Food Industry Glossary
Like every industry, the food industry has special terms we use to describe aspects of our business. This glossary can help newcomers learn terminology and help seasoned food industry experts keep up to date.
TERM DU JOUR
slippage
The tendency for consumers to fail to redeem a promotional offer for which they qualify. Marketing plans will often include a projected slippage rate. Most commonly used in the discussion of rebates, for which slippage rates can be significantly (and profitably) high.
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Latest Additions:
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ring
Scanning a product or tabulating a retail price on a register system.
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terg-o-cide
A degreaser used to clean equipment.
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on-the-job-training (OJT)
An instructional method to teach employees skills as they work.
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pack
A standard number of items in a case.
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deduplication
Removing duplicate data across platforms to ensure accurate metrics.
Additional Food Industry Knowledge
Personality Types Among Grocery Stores
May 20, 2026
Every year, our U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends report focuses on a question that is worthy of our consideration. For our 2026 report, we decided to concentrate on the in-store experience—Why do shoppers still go to the grocery ...
Industry Topics address your specific area of expertise with resources, reports, events and more.
Our Research covers consumer behavior and retail operation benchmarks so you can make informed business decisions.
Events and Education including online and in-person help you advance your food retail career.
Food Safety training, resources and guidance that help you create a company food safety culture.
Government Affairs work — federal and state — on the latest food industry policy, regulatory and legislative issues.
Get Involved. From industry awards to newsletters and committees, these resources help you take advantage of your membership.
Best practices, guidance documents, infographics, signage and more for the food industry on the COVID-19 pandemic.
