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Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

January 24, 2019

1 Min Read
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The annual NRN Power List is the definitive list of people setting foodservice trends today and shaping them for tomorrow. See the full list >>

Jan Risi, president and CEO, Subway Independent Purchasing Cooperative

When it comes to foodservice supply chains, Jan Risi, as president and CEO of Subway’s Independent Purchasing Cooperative Inc., oversees a powerhouse.

The Miami-based franchisee-owned cooperative, which Risi formed with Subway founder Fred DeLuca in 1996, annually manages more than $5 billion in food, packaging, equipment, supplies and other services for Subway operators.

IPC serves 30,000 franchised restaurants in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, negotiating the lowest prices for purchased goods and services and finding ways to improve quality for operators of the brand, which is based in Milford, Conn., and owned by Doctor’s Associates Inc.

Powerlist_quotes_Risi_1.jpgRisi also serves on Subway’s strategic planning council, which has seen the brand expand from 7,000 units in the late 1990s to more than 40,000 restaurants worldwide now.

Risi started her career as a commodities buyer with Ralston Purina Co. in 1981 and has worked with such other restaurant foodservice brands as Burger King, Chef America and Jack in the Box.

And Risi credits her success, according to a Miami Herald quote on the website of her alma mater, DePauw University, to hiring people “smarter than me.”

The Power List

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About the Author

Ron Ruggless

Senior Editor, Nation’s Restaurant News / Restaurant Hospitality

Ron Ruggless serves as a senior editor for Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN.com) and Restaurant Hospitality (Restaurant-Hospitality.com) online and print platforms. He joined NRN in 1992 after working 10 years in various roles at the Dallas Times Herald newspaper, including restaurant critic, assistant business editor, food editor and lifestyle editor. He also edited several printings of the Zagat Dining Guide for Dallas-Fort Worth, and his articles and photographs have appeared in Food & Wine, Food Network and Self magazines. 

Ron Ruggless’ areas of expertise include foodservice mergers, acquisitions, operations, supply chain, research and development and marketing. 

Ron Ruggless is a frequent moderator and panelist at industry events ranging from the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) conference to RestaurantSpaces, the Council of Hospitality and Restaurant Trainers, the National Restaurant Association’s Marketing Executives Group, local restaurant associations and the Horeca Professional Expo in Madrid, Spain.

Ron Ruggless’ experience:

Regional and Senior Editor, Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality (1992 to present)

Features Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1989-1991)

Restaurant Critic and Food Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1987-1988)

Editing Roles – Dallas Times Herald (1982-1987)

Editing Roles – Charlotte (N.C.) Observer (1980-1982)

Editing Roles – Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald (1978-1980)

Email: [email protected]

Social media:

Twitter@RonRuggless

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ronruggless

Instagram: @RonRuggless

TikTok: @RonRuggless

 

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