ABOUT FMI 2010

Caption: FMI president and chief executive officer
Leslie G. Sarasin tells why it is important to attend
FMI 2010 in Las Vegas

Welcome to FMI 2010, the largest and most comprehensive food industry event in North America! Join the world's top retailers and wholesalers to learn the latest tools to expand market reach and keep business on the cutting edge.

Expanded Schedule. The 2010 schedule runs Monday, May 10, through Thursday, May 13, giving you an added day of networking and education sessions.

New Product Showcase. See the latest trends in packaged products, equipment and services right on the exhibit floor!

Relevant Educational Programs

First-rate speakers, seminars and business sessions will present useful information of interest to retailers and wholesalers who are leading today's marketplace. New and improved educational programs will attract FMI 2010 attendees from every aspect of the food industry. That means more qualified attendees will visit your exhibit!

More than 50 workshops covering virtually every aspect of the food industry will be presented throughout each day. Learn from experts how to solve problems, maximize efficiency and how to keep businesses moving forward in the future. The workshops provide an invaluable source of practical knowledge and represent a key reason why they attend.

More important, the workshops serve to stimulate interest in the products and programs being presented on the exhibit floor and in the business suites. Retailers and wholesalers are eager to build on their education experience to see related trends and gain expanded ideas at exhibits. In the workshops they hear about it, but on the exhibit floor they see it, feel it, and experience it.

New products, top exhibitors, a multi-faceted education program and the excitement of Las Vegas are what you will find at FMI 2010. Register today!

Floor Categories

Weighing Trends in Organics

American consumers boosted sales of organic food and beverages in the U.S. to more than $24 billion. Will shoppers sustain the growth of organic purchases, or will the food retail industry see those numbers decline? FMI 2010 will spotlight threats to the organic food industry - competing labels, domestic supply, global trade barriers - as well as new opportunities - organic legislation, scientific research, environmental leadership and consumer demand.

Creating a Sustainable Future

It's no longer just the "right thing" to do; creating, selling and using sustainable food products is a must. Today, Americans are increasingly conscious of the environmental impact of their purchases, and 92% of consumers agree that it's important for U.S. food manufacturers and retailers to become more proactive about addressing pressing environmental concerns. FMI 2010 will spotlight ways to reduce energy consumption and waste, provide renewable, biodegradable products and respond to environmental demands.

Taking Advantage of Private Brands

Brand loyalty is as critical to food retail as it is to any other industry and studies show that consumer loyalty to private label store brands is growing - especially when shoppers have to make their grocery dollars go farther. In fact, 97% of shoppers will purchase the same amount or more private brands in the grocery store. FMI 2010 will spotlight ways to maximize tight budgets by promoting private label brands.

Making Technology Work for You

Retailers of all sizes are looking for affordable ways to leverage technology to streamline their business processes, facilitate communication with customers and suppliers and lower operational costs. At least 80% of retailers rely on scanners, electronic benefit transfer, security, in-store signage, label and coupon production and other technological systems to boost productivity. FMI 2010 will spotlight ways retailers can take advantage of the latest business and customer applications in food retail technology.

Getting Fresh

Even during tough economic times, shoppers are looking for healthy, fresh food alternatives. American consumers have learned to study food packaging labels to monitor their sugar and salt intake, count calories and, ultimately, trim their waist lines. In fact, new product launches for diet-branded foods increased sustainability in recent years. FMI 2010 will spotlight ways to help families maintain their healthy eating habits with fresh, diet-friendly, make-it-yourself foods.