Food and beverage industry experts invited to participate
in Report On Business® Survey

(TEMPE, Ariz.) July 30, 2007 - Those involved in the food and beverage industry play a significant role in today's economic activities and input from purchasing leaders in this field is valuable when examining the status of the nation's economy.

The Institute for Supply Management, source of one of the nation's most highly regarded economic reports, the ISM Report On Business®, currently has an opening for additional food and beverage-based professionals in purchasing and supply management to participate in the monthly Report On Business® survey by joining ISM's Business Survey Committee. The primary commitment of committee members is to respond online to monthly and semiannual surveys.

A certain number of respondents from the food, beverage and tobacco sector are included in the survey results in order to accurately reflect the industry breakdown with the gross domestic product (GDP). Respondents must also meet certain other criteria to be included in the monthly survey.

Each month, Business Survey Committee members from both the manufacturing and non-manufacturing sectors are asked to assess their organization's performance based on a comparison of the current month to the previous month by completing a brief survey. The survey results are released in the monthly ISM Report On Business ®, considered by many economists to be the most reliable near-term economic barometer available.

Complete anonymity and confidentiality is maintained at all times. Business Survey Committee members are also asked twice a year to answer survey questions for the Semiannual Forecast reports.

For those interested in being considered for participation in the monthly survey, please visit: http://www.ism.ws/ISMReport/ROBSurvey.cfm?navItemNumber=12952

As the largest supply management institute in the world, the mission of Institute for Supply ManagementT (ISM) is to lead supply management. By executing and extending its mission through education, research, standards of excellence, influence building and information dissemination - including the renowned monthly ISM Report On Business® - ISM continues to extend the global impact of supply management. ISM is proud to recognize professional excellence in supply management with awards such as the ISM R. Gene Richter Awards for Leadership and Innovation in Supply Management and the J. Shipman Gold Medal Award. ISM's membership base includes more than 40,000 supply management professionals in 75 countries. Supply management professionals are responsible for trillions of dollars in the purchases of products and services annually. ISM is a member of the International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management (IFPSM).

ISM defines supply management as the identification, acquisition, access, positioning and management of resources and related capabilities the organization needs or potentially needs in the attainment of its strategic objectives. Further, supply management is: future oriented, senior-management critical, strategic in relation to the competitive imperatives of the organization, and a significant contributor to marketplace intelligence and profitability. Components included under the supply management umbrella are: purchasing/procurement; strategic sourcing; logistics; quality; inventory control; materials management; warehousing; transportation/traffic/shipping; disposition/investment recovery; distribution; receiving; packaging; product/service development and manufacturing supervision.