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About Us

A Powerful Network of Foodservice Distributors

Exclusively for Market Share Leaders

The alliance makes up the largest network of foodservice distributors in the U.S. Built strictly to power better business, IMA offers members unparalleled service, impactful business planning, and support in the most critical areas across the distribution supply chain. Working for its distributor members, IMA is a perpetual negotiator and expert navigator—and the key to greater market influence and control.

Together, we bring more to the table.
Mission

A Mission to Serve

We leverage insights to differentiate and create value with integrity, working with our distributor alliance to distinguish them as the best in the foodservice industry. With a focus on innovation, IMA is leading the way with new and innovative products that keep pace with customer demands. Our members benefit through increased sales and profitability, achieving approximately $43 billion in combined revenue yearly.

Vision

A Vision to Win

At IMA, we push ourselves to go farther and be better, faster, and more efficient—all to drive results for our distributor alliance. We advocate on our members’ behalf so they can deliver superior top-line and bottom-line results. Through our differentiated EXCLUSIVE BRANDS, quality tiers, and cost saving measures, we provide the sales force with confidence in selling and the operator with the highest level of trust and reliability to fuel their business.

Values that Guide Success

integrity

Integrity

Do what we say we’ll do
ownership

Ownership

Be solutions oriented
value

Value

Deliver value every day
imagine

Imagine More

Restless dissatisfaction

Teamwork

Collaborate and celebrate

A History that Endures

It started with a foundation built by great family businesses in American foodservice.
Those institutions became IMA in 2001, pooling their resources to compete with the combined strength of a national entity while retaining their independence. Each of our member companies began in their own niche, then independently grew into strong, regional distributors.

Today, IMA gets results:

  • Members outpacing industry growth levels
  • Achieving approximately $43 billion in combined sales revenue

  • Leveraging buying power to lower cost of goods
  • Continuing to develop new and innovative products
  • Driving e-commerce growth through GS1

Pivotal Points of Growth

2001

2001

Original Founders Launch the Independent Marketing Alliance (IMA).
IMA launches with a foundation built by great family businesses in American foodservice.
2002

2002

First Broadline Distributor Members Join IMA and EXCLUSIVE BRAND Portfolio Emerges.
Reinhart Foodservice, Allen Foods, Institutional Jobbers Company (IJ Company), Conco Food Service and Shamrock Foods Company join with IMA as its first members, culminating in 17 distribution centers across the U.S. The EXCLUSIVE BRANDS are created and the first Merchandising Conference is established.
2003

2003

Footprint Grows and IMA Launches First Top to Top Conference.
Maines Paper & Food Service, Inc., joins IMA, adding a greater footprint to the broadline membership with representation in the Northeastern U.S. IMA launches its first Top to Top annual conference, a model industry forum for members and suppliers.
2004

2004

Broadline Distributor Membership Continues Growth.
Nicholas and Company joins the IMA membership, adding additional broadline distributor presence in the Southwestern U.S.
2006

2006

Core Services Expand to Include Quality Assurance.

IMA’s Quality Assurance (QA) Department is created to build one of the industry’s strongest programs, ensuring the delivery of a high quality, safe, and consistent EXCLUSIVE BRAND portfolio to its members and customers.

2011

2011

CAN Program Provides Catalyst for Sales Growth.
The CAN program launches to compete with group purchasing organizations (GPOs), allowing for additional shared leverage and collective buying power across the membership.
2013

2013

New Marketing Programs Launch to Enhance Member Services.

IMA launches a tiered category management and branded portfolio strategy, introducing Distinctions, Originals, and Foundations quality tiers; Merchants Foodservice joins IMA, adding presence to the Southeastern U.S.

2015

2015

New President is Hired to Lead IMA.
Rob Mould joins the company as President and CEO.
2018

2018

The Deli Category Sees Optimization.
IMA’s deli portfolio and EXCLUSIVE BRAND, Cobblestreet MKT.®, is optimized and repositioned for market relevancy.
2019

2019

IMA Expands Membership Again to Further Reach Across the U.S.
Y. Hata & Co. and Harbor Foodservice join IMA to round out broadline presence in the Northwestern U.S. and Hawaii. Rejuv®, IMA’s beverage solutions EXCLUSIVE BRAND, goes through a repositioning for market optimization.
2020

2020

Exclusive Brands Realize New Opportunities and Events Rally Despite Global Pandemic.

IMA launches IMPACT Responsibly Sourced Goods™ to communicate sustainable business practices across its entire EXCLUSIVE BRANDS portfolio. Brickfire Bakery®, IMA’s baked goods and premium desserts EXCLUSIVE BRAND, is repositioned and launched for market optimization. IMA hosts its first Virtual Accelerate Merchandising Conference, a digital experience allowing for national participation across the entire membership and supplier community.

2021

2021

IMA celebrates 20 years of growth with newest member, PFG

IMA’s Top to Top conference proves that the alliance will continue to build on its 20-year track record of expanding market share with supply chain excellence and enhanced sales training and enablement; PFG joins the IMA membership, furthering national presence with more than 100 distributor locations nationwide.


Leadership that Inspires

IMA is led by a strategic, adaptive, high-performing team with extensive experience in the foodservice industry. From the top down, we excel in serving every member and supplier. As individuals who work as a team, we strive to learn, take action, and grow—with energy, integrity, and heart.

Executive Team

Rob Mould President & CEO

Rob Mould
President & CEO

Stella Molina Vice President of Marketing

Stella Molina
Vice President of Marketing

Heather Thrasher Vice President of Category Management

Heather Thrasher
Vice President of Category Management

Rebecca Frazier SHRM-SCP Director – Human Resources

Rebecca Frazier SHRM-SCP
Director – Human Resources

Rolando Cantú Director of Category Management – Grocery, Commodities, & Imports

Rolando Cantú
Director of Category Management – Grocery, Commodities, & Imports

Chris Ignash Director of Category Management – Non-Food & Beverage

Chris Ignash
Director of Category Management – Non-Food & Beverage

Stephanie Proske Director of Category Management – Bakery, Dairy, & Frozen

Stephanie Proske
Director of Category Management – Bakery, Dairy, & Frozen

Valerie StrongDirector – Food Safety Quality Assurance

Valerie Strong
Director – Food Safety Quality Assurance

Neil Burley Controller

Neil Burley
Controller

  • Rob Mould President & CEO
  • Stella Molina Vice President of Marketing
  • Heather Thrasher Vice President of Category Management
  • Rebecca Frazier SHRM-SCP Director – Human Resources
  • Rolando Cantú Director of Category Management – Grocery, Commodities, & Imports
  • Chris Ignash Director of Category Management – Non-Food & Beverage
  • Stephanie Proske Director of Category Management – Bakery, Dairy, & Frozen
  • Valerie StrongDirector – Food Safety Quality Assurance
  • Neil Burley Controller
  • Rob Mould
    President & CEO

    Rob Mould joined IMA in October 2015 as the company’s President and CEO with 20 years’ experience in the foodservice industry.

    Previously, Rob served as Group Vice President of Merchandising Execution for Southeastern Grocers, the parent company of BI-LO, Harveys, and Winn-Dixie grocery stores. Rob lead in various management roles and was an officer and in senior leadership positions with several major retail chains.

    Rob earned his bachelor’s degree from Washington and Lee University and his MBA from University of South Carolina.

  • Stella Molina
    Vice President of Marketing

    With IMA since 2016, Stella is an accomplished senior marketing executive offering a unique mix of highly developed brand and marketing expertise, strategic planning proficiency, consumer insight and trend driven new product development and business management skills with proven results. She has significant experience contemporizing/repositioning foodservice and consumer brands, providing marketing direction for aggressive business innovation and driving measurable growth.

  • Heather Thrasher
    Vice President of Category Management

    With IMA since 2016, Heather has successfully managed COP categories worth nearly $1 billion. She has over a decade of experience leading foodservice initiatives with proven procurement, category development, FSQA, strategic planning, and negotiation expertise. She enjoys bringing new innovative items to life for the benefit of all IMA members, supplier partners, and their collective customers.

  • Rebecca Frazier SHRM-SCP
    Director – Human Resources

    With IMA since 2012, Rebecca is a seasoned professional with over 18 years of Human Resource Management and Administration experience in various industries. She is a passionate leader, linking Human Resource Management to strategic goals and objectives to improve business performance and develop organizational cultures that foster innovation and flexibility.

  • Rolando Cantú
    Director of Category Management – Grocery, Commodities, & Imports

    With IMA since 2017, Rolando has extensive experience in category management and planning. He is experienced in recognizing market needs and portfolio gaps then implementing strategic plans to capitalize on new growth opportunities in the assigned areas.

  • Chris Ignash
    Director of Category Management – Non-Food & Beverage

    Chris joined IMA in 2022, with over fifteen years of foodservice and category management experience. He is recognized for his skills to identify revenue generation opportunities, improving profitability, and directing cost reduction initiatives.

  • Stephanie Proske
    Director of Category Management – Bakery, Dairy, & Frozen

    With IMA since 2021, Stephanie has worked in the foodservice industry for over 10 years. She is experienced in procurement, supply chain, sourcing, and leading successful foodservice initiatives in the Bakery, Dairy, & Frozen portfolio.

  • Valerie Strong
    Director – Food Safety Quality Assurance

    With IMA since 2011, Valerie has 14 years of Quality Assurance experience. She is a recognized leader in developing key FSQA related processes and initiatives. She is excited to continue to improve the IMA Food Safety and Quality Assurance programs while helping ensure quality products are provided to our members.

  • Neil Burley
    Controller

    With IMA since 2019, Neil is an ex-CFO with over 35 years of successful financial leadership in companies ranging from early stage start-ups to “turn-around” high growth and mature company environments. He is responsible for all aspects of accounting and finance at IMA. And as he has shown us, his attention to detail and accounting controls is legendary. Neil is as comfortable closing the books as he is presenting to the Board of Directors! He has really enjoyed learning the food services industry while bringing his skills and experience to the table for IMA.

  • Rob Mould President & CEO
  • Stella Molina Vice President of Marketing
  • Heather Thrasher Vice President of Category Management
  • Rebecca Frazier SHRM-SCP Director – Human Resources
  • Rolando Cantú Director of Category Management – Grocery, Commodities, & Imports
  • Chris Ignash Director of Category Management – Non-Food & Beverage
  • Stephanie Proske Director of Category Management – Bakery, Dairy, & Frozen
  • Valerie StrongDirector – Food Safety Quality Assurance
  • Neil Burley Controller

A Diverse Culture That Innovates

At IMA, positive results for our business and our members are a direct result of our clearly-defined unique culture. We are a diverse set of individuals from all walks of life, and though we are unified professionally, we embrace our differences and take pride in the characteristics that set us apart and make us who we are.
IMA Team

A Culture that Engages

We’re learning-focused, community-minded, and action-oriented—and we truly enjoy what we do. Through our Strengths to Celebrate Committee (SCC), the IMA family enjoys activities organized by team members, for team members.

  • Community Outreach – We support a diverse group of organizations including No Kids Hungry, Shriners Hospital for Children, Houston Food Bank, Rise Against Hunger, and Box of Balloons, to name a few.
  • Continuing Education – Lunch and learn series, Dale Carnegie seminars, and more.
  • Ongoing Recognition – Anniversary awards and team member recognition quarterly and yearly.

Join our diverse team and bring more to our table.

Become part of the team that’s defining the future of foodservice and having a great deal of fun along the way. We’ve built a culture that finds the leader in every individual, and values innovation, action, and integrity.