About me
Phil Kafarakis is a global food industry executive with more than 40 years of leadership experience in food manufacturing, as well as managing non-profit food industry associations. Currently, Phil serves as President & CEO of IFMA The Food Away from Home Association, a U.S. trade group representing food, beverage, packaging, and equipment manufacturing companies within the $1.4 Trillion Food
Away from Home industry.
Prior to his IFMA appointment, Phil served as President of the Specialty Food Association (SFA) representing more than 4,000 small and emerging food entrepreneurs in the $160 Billion U.S. Specialty Food Industry and previously, as Chief Innovation & Member Advancement Officer at the National Restaurant Association (NRA), the leading business association for the $900 Billion restaurant industry. Preceding his executive leadership with the non-profits, Phil successfully led and managed foodservice and retail businesses at McCormick & Co., Cargill, Jones Dairy Farm, and Kraft.
He is a graduate of Northern Arizona University (BS Business) and Georgetown University (Exec. MBA), a Forbes contributor, and frequently quoted and sought after food industry speaker who also volunteers on several industry Boards.
