Fresh Foods

By: Rick Stein, Vice President, Fresh Foods, Food Marketing Institute

With over 20 years at one of the nation’s leading food retailers, I know a thing or two about fresh. I’ve been in a number of areas of the food retail industry throughout my career—from store level produce stand, to category management to marketing operations. Now I’m with the Food Marketing Institute helping create a space for FMI members to engage on a pre-competitive platform regarding fresh innovation.

FMI has historically been perceived as the association for supermarket CEOs. But that’s evolved to better represent all areas of the food retail business. We’re looking at issues that cover both the center and perimeter of the store and focused on areas like food safety and government relations that impact the total store. Through our newest initiative, Total Store Collaboration, we’re providing avenues for rethinking traditional food retailing and how we deliver on our brand promises to our respective customers.

With fresh in particular, I’m working with our members on priority and emerging issues like produce safety and the local food movement. I also hope to build a community among fresh executives and help them be more successful as a unified voice. As a strong start, I have the commitment among FMI members who joined the Fresh Foods Executive Council, including, Giant Eagle, Inc.; Affiliated Foods, Inc.; Publix Super Markets, Inc.; Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc.; Harris Teeter, Inc.; Longo Brothers Fruit Markets Inc.; Wakefern Food Corporation; Heinen's Fine Foods, Inc.; Hy-Vee, Inc.; Lowes Foods, LLC;  Brookshires.; and Wegmans Food Markets, Inc.. 

Fresh continues to be a point of differentiation among supermarkets, and FMI wants its members to gain value from our efforts both legislatively and educationally. To be a part of our Fresh Food Executive Council and learn more, please contact me at rstein@fmi.org.