Voice of The Food Industry Blog

Unprecedented Times

Throughout this pandemic, FMI has been tracking consumer trends and charting how shopping behaviors are changing to accommodate the unique situation that COVID-19 has foisted upon us in our U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends COVID-19 Tracker. Honestly, the ...

Making the Connection: New Digital Platform Links Buyers and Sellers

To address acute supply chain disruptions and mitigate food loss and shortages, FMI has launched a new subscription-based digital platform that matches retailer and wholesaler members around the country with suppliers, including those who are new to ...

A Dreamy Strategic Plan for Midsummer

FMI’s Midsummer Strategic Executive Exchange provides a unique strategic opportunity for trading partner collaboration to hit the reset button and together identify, prioritize and address the industry’s most pressing business issues. Through ...

If We Had a Crystal Ball … What Could Grocery Shopping Look Like in the Future?

Even in the best of times, most of us would like the ability to take a peek into the future. However, during these unprecedented times, the desire to know what is going to happen next increases dramatically. Since March 21, 2020, FMI has been ...

Understanding Online Order Fulfillment Options

Unprecedented online grocery shopping growth because of COVID-19 has dramatically increased the need for efficiency and better understanding of online retail fulfillment operations. Last week, in a virtual program hosted by FMItech & The Center for ...

Considerations for Food Sector Continuity in a Reopening Economy

As more states begin to move forward with plans to allow businesses to reopen in the coming weeks and months, the food sector must be prepared to effectively transition from crisis operations to a new “normal.” FMI’s latest guide in its series of ...

The Importance of Fresh Foods During COVID-19

The truth is the COVID-19 pandemic has affected all our mindsets and shopping habits. Our U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends COVID-19​Tracker details over a five-week period how Americans are coping with new realities presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. As ...

Eating and Cooking During COVID-19; Lessons in Tart Improvisation

According to the U.S. Grocery Shoppers Trends COVID-19 Tracker survey, 76% of consumers have changed how they eat due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While I do not always plan my meals, 27% of consumers are planning more meals in advance these days. Some ...

We’re All In This Together

Since the early days of the pandemic, FMI staff have been tracking news stories recording the food industry’s responses to their communities. Our tracking is a growing spreadsheet updated daily with nearly 200 rows documenting stories of food, ...

Grocery Heroes: A Half Million Jobs and Counting

We know from our U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends COVID-19 tracker that 25% of Americans are especially worried about having enough money to pay for food. Questions about the emerging job market have resulted in these anxieties and uncertainties ...

A Recipe for Safely Preparing Food at Home during COVID-19

What’s for dinner? It is one of those age-old questions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the question has evolved and it’s not just what’s for dinner, but what’s for breakfast? Lunch? Snack? Dessert?...

Essentially Essential: A First-Hand Account of Value Delivered

In late February, (only two weeks into the job) I was assigned to the Crisis Management Team, a cross-departmental group focused on the looming coronavirus outbreak. It was just a month after I joined the FMI team in the headquarters office that I ...

COVID-19’s Impact on Grocery Shopping in Just Five Weeks

As Americans continue to cope with new realities presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, we are not alone as grocery shopping has shifted dramatically. As I look each week at the results of our U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends COVID-19 tracking surveys of ...

Keeping Food Safety Top of Mind During a Crisis

In today’s circumstances, reinforcing critical concepts of food safety, as well as worker health, are more important than ever. There are several lessons from SafeMark® Food Handler Training that provide key concepts for your staff to understand to ...

Why We Need to Reform Card Not Present Transactions Sooner Rather Than Later

Millions of Americans are trying online grocery shopping for the first time and will continue to use it even after the stay-at-home orders have been lifted. According to our U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends COVID-19 Tracker data, 21% of Americans started ...