NEWS

34th Annual Partnership Conference – Press Release

For Immediate Release

SEFA HOSTS ANNUAL PARTNERSHIP CONFERENCE VIRTUALLY

September 14, 2020

SEFA recently hosted its first-ever virtual Partnership Conference. This year marked the 34th
anniversary of the annual event, originally slated as an in-person conference to take place in
Austin, TX. Instead, SEFA was able to bring together over 420 Dealers and Suppliers for group
sessions, more than 950 individual meetings, and a virtual award celebration using its online
meeting platform.

“It’s important for us to tap into the power of the SEFA community by bringing our Dealers and
Suppliers together, said Kelly Cain, CEO. “Our virtual conference provided a platform for those
connections and collaboration to happen and we’re very pleased with the results. Recognition
is engrained in our culture, and a virtual awards presentation allowed us to celebrate our
partner’s success.”

Among the awards presented was SEFA’s Member of the Year. This award is the highest honor
given to a SEFA Dealer. Avanti Restaurant Solutions, Inc., Costa Mesa, CA, captured this highly-
respected distinction for outstanding growth, innovation, and market leadership. Driven by a
strong set of values, Avanti is widely recognized for its engaging company culture. They have an
eye on the future and are constantly looking for ways to leverage technology to give them more
exposure, reach, and increased efficiency which translates into creating value for their
customers. Accepting the award was Mark Rossi, Avanti CEO, and Founder.

The highest distinction a Supplier can earn is Supplier of the Year and the honor went to Hatco
Corporation. They achieved significant growth within the group as a result of their bold
innovation in equipment, commitment to training, and strong dealer relationships. Accepting
the award were Mike Whitely and Mark Pumphret.

In addition to honoring our Dealers and Suppliers, certain individuals are in a class of their own.
Since training is part of our DNA, the Trainer of the Year award is close to the heart of SEFA. We were excited to present this award to Glenn Lawless, Metro, for his passion, enthusiasm,
and excellence in training. The Executive of the Year award is presented to a leader who
demonstrates integrity, courage, generosity, and passion for our industry. SEFA respectfully
honored Marc Israel, Great Lakes Hotel Supply, with this special accolade.

Additional Dealers and Supplier Award Winners recognized for their growth and market
leadership included:

Dealer Awards
C & T Design & Equipment Company, Inc., Indianapolis, IN – In-Sync with Excellence Award
Supplies on the Fly, Kennesaw, GA – Pinnacle of Success Award
Johnson-Lancaster & Assoc., Clearwater, FL – Pacesetter Award
B & G Restaurant Supply, Pittsfield, MA – Insider Award
Circle of Excellence Winners –
AIMCO Equipment Company, Little Rock, AR
Acme Paper & Supply Co., Savage, MD
Breckenridge Kitchen Equip. & Design, Huron, OH
High Achievers –
Cook’s Direct, Warrenville, IL
Associated Food Equipment & Supplies, Gulfport, MS
Reinhart FoodService, Chicago, IL

Supplier Awards
Champion Industries – Outstanding Supplier: Heavy Equipment
Structural Concepts – Outstanding Supplier: Specialty Products
Convotherm – Outstanding Supplier: Cooking
Edlund Company – Outstanding Supplier: Supplies
The Middleby Corporation – Partnership

A video replay of the event is available upon request.

About SEFA
SEFA, LLC is a nationwide network of leading supply and equipment dealers and vendor
partners. Founded in 1986, SEFA has grown to be the industry’s leading foodservice buying,
marketing, and training group. SEFA strengthens its partners through the delivery and
development of professional business services.