2012 FRLA Supplier of the Year

CTB Foodservice Consultants

The Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association is proud to announce CTB Foodservice Consultants as the 2012 Supplier of the Year. CTB owns and operates CustomTakeOutBags.com and also represents a number of other companies that help foodservice operators improve efficiencies through reducing costs, building brands, filling seats and staff training.  Their portfolio of offerings can be found on their website at www.ctbfsc.com.

As an Allied Member of the FRLA for the last five years, CTB President Jason Fialkoff has found that his relationship with the Association has been very rewarding and has helped him grow the business throughout the state. 

CustomTakeOutBags developed from Jason’s family business which was started by his father and grandfather in 1960.  The company started as a supplier of customized packaging products to department stores in the Northeast.  Over time, the company had to modify its approach as regional department stores began to disappear.  In 2007, Jason and his brother, Eric, were looking to expand the business into the hospitality industry, and they saw Florida as a huge opportunity.  Jason met with Dan Murphy, Vice President of Membership and Corporate Relations for the FRLA; they put together a plan, and he hasn’t looked back ever since.  Nor has the FRLA.

Few suppliers have made such efforts in connecting with the hospitality industry like CTB has.  Jason notes that “…CTB’s business has grown since partnering with the FRLA.   As an Allied Member, CTB benefits from the many opportunities that the FRLA makes available to meet and mingle with members from across the state.”  Further, Jason says “This is a great group of people that we get to not only work with, but also become friends with.  And as we all know, in hospitality, we love to do business with our friends.  The members of the FRLA that I have come to know, love and be fortunate enough to do business with are all very loyal and grateful to the allied members that support their Association”.

Jason and his brother created CTB Foodservice Consultants in 2008 when they began representing other companies to their client base and needed a way to showcase all of the companies (currently seven) under one umbrella.

Since becoming an allied member of the FRLA, Jason and CTB have given their all in getting involved and promoting the interests of the Association.  And involved he is.  Jason is past Chairman of the state’s Allied Members Council and currently serves on the Central Florida Chapter’s board as Vice President of Membership.  Jason also tries to attend other FRLA chapter meetings and events whenever possible.  CTB is also a proud sponsor of many of the state’s events each year.

Dan Murphy has enjoyed working with CTB and notes “Jason has been a hit with our members and staff since his grand entrance as a sponsor at his first FRLA Winter Board meeting in 2007.  I believe he walked away knowing just about all 250 plus people attending the meeting. He could give lessons on how to network at events. He is that good.  He is just one of those vendors that “gets it”. He knows how to take full advantage of the sponsorship and membership opportunities available via the FRLA.  He also understands the importance of giving back to the people and organizations that have helped him and his company grow over the years. He is good stuff.”

When Jason isn’t busy with the business or FRLA he enjoys cheering for the Giants and Yankees and of course his sons Jacob and Colby in whatever sport they happen to be playing.  Jason also has a daughter Kendall who isn’t quite old enough to start sports yet but is ready to go.  He also enjoys boating, wake boarding, going to concerts, spending time with his friends and maybe smoking an occasional cigar.

FRLA is grateful to Jason and CTB Foodservice Consultants for the commitment to the industry and the Association and is looking forward to working with them for a long time to come.  Congratulations on being named the 2012 Supplier of the Year!