News Room

Statement By Leslie G. Sarasin, President and CEO, Food Marketing Institute on Retirement of Tracy Mullin, President and CEO, National Retail Federation (NRF) and Merger of NRF and Retail Industry Leaders Association

April 22, 2009
Washington, DC – (April 22, 2009) – Leslie G. Sarasin, president and chief executive officer, Food Marketing Institute (FMI) today issued the following statement following the announcement of the retirement of Tracy Mullin, president and CEO, National Retail Federation (NRF), the merger of NRF and the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), and the leadership of Sandy Kennedy, president, RILA who is handling the merger transition:


“On behalf of FMI, I wish Tracy much success in her future endeavors; her leadership and representation of the retail industry will be missed by all of us. It will be my pleasure to continue working collaboratively with Sandy on critical industry issues before Congress and the Obama Administration, as well as to support the leadership of the new organization that emerges.”

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Food Marketing Institute (FMI) conducts programs in public affairs, food safety, research, education and industry relations on behalf of its nearly 1,250 food retail and wholesale member companies in the United States and around the world. FMI’s U.S. members operate more than 25,000 retail food stores and almost 22,000 pharmacies with a combined annual sales volume of nearly $650 billion.  FMI’s retail membership is composed of large multi-store chains, regional firms and independent operators. Its international membership includes 126 companies from more than 65 countries. FMI’s nearly 330 associate members include the supplier partners of its retail and wholesale members. 

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