January / February 2016

Rodney McMullen, CEO of publicly traded general retailer Kroger, and Chris Gheysens, CEO of the Wawa convenience store chain, both are risk-takers in emphasizing true innovation, a tangible point-of-difference value proposition, and a rare high-quality company culture. You'll enjoy reading about ho

Not long ago I was waiting at the deli counter of my local supermarket when I saw a young couple nearby, perusing a printed circular in search of bargains. I had to fight down an impulse to tell them, “You’re millennials!

Retailers no longer want to be boxed into a single store format. Superstore chains will give up some of their mega to gain market share.

Digital technology gives both CPG manufacturers and retailers more opportunities to reach consumers directly. Is it possible for them to do that in a way that helps them both?

The divide between poorly performing food retailers and those that are in strong financial position will only increase as borrowing becomes more expensive, according to analysts. The Federal Reserve has kept interest rates near zero for several years, but is now considering increases that would li

A Letter from the President and CEO
Leslie G. Sarasin

The goal of FMI's Community Outreach Awards program is multilayered. We seek to capture some of the creative and meaningful ways supermarkets interact and support their local community, and we want to showcase the good that grocers do in their neighborhoods by sharing the stories of their service.

For the first time, the World Health Organization (WHO) published a report on the global burden of foodborne diseases, including startling statistics that 30 percent of all deaths from foodborne diseases are in children under the age of 5, with 125,000 dying each year; 600 million people get sick e

The year 2015 was busy in the world of payments, and 2016 is shaping up to be just as consequential. The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) has long been a leader in developing policy and best practices with regards to electronic payments in the grocery industry.

They say beginnings can be scary. Being faced with the unexpected, taking a risk on something new or being a trendsetter is never easy.

The omnichannel retailer trend is beginning to mature. Amazon opened its first physical store, and many large retailers have announced "buy online, pick up in-store" options across their entire store network. However, the analog in omnichannel marketing is still in its infancy.

It seems fashionable these days to hire outsiders to fill retail executive positions.