Direct Connection - June 2024

JUNE 2024

Thank You to Our DirectConnection Sponsors!

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

Continental Refrigerator

As an award-winning leader in refrigeration and a proud 2024 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year, Continental Refrigerator has earned a strong reputation for the flexibility of their product lines and their constant pursuit of customer satisfaction.

Continental’s NEW Shallow Depth Base Model Sandwich Units brings refrigerated food prep to even tighter kitchen spaces. In addition to depths under 31”, these small but mighty models come with top-of-the-line standard features including (but not limited to): reversing condenser fans, field-rehingeable doors, front slide-out condensing units, and thermal expansion valves. FLEXIBLE options, including drawers in lieu of doors above the condensing unit, condensing units on right or left sides of the units, and rear-mounted cutting boards, ensure this equipment can fit seamlessly into your kitchen workflow.

All Continental Refrigerator’s units are proudly designed and assembled in the USA, built-to-last, and able to be modified to fit the needs of any kitchen environment. Learn more at https://continentalrefrigerator.com/

From The Board

Greetings FCSI The Americas Members

Dearest gentle reader,

I couldn’t resist starting one of my intros that way being a Bridgerton and British romance fan! I hope everyone has had a great start to the summer and is enjoying some well-deserved breaks with friends and family. We all need that downtime for renewing ourselves to be the best consultants we can be.

There was no break in traveling for our esteemed FCSI WW Chair Eric Norman as he traveled to Brazil to represent FCSI at the Fispal conference. During the show, Eric and FCSI TA Executive Director Wade Koehler got a chance to meet with many excited manufacturers about the Latin America initiatives. Kudos to Marco Amatti, FCSI for being an Ambassador to the Fispal Show. He’s got some exciting plans for FCSI and the Informa Group who manages the show along with Abastur, NRA and many others around the world. In addition, FCSI The Americas had our own members speaking in our FCSI booth. (see pictures below)

Please consider submitting a project for potential inclusion in our 2025 Project Showcase. To qualify, a project must have been completed by an FCSI member and exhibit a unique or interesting approach to the MAS or design. Please see the 2024 Project Showcase HERE for great examples from last year. The 2024 articles were not only published in the magazine, but also on social media, and for the first time this year are featured in a podcast/video - watch for more episodes this fall. What a powerful way to market the innovative work of our talented FCSI consultants! This is one of my favorite member benefits.

Marketing is at the top of our strategic planning initiatives. To that end, the board has started looking for a marketing research company to help us more clearly define “who we are.” We all can verbalize what a consultant is and does, but does what we are saying match what we are doing? Are we truly independent and fee-based? The market researcher will interview not only our members but also our clients and allied members to gather a range of viewpoints. This effort will spearhead a deeper dive into a marketing brand recognition rollout. Please participate when asked and say what you think - your responses will be anonymous.

Again, I wish you all a safe and healthy summer. Please reach out with questions to tadchair@fcsi.org or Wade@fcsi.org. Happy Fourth of July to all our USA members - I will be celebrating with gratitude for all my blessings, including my FCSI family and friends!

Cheers,

Christine Guyott, FCSI, RDN

Thank you to all of our members and guests for participating in the Fispal Show 2024

FCSI The Americas NEW PODCAST

Season 1 has begun for the new FCSI Project Showcase - The Art of Culinary Design.

Come listen to your colleagues as they discuss their projects that were featured in our annual Project Showcase publication. Learn about their processes, challenges, and successes from beginning to end.

Do you want to be featured in future episodes? Submit your project to the 2025 Project Showcase publication later this year.

Check out the newest episode here

Still want to catch up on old episodes of On T ap? Catch every episode here.

Looking Back on Camp FCSI 2024

CAMP FCSI PHOTOS

We had such a great time in Austin! Thank you to all that were able to join us.

Click HERE to view all the highlights and see pictures of yourself and your colleagues. Feel free to download and share them to your social channels.

We look forward to seeing you at the Symposium in Atlanta in February!

Symposium 2025

FCSI The Americas Symposium: February 24-25

The NAFEM Show: February 26-28

Atlanta Georgia World Congress Center

Submit Topics for the 2025 Symposium

The Conference Planning Committee is thrilled to announce the upcoming 2025 FCSI The Americas Symposium in Atlanta! We're ready to start planning what promises to be an exceptional event.

Scheduled just before the NAFEM Show, which will take place from February 26 to 28, 2025, at the Georgia World Congress Center, our Symposium aims to bring together industry leaders for two days of insightful sessions and invaluable networking opportunities.

We need your help! Share your most innovative session ideas covering topics like marketing, kitchen design, business practices, collaboration, and more. Let's make this Symposium unforgettable!

SUBMIT TOPICS

2025 Project Showcase

CLICK HERE TO VIEW PAST ISSUES OF THE PROJECT SHOWCASE

Request for Magazine Contributors

FCSI's Foodservice Consultant is looking for Consultant members to contribute to upcoming issues of the magazine.

If you'd like to share a project or submit an idea for a feature article, contact Tina Nielsen.

This is truly the a great way to demonstrate the FCSI motto of we share, we support, we inspire.

View the magazine here

32nd Annual Golf Scramble and Crab Feast

24th Annual Camacho "Who Loves Ya" Charity Golf Outing

Wednesday September 25, 2024

Bears Best Golf Club

Atlanta, GA

For more information, contact Anja

Membership News

Associate Members

Duane Mikkelson

Foodservice Design Professionals

Kevin Sprague

Foodservice Design Professionals

Results of Membership Vote

The FCSI The Americas Board of Trustees recently put forth a vote to the membership to allow for minor revisions to the bylaws and a potential term extension for current Board members.

Both items passed with a majority vote.

Thank you to all who who voted. Your participation is paramount to the success of the association and we value and appreciate your input.

Continuing Education

Consultant Members - Be Sure to Log Your Required CEUs

Professional members of FCSI must log 12 CEUs, Senior Associates must log 6, and Associate members must log 3 CEUs annually.

Check your membership profile to ensure you are on track for 2024.

FCSI Education Providers offer hundreds of programs to help you you meet your CEU requirement. Check out the calendar of events here and all the Access On Demand programs here. In addition to these programs, many other activities qualify for CEU credit - trade show attendance, factory tours, speaking engagements, etc. If you have questions about eligible programs, please contact Daniel Milana, Professional Development Coordinator for assistance.

Industry News

Compass Reports

U.S LEI fell <0.3%> in March after an increase of 0.2%in February. Over the last 6 months the LEI has contracted by 2.2%.
GDP - Growth came in below expectations at 1.6% for QTR-1. The main growth engine - personal spending rose at a slower pace than forecast at 2.5% (estimate was 3.0%)
Higher than expected inflation rate of 3.4% compared to QTR-1 of 2023 inflation rate of 1.8%. This coincides with consumer prices increasing 3.4% for the quarter.
The restaurant industry saw a moderate job growth in March, overall hiring surged 303,000 jobs while wage gains remain restrained.
On April 25, 2024 the U.S. Department of Labor gave its final ruling on new overtime requirements and exemptions of overtime eligibility. Starting July 1, the minimum eligibility requirement will increase from $35,568 to $55,068 or from $684 per week to $844 per week. Additionally, the overtime compensation changes workers paid $21 per hour or less would now be eligible for overtime pay; up from $17 per hour.
Traffic at convenience stores was up 17% in 2023 compared to 2019, while QSR was up 5% and Full Service was down 8%. At Grocers, traffic was up 12% and super stores 7%.

View full report here .

Quick Links

Foodservice Consultant Magazine

About FCSI The Americas

Update Your Profile

Find Your FCSI TA Chapter

Updated Revit Standards

FCSI has established standards to ensure consistency, optimum functionality and quality of the BIM content provided for foodservice equipment. The standards document has been created in cooperation with input from representatives of the three FCSI divisions APD, EAME & TAD, having formed the FCSI BIM Taskforce of Professional Consultants. The FCSI BIM Taskforce proposes that this document is used as guidelines to assist content creators globally. The objective of this Standard is provided as a template when content creators are commissioned with producing Revit families of foodservice equipment for the manufacturers of foodservice equipment. This document is not catch all to solve all issues in all regions. We acknowledge that some additional work will need to be tailored to suit local applications and codes. View the full document here.

Want to share your stories, projects, or insight?

Headquarters is always happy to feature articles from Consultant Members in the Direct Connection. We encourage you to share your experiences and ideas with the membership!

If you would like to have an article featured in the Direct Connection, email your submission to Penny by the 23rd of each month.