The American Frozen Food Institute concluded AFFI-CON 2026 with record attendance, welcoming more than 1,800 frozen food industry professionals from across the supply chain. The event held in San Diego, California February 21-24, recognized industry leadership and the debut of the trade association’s new consumer campaign: “Fresh Thinking About Frozen.”
“This year’s record participation reflects the momentum and resilience of the frozen food industry,” said AFFI President and CEO Alison Bodor. “AFFI-CON continues to be where leaders come together to exchange ideas, address shared challenges and shape the future of frozen.”
Fresh Thinking About Frozen
The “Fresh Thinking About Frozen” campaign is a digital-forward communications initiative designed to increase consumer appreciation of frozen food’s quality, nutrition and role in reducing food waste.
“It is about sharing the positive story of frozen food,” said Bodor. “Frozen foods deliver whole food nutrition and real meal solutions for modern consumers.”
Industry stakeholders may access campaign resources at www.FrozenAdvantage.org and follow AFFI’s new Instagram account for content and messaging tools.
New Board Leadership
During AFFI’s Annual Membership Meeting, members elected new officers, executive committee members, and directors to its Board.
The 2026 AFFI Board officers are: Chair Debbie Radie (pictured at top of story), chief quality stewardship officer at Boardman Foods; Chair-Elect Jeff Preston, ArdoVLM’s managing director in the Americas; Immediate Past Chair Suvan Sharma, president of Jain Farm Fresh Food (pictured below).
The Executive Committee, serving alongside the officers, includes: Tracey Beck, vice president and chief counsel for marketing and government affairs at Conagra Brands; Rick Holdren, executive vice president of manufacturing and logistics and chief operating officer at Pictsweet Company; Kelley Martin, vice president of foodservice sales in North America for Nortera; Rebecca Scheidler, senior vice president and general manager of consumer foods at J.M. Smucker Co.
Newly elected Board of Directors members serving three-year terms include: Rick Anderson, chief executive officer of the Harvest Food Group; Marco Cruz, managing director of Superior Foods International; Dale Goyer, chief executive officer of Twin City Foods; Eugene Imm, head of strategic branding and marketing of Ajinomoto Foods North America; Kelley Martin, vice president of North America foodservice sales at Nortera; Suvan Sharma, president of Jain Farm Fresh Foods; John Tentomas, chief executive officer of Nature’s Touch Frozen Foods; Keith Tiegs, chief executive officer of Oregon Potato Company.
Celebrating Industry Excellence
AFFI-CON 2026 honored leaders whose work continues to shape the frozen food business. Asun Romero, executive director of global supply at Superior Foods International received the AFFI Woman of the Year Award, which recognizes outstanding leadership and lasting contributions to the frozen food industry. She was honored for her decades-long impact on the global frozen food supply chain, professionalism and integrity, and her role as a mentor to the next generation of industry leaders.
AFFI also recognized three new members of the Frozen Food Hall of Fame, recognizing individuals and families whose dedication and leadership strengthened not only their companies, but the frozen food industry as a whole. The 2026 inductees represent decades of service and a shared commitment to advancing frozen foods as an essential part of the global food system. They are: Paul DiGenova, general manager of commodities at Nortera; Richard Marks, former chairman of Arbre Group Holding Corporation’s board of directors; Frank Tiegs (posthumous), founder of Oregon Potato Company.
