Education

Hazardous Waste: What Does This Mean For Food Retail?

You may not think the food retail industry manages hazardous materials; however, if not handled properly, everyday items like bleach, florescent bulbs, aerosol cans, batteries and expired pharmaceuticals can be considered ...

Culture Leads the Road to Success

High-performing cultures in industries from airlines to grocery to banking maximize the play, purpose and potential felt by their people and minimize the negative ...

Meat Matters in More Ways Now Than Ever

Last week while attending the Annual Meat Conference, my colleagues told me that I should be ready to be impressed by the industry and its people. And, I was! Every session provided insights and opened my eyes to the breadth and depth of meat in ...

New Synergies in the Food Association World

In a break with tradition, AFFI President Alison Boder and I agreed that an interview format might be a more interesting way to discuss the “State of Food Retail and What It Means for Frozen,” so she interviewed me on ...

Energy Trends Reflecting Today’s Shopper

Contrary to numerous media stories, Millennials are still seeking in-store shopping experiences despite their growing interest in ecommerce. Retailers are working to create energy-efficient and sustainable shopping environments to not only meet the ...

Top Trends (and My Finds) from the 2018 Fancy Food Winter Show

Last month I traveled to San Francisco to staff the FMI and SQF food safety attendee information area at the Fancy Food Winter Show. We had a great booth experience with many attendees interested in our food safety accreditation program. In addition ...

Store Managers Are All Heart

In a world where social media, digital ads and the latest apps are all accessible, it becomes a point of differentiation to have quality, meaningful connections with people. That’s where store managers come in....

Midwinter in Retrospect

FMI’s Midwinter Executive Conference always offers a whirlwind of ideas, experiences, exchanges, and activities, and the 2018 version was no exception. At Midwinter, so much happens so fast, I find it challenging to take in the significance of what ...

Hackers and Auditors: A Love Story?

If there were two professions pulled together by unlikely fate, it’s auditors and hackers. This oft-unmentioned relationship always begins unknowingly, but the thrill of the challenge leads two polar opposite roles down a tumultuous path. A love ...

How the Role of Store Managers Has Changed

While the role of a store manager still requires a friendly face and a strong work ethic, just like the evolving marketplace, their duties are being ...

Photo Friday: FMI and SQF Visit Specialty Food Association’s Fancy Food Show

This week, Robert Garfield, senior vice president, and LeAnn Chuboff, vice president of technical affairs, of the Safe Quality Food Institute presented at Specialty Food Association’s Fancy Food Show in San Francisco, California....

What Is a Food Incubator?

A friend of mine is a backyard, urban chicken farmer. She uses a traditional egg incubator to nurture, protect and grown her precious eggs into newborn chicks. Whenever she has tried to leave the eggs to fend for themselves, disaster has struck. ...

The Potential for Artificial Intelligence in Food Retail

According to a fall 2017 MIT study, 85 percent of executives believe artificial intelligence will transform their companies, but only one in five have done anything to begin incorporating it into their ...

Strategic Questions for the Last Mile Challenge in the Digitally Engaged Marketplace

That last mile, from the retailer to the consumer - indeed, the most expensive mile - is the puzzle we are working to solve. Throughout the industry, a number of models are being tested and questions are being ...

Food Retail’s Golden Age of Experimentation

Just as the Golden Ages of art, literature and even television helped to shape society and stimulate a culture of creativity; this era of digital experimentation will further transform the future of food and enable food retailers to ...