By: Margaret Core, Vice President, Industry Events, Food Marketing Institute
This year, FMI Connect will focus on the imperatives of keeping ahead of the accelerating pace of change in food retail. The catalysts for change represent competition, operational efficiencies and consumer considerations – all of which are enabled by technology.
We have an impressive group of retailers, wholesalers and supplier partners joining together to focus on these key areas for the food retailing business. I hope you see the value too and join us.
Competition
The food retail landscape is shifting beneath us in order to respond to a new wave of shopping patterns. According to the Food Retail Industry Speaks 2014 report, both traditional and non-traditional food retailers worry about competition. Independents rated competition from non-traditional food retailers as a higher concern than traditional food retailers. At the same time, regionals and chains rated competition from traditional food retailers higher. Both felt the impact from competition would continue to grow in the next year with challenges coming from channels catering to lower-income households, supercenters as well as from online and restaurant sales.
FMI Connect attendees will see first-hand what is on the horizon for the food retail industry so they are better armed to compete in today’s tough market. From workshop speakers to in-depth keynote presentations to exciting new products on the exhibit floor, FMI connect can help address your company’s competition concerns.
Improve Efficiencies
According to the SPEAKS research, sales gains in 2013 were up 3.3 percent over the previous year, yet identical store sales gains were -0.06, or flat. This means food retailers have to do more with less and improve efficiencies throughout their stores and companies.
FMI Connect attendees will learn more about emerging technologies, new business solutions and better connect with suppliers so food retailers can better serve their customers in more efficient ways.
Consumer Considerations
Consumers today are increasingly concerned about where their food comes from and how it got to their grocery store. The informed and educated shopper presents new opportunities for food retailers around food safety, health and wellness, technology, fresh foods and private brands. The year’s FMI Connect pavilions in the FMI Expo dive deeper into these focus areas and workshop tracks help attendees better prepare for addressing the consumer’s needs of today.
Throughout the next month, we’ll be diving deeper into each area of FMI Connect and what to expect. You can start diving deeper now by:
Follow us on our Voice of Food Retail blog by subscribing or on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn to learn more about what to expect at FMI Connect. Learn more and register at www.fmiconnect.net.
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