Learn How to Better Serve Your Customers Through Educational Sessions and New Products, Services and Solutions on Exhibit Floor

ARLINGTON, VA — December 14, 2009 — Food Marketing Institute’s (FMI) new biennial event, FMI 2010, will help retailers, wholesalers, suppliers and service providers understand what their customers want and need. By showcasing emerging opportunities and delivering new consumer insights, the food industry will gain new insights into how to better connect with customers. Registration is now open.

“Customer Connect is our new, fully integrated program that ties together the general sessions, workshops, exhibits, networking events and special trading partner meeting opportunities — all geared toward helping the food industry better meet the needs of customers,” said FMI President and Chief Executive Officer Leslie G. Sarasin. “FMI 2010 will engage key decision makers from every part of the industry and from around the world. The educational sessions and exhibits will help businesses connect with customers at the store level and influence their decision making.”

Six educational paths representing key issues for the industry will give attendees the opportunity to learn new skills, exchange solutions and build new relationships to better connect and serve shoppers:


  • Consumer Trends — The Next Evolution of Shopper Behavior

  • Future Connect Leadership Development

  • Health and Wellness

  • Private Brands Innovation

  • Sustainability — Healthy Planet

  • Technology-Enabled Business Solutions

MARKETECHNICS® will not occur as a stand-alone event this year as technology is featured as a critical component of FMI 2010. In fact, this year's programming recognizes the fact that technology is now fully integrated into industry business and is represented in that way throughout FMI 2010’s education path and exhibits. The consumer education sessions that focus on social media and other new aspects of technology complement traditional technology sessions. MARKETECHNICS® will be held in rotation with FMI’s education and exhibit biennial event.

The Customer Connect program will feature opportunities for companies to set up business appointments during Strategic Collaborative Exchange meetings for senior level executive retailers, wholesalers, independent operators, manufacturers, suppliers and service providers.

The exhibit floor will feature more than 400 companies showcasing new products, services and solutions. The focus will be on five core concepts — Consumer Trends, Health and Wellness, Private Brands, Sustainability and Technology.
A Customer Innovation Zone will include supplier presentations focusing on cutting-edge consumer research, innovative marketing and merchandising strategies, product innovation and category development.

In addition, the new Supermarket Health & Wellness Conference will be held in conjunction with FMI 2010 and provide strategies and tactics for companies to capitalize on the emerging opportunities and ways to help consumers better manage their health. Click here to register to attend the Supermarket Health & Wellness Conference May 11-13, 2010, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV.

For more information on FMI 2010 and to register, please click here.