There are few if any industries more vulnerable to the risks of commodity price fluctuations than food service. In fact, the costs of ingredients and energy can be one of the largest determinants of whether or not a restaurant group, food manufacturer, industrial catering company, or food distributor is able to achieve profitability.

FCStone is a consulting organization that specializes in forecasting, evaluating, and mitigating the risk of price fluctuations in commodities commonly used by the food service industry, including milk, cheese, butter and other dairy products; vegetable oils; grains and oilseeds; sugar; coffee; cocoa; meats and livestock; and energy products.

With roots in the agribusiness industry dating back to 1924, FCStone has a ground-level understanding of the production cycle and supply-and-demand situation for food and energy commodities that is unmatched by any other company.

In dairy, for example, there is no other consulting company that better understands the complex regulatory environment and pricing formulas, and has more experience in managing the extreme price volatility of dairy products, than FCStone.

In addition, with INTL Hanley, LLC as a pioneer in the development and application of Over the Counter tools for commodities, and with FCStone, LLC acting as a Futures Commission Merchant (FCM) on all major commodity exchanges in North America, we understand how to put that knowledge to use in creating effective risk management programs for the food service industry.

FCStone's Integrated Risk Management Program (IRMP) is a proprietary methodology that takes a comprehensive approach to managing fluctuations. We begin by helping you understand and quantify the commodity risks you face. Then, by comparing your performance to our extensive proprietary databases, we help you develop goals for improving your performance and limiting your exposure to risk.

We then work with you to develop a strategic risk-management plan and work with you to execute the plan, using our expertise in risk-management tools and techniques. Throughout the process, we focus on education, accountability, and communication, with one goal in mind: Improving your bottom line.

The price of dairy products, meats, grains, sugar and energy are too unpredictable for most companies to manage effectively on their own. At FCStone, managing volatility and minimizing its impact on your business is what we do best. Contact us and let us work with you to minimize your risk so you can focus on what you do best: Running your business.