On Wednesday, August 3, members of local businesses and the foodservice industry met with Congressman Dave Brat at the Legacy Foodservice Alliance offices in Glen Allen, Virginia. The group discussed a range of topics from the untapped power of small businesses to the current election and the impact it will have on small businesses and the distribution industry.
“Small businesses make up more than 70% of the US workforce – and yet their voice is muted compared to the larger corporations with more money, and that gives those corporations a louder voice in influencing legislation.” said Brat. Brat continued, “Small businesses are led by quiet, polite people that look out for their employees and work hard to build their businesses.” Brat encouraged attendees to get involved with the NFIB (National Federation of Independent Business) and leverage their numbers to inject change and improvements in laws and regulations.
Legacy Foodservice Alliance CEO, Steve Push commented about the continued burden of high corporate income taxes, especially on small businesses. Brat commented that, “Small businesses don’t normally have the means to shield their profits by keeping them outside of the United States. Which means that these companies pay some of the highest income tax rates of any of the developed countries in the world.” Brat, who has spent much of his career as an economist, is a staunch advocate for lower corporate income taxes.
Also in attendance was Carolyn West, Manager of Government Relations for the International Foodservice Distributors Association. Carolyn thanked the Congressman for his continued pro-business stance on legislation, and for his position on tax reform. Carolyn is from IFDA’s nearby Washington office.
About Legacy Foodservice Alliance
Legacy Foodservice Alliance is a national organization that combines the purchasing power of more than 160 Independent Food Distributors and 600 Suppliers, to bring the best products at the best prices. Legacy was established in 2009 by people who are well known names in the foodservice business. Drawing on decades of cumulative experience and positive influences of the past, Legacy continues to build the Distributor Group of the Future. Legacy is a member of IFDA. For more information, visit http://legacyfoodservicealliance.com
About IFDA
The International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA) is the trade association of the foodservice distribution industry. IFDA members deliver to professional kitchens across America, and other places around the world. IFDA members include broadline, systems, and specialty foodservice distributors that supply food and related products to restaurants, colleges and universities, hospitals and care facilities, hotels and resorts, and other foodservice operations. In the U.S. alone, foodservice distributors deliver approximately 27 million cases of product every business day. Membership includes approximately 160 foodservice distributors and buying groups in the US and abroad representing annual sales of $150 billion. For more information, visit www.ifdaonline.org
About Dave Brat
Congressman Brat is a resident of Henrico County, and is a first term Congressman, representing the 7th District of Virginia. His district includes the City of Richmond, and the counties of Henrico, Chesterfield, Hanover, Goochland, Spotsylvania, New Kent, Louisa, Culpeper, and Orange. He is a member of the House Budget Committee, Education and the Workforce Committee, and Small Business Committee. He is also a recipient of a 2016 Thomas Jefferson Award from the International Foodservice Distributors Association.
For more information, visit https://brat.house.gov
Source: Legacy Foodservice Alliance
