May 12, 2015

A Priority Stop for Food Retail Pharmacy, Nutrition, Marketing and Merchandising Professionals

By: Cathy Polley, RPh, Vice President, Health & Wellness, FMI & Executive Director, FMI Foundation
FMI Connect Health and Wellness Zone

If you’ve read FMI’s 2014 report on Retailer Contributions to Health and Wellness, which I hope you did, then you already know that food retailers are investing  more than ever before in health and wellness programming.  In fact, 61 percent of the retailers we surveyed for the report indicated their companies’ overall health and wellness programs and activities increased moderately or significantly between 2013 and 2014. More impressive still, 96 percent of food retailers reported a commitment to expanding their in-store health and wellness initiatives in the coming years. It’s no surprise then that an overwhelming majority of respondents identified health and wellness as a significant business growth opportunity.

To help FMI members actualize these opportunities and connect the dots between healthy people and healthy profits, we’ve created a Health and Wellness Zone on the expo floor at FMI Connect. This 2,000+ sq. ft. area will introduce you to professionals focused on answering the demands of today’s health-conscious shoppers. We’ve vetted an exclusive list of exhibitors to ensure the products and services they promote are focused on helping retailers like you plan, implement and evaluate health and wellness programs. Here’s a shortlist with some of the exhibitors you’ll meet in the 2015 Health and Wellness Zone:

Whether you’re a retailer with robust health and wellness offerings or a retailer who’s just getting started, you can’t afford to miss the Zone. You’ll see how other retailers are approaching retail health, learn about new program options from health experts and make the connections you need to continue moving your company forward.  With free health screenings available to all attendees, I can promise you that the Zone will offer unparalleled opportunities for experiential learning.

To add even greater value to your experience, we’ve invited a great mix of speakers to present quick “Healthy Bite” education sessions on the Zone’s demonstration stage.  Each “Healthy Bite” will provide listeners with the insights and knowledge they need to stay relevant in today’s competitive environment. Here’s a taste of what the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation will be dishing out during their “Healthy Bite” presentation, Building a Culture of Health in the Retail Setting—How Retailers and Researchers Can Join Forces. 

Healthy Eating Research (HER), a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), supports research that has the potential to promote healthy eating among children to prevent childhood obesity, especially among those groups at greatest risk. With RWJF's new commitment to building a culture of health for all Americans, HER is embarking on funding researchers to identify strategies necessary to make healthy foods and beverages affordable, available, and chosen in all communities. Come learn more about the RWJF’s efforts helping all children grow up at a healthy weight, the cutting edge retail research currently being funded by HER, and future opportunities for partnerships between retailers and researchers.

And if it’s a healthy brunch bite you’re looking for, we’re thrilled to invite you to join us and our premiere sponsor, Kellogg ‘s, on June 10th for brunch on the expo floor. In addition to celebrating Kellogg’s contributions to health and wellness, we’ll announce the winner of the 2015 Retail Dietitian of Year Award. This annual award, presented by RDBA, recognizes a dietitian who shows leadership in utilizing business skills and industry knowledge to positively impact consumer behavior change through the retail sector.   

Visit www.fmiconnect.net for more on the five pavilions and more at FMI Connect.