July / August 2014

One in six Americans, 53 million people, is Hispanic. The Hispanic population in the United States has grown 43 percent since 2000, and rapid growth will continue.

It's a challenge with a lot at stake. Strong capital management gives companies the quickest, cheapest and most versatile form of capital: cash reserves. Top industry players are using strong net cash balances for purposes like paying off debt and expanding.

Retailers and manufacturers share the same goal: increase sales and improve margins. They also share the consumer–someone who expects an integrated, omnichannel experience, in which their likes and dislikes are "understood" on an individual level.

On June 10th, we had just concluded day one of FMI Connect and a speech by Hillary Clinton coinciding with the release of her book, "Hard Choices," when my phone buzzed with a full screen of missed calls, voicemails and texts.

FMI Connect award programs recognize store-level managerial, culinary and wellness employees and programs that contribute to improving the company and the communities they serve.

In food retail, everything starts with the shopper. We operate in a consumer-driven industry with an inextricably linked value chain – consumers are more in control and they expect an engaging and enjoyable in-store/shopping experience.

Retailers face a number of food safety challenges: supply chains are becoming more and more complex; regulatory requirements are increasing; consumer preferences are changing; prepared foods offered at retail are expanding; and our workforce is changing.

A Letter from the Vice President, Consumer/Community Affairs and Communication As skepticism grows and public cynicism escalates, shoppers are left wondering who is worthy of trust.

Retail Leader had the unique opportunity to get a sneak peek at a few educational sessions of most interest to our readers. GENERAL SESSIONS Nikesh Arora, Chief Business Officer and Senior Vice President, Google, Inc.

The retail industry has embraced the only publication dedicated to its executive management. And to commemorate this milestone, I thought it would be interesting to revisit some of the more notable thoughts that leading retailers shared with us during the past three years.