certain this remains a viable vehicle going forward for this organization.” 18 Snack World February 2011 www.sfa.org http://www.sfa.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Snack World - February 2011

Snack World - February 2011
Letter from SFA - See You at SNAXPO
Rudolph Foods receives level 2 SQF certifi cation
Popcorn, Indiana launches chip’ins to commemorate National Popcorn Day
Better Made Snack Foods makes key promotions
Dawn of a New Era
In a Nutshell
Snyder’s-Lance becomes powerhouse snack company
Snack Sessions
Focus on the Future
Capital Spending Rebounds
New Snacks
Products & Services
Ad Index

Snack World - February 2011