Forging Industry Success at Vollrath University
In a year marked by dynamic change across the food and beverage industry, Stoelting Foodservice, a division of The Vollrath Company, LLC, gathered its seven distributor partners at Vollrath University in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, for the highly anticipated 2025 Biennial Distributor Meeting. This exclusive, in-person event wasn’t just about catching up—it was a strategic summit designed to address core F&B trends, arm partners with vital new insights, and build the relationships that drive the hospitality industry forward.
The food and beverage sector is experiencing fast growth in 2025, with restaurant owners and hospitality managers seeking fresh approaches to changing labor landscapes and evolving consumer preferences. At the Stoelting meeting, thoughtful conversations and actionable presentations empowered attendees to tackle these challenges head-on.
Why Strong Industry Partnerships Matter More than Ever
Food & Beverage Collaboration: Lifting All Boats
In a market where innovation and efficiency separate leaders from laggards, it’s no wonder that the Stoelting Distributor Meeting focused on next-level partnership. Distributor partners aren’t just customers for the company—they’re the backbone of Stoelting’s mission to provide premium frozen dessert equipment solutions across the food service industry.
As Henry Case, Vollrath’s director of projects and specifications, shared (vollrathfoodservice.com), “Our distributor partners are the backbone of our success. Bringing everyone together in Wisconsin reinforces our commitment to growing together in an increasingly competitive food & beverage market.”
What Sets Stoelting Apart in the Beverage Industry
By investing in regular, hands-on education at venues like Vollrath University, Stoelting demonstrates industry leadership and a commitment to food and beverage sustainability. These events provide more than networking—they’re an opportunity for hands-on training and deep dives into category-specific issues from menu innovation to food safety trends.
Meeting Highlights: Adapting to Food and Beverage Trends in 2025
Sales Training for Chains, Marketing Mastery, and Tech Innovations
Stoelting tailored its agenda to align with current and future food & beverage needs:
- Targeted chain account sales training, empowering both new and experienced distributors to capture market share in rapidly expanding segments.
- Product updates highlighting the latest in frozen dessert equipment, high protein yogurt dispensers, and beverage technology designed for plant-based dining and viral flavors like ube and pistachio milk.
- Strategic advice on hospitality technology, integrated food service management, and restaurant marketing—a lifeline for food and beverage directors or procurement directors seeking an edge.
- Actionable service optimization sessions, ensuring foodservice executives and institutional buyers are prepared to deliver excellent food and beverage services.
Exploring Adaptogen Drinks & Menu Innovation
Adapting to consumer demand, Stoelting’s food and beverage company experts showcased the impact of adaptogen drinks (from mushroom-infused to CBD/THC drink options), vegan alternatives for healthy meals near me, and the partnerships needed to bring sustainable food brands to a wider marketplace.
Factory Tours: Embracing American-Made Heritage
The highlight for many was the guided tour through Stoelting’s Wisconsin manufacturing corridor. Witnessing precision American manufacturing up close isn’t just inspiring—it signals to food and beverage managers and industry professionals that Stoelting backs its product line with deep-rooted local food sourcing and a genuine investment in food and beverage sustainability.
Actionable Insights for Food & Beverage Leaders
Navigating Labor Challenges & Consumer Demands in the Hospitality Industry
All foodservice executives know the stakes: labor shortages and evolving diners’ desires are reshaping the hospitality landscape. Stoelting prioritized hands-on workshops that delivered:
- Playbooks for responding to labor gaps with hospitality technology and smart equipment
- Menu engineering tips for capitalizing on healthy food near me and best [cuisine] restaurant near me searches (see winning strategies here)
- Data-driven insights into food safety trends, local food sourcing, and the impact of sustainable food brands on today’s family dining in [city name]
Service Training for Lasting Guest Loyalty
Attendees left with a renewed understanding of how to collaborate with authorized Stoelting service partners, ensuring consistently excellent experiences for every customer—whether it’s a bustling QSR or an upscale scoop shop.
Expert Insights: Positioning for F&B Growth
The food and beverage industry’s future will be powered by the companies and distributors who use education to stay ahead. As the market shifts, food and beverage managers, institutional buyers, and hospitality managers need to keep one eye on today’s consumer trends (think ube, high protein yogurt, and plant-based options) and the other on operational excellence.
Notably, partnerships like those formed at the Stoelting Distributor Meeting fuel the resilience of food and beverage companies nationwide—spurring innovation, supporting the beverage industry, and continually raising the quality bar for food and beverage services from coast to coast.
For a deeper dive into hospitality technology reshaping foodservice, check out Tech Trends Transforming the Foodservice Landscape. And for more on plant-based trends, see how beverage innovators are driving healthy hydration in this feature.
Practical Takeaways & Best Practices
- Strengthen Network Ties: Build alliances with top equipment brands and local partners for supply-chain success.
- Embrace Menu Innovation: Test trending ingredients and flavors—ube, pistachio milk, adaptogen drinks, and sustainable food brands—to keep menus fresh and enticing.
- Prioritize Service Training: Invest in staff development for lasting brand loyalty and improved food safety standards.
- Leverage Data: Use digital tools and market research for targeted restaurant marketing and food industry awards potential.
- Champion Sustainability: Support American-made products and local sourcing wherever possible to bolster food and beverage sustainability.
Looking Ahead: Driving Long-Term Growth in Food & Beverage
Stoelting’s biennial meeting is more than a catch-up; it’s a blueprint for the future of food and beverage management. Whether you’re a seasoned food and beverage director, a procurement director scoping out the next big thing, or a hospitality manager wanting an edge in menu innovation, it’s events like these—and the takeaways they deliver—that ensure your business stays nimble, sustainable, and ahead of the curve.
Ready to ignite your own growth and connections in the food and beverage industry? Connect with Stoelting Foodservice and discover the solutions awaiting your next food and beverage success story at stoeltingfoodservice.com.
For exclusive food and beverage news, trends, and more industry-leading insight, be sure to explore all that Food & Beverage Magazine has to offer.
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Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's “Top 40 Under 40” for founding American Wholesale Floral. Politz is also the founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
