Exclusive Q&A: Phil Kafarakis, National Restaurant Association
A restaurant industry executive's perspective on manufacturer innovation, industry collaboration
Prepared Foods talks with Phil Kafarakis, appointed in 2014 as National Restaurant Association (NRA) chief innovation and member advancement officer. He reports directly to Dawn Sweeney, NRA president and CEO, and is a member of NRA’s executive leadership team. His responsibilities include membership, strategic marketing, product and services business development, innovation, strategic partnerships and international.
Kafarakis has more than 30 years of brand management, business development and strategic planning experience in the food and beverage industry. Prior to joining NRA, he held various executive leadership positions at McCormick & Co., Cargill, Aqua-Novus Corp., Jones Dairy Farm, Oscar Mayer Foods Corp., (where he started his career) and later at Kraft USA.