FSA HISTORY AND MISSION
About Us
Back in 1948, two Texas trailblazers—Bill Renfro and Jim Burkley—had more than just a good idea. They had a vision: to bring grocery retailers and suppliers together not just to do business, but to build a community. That’s how the Food Sales Association (FSA) was born, and over the years, it became something much greater than just a handshake-and-deal kind of group—it became a driving force in the industry.
By 1999, FSA took a bold new step. They knew the future of food retail wasn’t in boardrooms yet—it was sitting in classrooms, waiting for an opportunity. That’s when they launched the FSA Scholarship Program, making sure the next generation had the tools to succeed.
Fast forward to 2015, and the mission got even bigger. With the creation of the FSA Endowment Fund, the focus shifted from helping a few students today to building a lasting legacy for tomorrow. It became more than just scholarships—it became an investment in the future of the food retailing industry.
Today, the FSA Scholarship Foundation is proof that when vision meets heart, incredible things happen. We’re here to empower hardworking individuals, strengthen communities, and shape the future of a Texas industry that feeds, fuels, and touches us all. Today, we represent 250+ organizations and 600+ industry leaders, supporting the next generation of grocery and beverage professionals.
Our Mission is simple -
The FSA Scholarship Foundation opens doors to higher education for employees and their children through partnerships with Texas Food and Beverage Retailers. By investing in today’s learners, we help build tomorrow’s leaders and a stronger future for the Food and Beverage Industry.
Meet the Board
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
How FSA Scholarships are
An FSA Scholarship can be the opportunity that helps a student turn ambition into a career. For employees and their children, the cost of higher education can be a significant barrier to pursuing a degree, certification, or specialized training. By providing scholarships, the FSA Scholarship Foundation helps make education more accessible—giving recipients the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence they need to build successful futures. Every scholarship represents an investment not only in a student, but in a family, a community, and the future workforce of Texas.
A World of Careers—and a Growing Industry
The Food and Beverage Industry is much more than the people behind the counter or on the sales floor. It is a diverse industry that offers career opportunities in food manufacturing, production, quality assurance, food science, engineering, packaging, logistics and distribution, purchasing, merchandising, marketing, technology, finance, human resources, management, hospitality, culinary arts, sales, and retail. In fact, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects food and beverage manufacturing to add more jobs than any other manufacturing sector between 2024 and 2034, growing from approximately 2.1 million jobs in 2024 to more than 2.2 million by 2034. Food and beverage serving and related occupations are also projected to grow 5% from 2024–2034, faster than the average for all occupations, with more than one million openings projected annually, many driven by the need to replace workers who retire or move into other occupations.
That is why education matters. The Food and Beverage Industry needs people with skills ranging from culinary expertise and customer service to science, technology, business, and leadership. An FSA Scholarship helps students prepare to step into that wide range of opportunities. By investing in today's learners, FSA is helping build tomorrow's leaders—and a stronger, more skilled Food and Beverage Industry for generations to come.
