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.
A Vision to Win
Values that Guide Success
Integrity
Ownership
Value
Imagine More
Teamwork
Pivotal Points of Growth
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2001
IMA launches with a foundation built by great family businesses in American foodservice. -
2002
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
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
Nicholas and Company joins the IMA membership, adding additional broadline distributor presence in the Southwestern U.S. -
2006
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.
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2011
The CAN program launches to compete with group purchasing organizations (GPOs), allowing for additional shared leverage and collective buying power across the membership. -
2013
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.
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2015
Rob Mould joins the company as President and CEO. -
2018
IMA’s deli portfolio and EXCLUSIVE BRAND, Cobblestreet MKT.®, is optimized and repositioned for market relevancy. -
2019
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
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.
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2021
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
Executive Team
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Rob Mould
President & CEORob 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.
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Stella Molina
Vice President of MarketingWith 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.
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Heather Thrasher
Vice President of Category ManagementWith 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.
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Rebecca Frazier SHRM-SCP
Director – Human ResourcesWith 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.
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Rolando Cantú
Director of Category Management – Grocery, Commodities, & ImportsWith 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.
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Chris Ignash
Director of Category Management – Non-Food & BeverageChris 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.
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Stephanie Proske
Director of Category Management – Bakery, Dairy, & FrozenWith 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.
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Valerie Strong
Director – Food Safety Quality AssuranceWith 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.
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Neil Burley
ControllerWith 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.
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.
