Louisville, KY - The National Food Service Security Council (NFSSC), the leading trade association for loss prevention and risk management professionals in the casual dining and quick service restaurant chain industry has announced it is expanding membership categories to include qualified franchisees and vendor companies.

“For the first time ever NFSSC is opening its membership doors to franchisee operators and vendor companies serving the multi-unit food service industry,” said Cliff Stepp, CPP, Director of Assets Protection at Yum! Brands, and President of the NFSSC.  “For the past couple of years we have had inquiries from both the franchise and vendor community expressing desire in becoming members of NFSSC.  I am pleased that our Board of Directors has agreed to extend membership opportunities to these important sectors of our community.”

A new Associate Member category will be created giving franchisees and vendors non-voting member rights, however still providing other member benefits.  Cost for Vendors will be $750 per year, while Franchisee organizations of member companies can join for $250 per year.

“By being able to add members from these business sectors, NFSSC will become more diverse in our learning and educational offerings.  We also believe that these new voices will be able to strengthen our position within the industry and better prepare NFSSC for going forward with our mission and objectives,” added Stepp.  “NFSSC has always been about education and networking within the restaurant industry’s corporate professional loss prevention structure.  Now we have the unique ability to add even more elements to that equation.”

NFSSC will host its 31st annual conference, August 1-4, 2010, in St. Louis.  The event will feature keynotes, educational sessions and workshops, exhibits, scheduled practitioner/vendor meetings, and a host of entertaining networking functions. 

For more information about NFSSC membership or the annual conference, please contact Jim Forlenza, Executive Director, jim.forlenza@nfssconline.org, or at 240-252-5542.       

NFSSC brings together loss prevention, safety and risk management professionals from the major casual dining, quick service restaurant and food service chains for educational networking, benchmarking and professional development opportunities.  The mission of NFSSC is to educate and inform its members on those topics that help improve and enhance the safety and security of their employees and customers, while being an advocate for the food service industry.  NFSSC members include 15 of the 20 largest U.S. quick serve chain restaurants.