INTERNATIONAL
MEMBER BENEFITS
The Refrigerated Foods Association is the leading
association of manufacturers and suppliers of prepared, refrigerated
foods.
Our Association helps companies of all sizes by providing valuable
technical information and support as well as a business network
of other refrigerated foods manufacturers and industry suppliers.
Give yourself the tools to succeed in this growing, competitive
industry by joining today!
1.) Food Safety and
Technical Support
As the leading food safety resource for
the refrigerated foods industry, the RFA takes a proactive approach,
keeping members abreast of the latest food safety and regulatory
news and providing a network of support for their food safety questions
and problems.
- Get immediate answers to your technical questions via the Technical
Hotline. Speak directly to our Technical Director, Martin Mitchell,
an industry expert on food safety and regulatory issues.
- Seek advice and input from other members
via the RFA
Listserv,
an email discussion group covering all
industry topics.
- Attend leading-edge Technical Webcasts and Seminars designed
specifically for our industry.
2.) Food Safety and
Technical News and Research
In addition to the technical support received via the Technical
Hotline and Listserv, the RFA provides members with the
most recent information and research studies on a wide variety
of food safety and regulatory issues, including shelf life protocol,
HACCP, control of Listeria monocytogenes, cross-contamination
by pathogens and allergens and nutritional labeling.
- Stay up-to-date on the latest food safety and technical issues
through the Technical E-News, an email
newsletter sent every other Friday that contains the latest food
safety news articles.
- Gain access to in-depth research on the
important food safety concerns you face within your plant each
day. The RFA conducts
primary research on critical food safety topics, including microbiological
control, HACCP, cross-contamination, allergens, and labeling, all
at the direction of the membership. Resources include completed
studies on a standardized protocol for determining shelf life,
cabbage browning, microbiological status of products, Listeria and
more. In addition, upon joining the RFA, every member receives
the RFA Training DVD (2007) .
For more information on the RFA's Technical Resources, click
here. Also, you can download the 2009 Technical Resources
Update Brochure to see the latest RFA technical activities. Click
here for download information.
3.) Industry Advancement & Development
The RFA is your resource for relevant industry-specific programs
to strengthen your company’s capabilities. The RFA conducts
valuable webcasts, symposiums, and conferences throughout the year
on topics relevant to your specific needs and challenges.
- Gain insights from top speakers and panelists
in the industry at the RFA Annual Conference,
a three-day event featuring valuable speaker presentations on a
wide range of topics relevant to our industry. Stay on top of the
key trends impacting our industry by interacting with experts in
the fields of consumer insights, natural & organic
foods, product innovation, retailer strategies, and cold chain
logistics. For more details on the next RFA Conference, click
here.
- Develop a more effective commodities procurement
program with
our quarterly Commodity Updates and presentations
on effective commodity strategies.
- Attend leading-edge Technical
Webcasts and Seminars designed
specifically for our industry.
- Interact with experts in the fields of
food safety, consumer trends, cold chain logistics and more at
our annual Fall
Symposiums. The Symposiums feature a track
geared toward food safety topics and one geared toward general
industry development topics.
Visit the Events page for a complete
schedule of upcoming RFA events.
4.) Community &
Networking
The RFA is more than a collection of companies: it is a community
of colleagues who are actively engaged in learning from each other
and moving the industry forward.
- Develop a robust network of key industry
professionals. Engage
colleagues in discussing your most challenging issues, learn about
the latest advances, and brainstorm innovative solutions.
- Learn about advances in packaging and
ingredients by interacting with top dedicated suppliers to the
industry. The RFA brings together
the industry’s top suppliers of ingredients, packaging, equipment,
technologies, and services.
- Address your most challenging issues
with key vendors at the One-on-One CEO Sessions at the Annual Conference. The
CEO Sessions are a unique opportunity for the principal decision-makers
from manufacturing companies to meet directly with vendors.
- Work with other members to help move the
industry forward. Get
involved on the various committees to help shape the direction
of the association and nurture the future of the industry.
5.) Additional Benefits
Access to the RFA web site's Members-Only Section -
RFA members receive full access to the Members-Only Section of
the RFA web site, which contains the online Membership Directory,
downloadable Conference and Seminar handouts, past Newsletters
and Technical E-News issues, Message Boards, and more.
Newsletters and Bulletins - Informative quarterly
newsletters and membership bulletins about the Association’s
activities, with industry updates and marketing tips.
Membership Directory - RFA members receive a
complete Membership Directory featuring contact names, addresses,
emails, web sites and product information on the entire membership.
Members are listed by business classification and geographical
location for easy reference. The Directory is also available to
members online.
Interested in becoming a member of the RFA? Click
here to download a Membership Application or apply online.
You can also contact the RFA Office at 770-452-0660 to learn more!
Click
on the following links learn about the many Benefits of Membership with
the RFA:
