Richard Forbes speaks at The Distributors’ Mid-Year Conference

MC Brooke Hanson and IFDA CEO Richard Forbes

Australia's Convenience retail sector is valued at a staggering $10 billion. Food distributors play a critical role in ensuring those thousands of convenience stores across the nation are provided with food day in day out across the nation. IFDA advocates on the issues impacting those distributors. To that end, it was a pleasure giving members and suppliers an update on our activity at 'The Distributors' Mid-Year conference on the Gold Coast last week. I analysed the election result, the fall out and ramifications for business and provided an update on our core focus areas pre-election and now, post. Cost of Business, specifically Energy prices, Workplace Relations and Competition Policy, continue to be at the forefront. Underpinning our work is continuing to promote the amazing contribution of family owned businesses. Thank you to the MC, former gold medal winning olympian, Brooke Hanson for making the conference so enjoyable and CEO of The Distributors, George Tsapoutas for the opportunity and to all those members I had the pleasure of talking to.

IFDA CEO Richard Forbes speaks at The Distributors Mid-Year Conference 2025