July / August 2014

When Bo and Trish Sharon decided to make the switch from restaurateurs to grocers, they thought of it as a natural transition.

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.

Ask Paul Scorza, CIO of Ahold USA, about his job, and some of what he says is typical for a technology executive.

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.

How do you convert cash registers to cash flow? Simply put, that's the question at the core of working capital management in CPG retailing. It's a business that usually deals in cash receipts at the point of purchase, with a relatively large and ever-shifting inventory on the front end.

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.

The retail industry has embraced the only publication dedicated to its executive management.

Every business would like to have an accurate crystal ball. But since they don't exist, predictive analytics is the next best thing. Predictive analytics is the systematic study of historical results, of sales or other aspects of a business, to determine patterns and predict future performance.

GMA will host its inaugural Leadership Forum at The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs, Colo., this Aug. 22-24.

Retailers and manufacturers share the same goal: increase sales and improve margins.

A Letter from the Vice President, Consumer/Community Affairs and Communication
David Fikes

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. Store Manager Awards: Now in its fifteenth year, FMI's Store Manager Award program represents our desire to e