WASHINGTON, DC — July 8, 2004 — The latest consumer, design and development trends in today’s competitive and changing retail marketplace will be explored at the 2004 Food Marketing Institute (FMI) Retail Store Development Conference, October 24 – 26, Orlando, FL. The only annual meeting designed by and for supermarket store development executives, the conference will provide a comprehensive overview of critical industry issues and highlight valuable opportunities for growth.

“The ever-changing environment in which supermarkets exist demands innovation and modernization in order to meet the customer’s expectations and desires,” said FMI Retail Store Development Committee Chair Katie Chernau, director, construction/facilities, Ukrop's Super Markets, Inc. “This conference will give store development executives the tools and information to better perform their jobs and support their company’s strategic business goals.”

The conference will focus on a range of topics utilizing a variety of educational formats:

• General sessions on key industry issues such as current and future consumer trends, achieving differentiation in design, and designing for and creating the customer experience.
• Concurrent workshops on an array of subjects such as visual merchandising, modeling alternative formats, Hispanic shopper trends, store maintenance challenges, site development issues, and new rules and risks in asset management.
• Idea exchanges on common challenges such as modeling segmentation and store format, store acquisitions and forecasting, lease exclusions and restrictions, alternative design and materials, and green/sustainable designs.

     

In addition to the comprehensive education program, the conference will feature a sponsor showcase, tours of Orlando-area stores and numerous networking opportunities.
     

The corporate sponsors of this conference include ArchitecturePlus International, Carlson AirFlow, Dakota Worldwide Corporation, Design Services Group, Kysor Panel Systems, Seasons-4 and Zero Zone, Inc.

New Research Unveiled

FMI’s Facts About Store Development 2004 report — providing the latest data on new store development trends such as store size, departments, services and development costs — will be unveiled at the conference.
     

For more information on the 2004 Retail Store Development Conference, please contact Laurie Gethin (202-220-0715, lgethin@fmi.org) or visit www.fmi.org/events.