Keeping up with the Pace of Change in Food Retail at FMI Connect

By: Margaret Core, Vice President, Industry Events, Food Marketing Institute 

Where do you go to learn about the next hard-to-find item that your customers don’t know they can’t live without?

FMI Connect, the unique gathering for all things food retail, will help you focus on the imperatives of keeping ahead of the accelerating pace of change in the industry. This year, the show will recognize there is a growing need to answer consumer demands and drive retail traffic towards specialty food offerings. In conjunction with the show, FMI is hosting the Connect Business Exchange (CBX), affording retailers and wholesalers the opportunity to schedule one-on-one meetings, free of charge, with the suppliers who best align with their assortment desires. CBX can be leveraged by multiple audiences, as it is designed to solve business challenges by extending your audience reach, expand categories and opportunities for new, valued partners.

CBX is open for business. You simply need to register for FMI Connect and then you’ll have access and can start making your plans. Your CBX Profile allows you to enter information about your business so potential supplier partners who might have exactly what you need.  Then, just like speed dating, food retailers and suppliers are paired together for 30 minute one-one one meetings, either in open tables with CBX or at exhibitor booths. After your series of CBX meetings, you’ll be able to immediately start the progress of getting the right product to your store and customers.

Not sure exactly what you’re looking for at FMI Connect? CBX is a perfect venue to explore service partner relationships and solutions, ask burning questions and find out what other retailers like you are doing.  CBX has Meet & Learn Power Hours table discussions on big issues, like logistics or imports. The Meet & Learn Power Hours are designed to help attendees discuss amongst peers best practices and explore solutions with thought leaders and colleagues with similar challenges.

We also have Meet the Retailers sessions for Supplier Partners to listen in on key retailers corporate objectives and direction. Check out the Schedule.

To learn more about CBX, registration details and more, check out this handy Retailer’s Guide to CBX. As another introductory resource, we are hosting a free CBX Webinar for Retailers and Wholesalers on Wednesday, March 25 from 2:30 -3:30 p.m. EDT. Join me and sign up here: FMI Connect Business Exchange.