The International Foodservice Distributors Association recently announced the winners of the 2023 IFDA National Championship.
This event, which celebrates safety and skill, draws drivers and warehouse professionals from all over the country, where contestants compete in different categories ranging from written examinations to obstacle courses and pre-trip inspections. This year marks the first time the event included a new warehouse competition.
The warehouse competition will allow the industry’s top pallet jack and reach truck operators to showcase their safety skills and excellence.
The 2023 IFDA Championship Winners are:
Straight Truck
- 1st Place: Dan Crabtree of Nicholas & Company
- 2nd Place: Leonardo Bonilla of Nicholas & Company
- 3rd Place: Neal Blevins of Ben E. Keith Foods
3-Axle (28-foot Tractor/Trailer)
- 1st Place: Steven Jones of Nicholas & Company
- 2nd Place: Ambrose Casaus of Shamrock Foods Company
- 3rd Place: Jason Swordling of Ben E. Keith Foods
5-Axle (53-foot Tractor/Trailer)
- 1st Place: Justin Dougan of Performance Food Group
- 2nd Place: Mark Ditscheit of Performance Food Group
- 3rd Place: Steven Rouse of Performance Food Group
Reach Truck
- 1st Place: Noi Tanthongsack of US Foods
- 2nd Place: Timoteo Pereira of Ben E. Keith Foods
- 3rd Place: Antonio Garcia of Sysco
Double Pallet Jack
- 1st Place: Sebastian Johnson of Upper Lakes Foods
- 2nd Place: Jackson Volkers of Shamrock Foods Company
- 3rd Place: Kevin Perryman of Performance Food Group
Nicholas & Company was awarded the Team Award with the highest average score amongst their drivers.
A Rookie of the Year award, given to the first-time driver with the highest score, was presented to Ambrose Casaus of Shamrock Foods Company.
Individuals were also honored for receiving perfect written exam scores. They included: Luis Reyes of Ben E. Keith Foods, Daniel Kramer of Gordon Food Service, Manuel Martinez of Gordon Food Service, Joaquin Cuadras of McLane Foodservice, Adrian Duran of McLane Foodservice, Steven Jones of Nicholas & Company, Justin Dougan of Performance Food Group, Trevor Garner of Performance Food Group, Troy Maierhofer of Performance Food Group, Fernando Zaragoza of Performance Food Group, Kevin Perryman of Performance Food Group, Josh Goddard of McLane Foodservice, Jackson Volkers of Shamrock Foods Company, and Patrick Brandon of Performance Food Group.
Four warehouse competitors received a perfect score on the double pallet jack pre-trip: Kevin Perryman of Performance Food Group, Josh Goddard of McLane Foodservice, Jackson Volkers of Shamrock Foods Company, and Patrick Brandon of Performance Food Group.
“It's an honor to recognize the industry's top talent for their commitment to safety and excellence,” said Mark S. Allen, president and CEO of IFDA. “The foodservice distribution industry's 135,000 professional drivers and 181,000 professional equipment operators deliver 12 billion cases of product to customers every year, sustaining one million professional kitchens across America.”
