Government Relations

The Unintended Consequences of an Excise Tax

The COVID-19 pandemic forced unprecedented expenditures by state and local governments. Many cities and states now face an uncertain budget picture moving forward. Given this fiscal uncertainty, the FMI State Affairs team is on the lookout for any ...

Retailers Pay Too Much to Accept Debit Cards. We Can Change That.

In the world of payments of policy, we often have to take the long view and the incremental wins along the way. Right now, we are on the precipice of what could be one of those incremental, but very important wins: Late last week the Federal Reserve ...

Grocers Kept America Fed Throughout the Pandemic Despite Major Challenges

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed almost every facet of our lives since the first cases appeared in the United States late last winter, so it’s no surprise that it’s had a major impact on what Americans are eating and where they’re getting their ...

The Ups and Downs of Food Prices

Food prices definitely did rise in 2020. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s analysis of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) found that prices for “food-at-home” (i.e., purchased from a grocery store or other retail format) increased by 3.5% ...

Speaking from the Heart on Valentine’s Day

I am seizing this opportunity to issue this blog as my heartfelt Valentine’s Day card to the food industry, the community I have always admired and respected, but have come to appreciate and dare I say, love, in some new and more profound ways over ...

Test Your Industry Trivia Knowledge

Let’s test your food and industry knowledge. If you answer correctly, then you could probably compete against our inaugural LEAD Trivia Tournament champions, who were crowned at our FMI Executive Midwinter ...

What is Happening With SNAP?

There have been several developments in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)over the past several weeks. Since these developments are happening on multiple fronts, we thought it would be helpful if we compile the most important ...

How the Food Industry Can Write the Next Normal

At our 2021 Midwinter Executive Conference, Leslie Sarasin, FMI president and CEO, addressed how the food industry can write the next normal post-COVID-19....

You Are Essential: COVID-19 Vaccine Communication Toolkits

For nearly a year, we have been navigating a national health emergency in response to the coronavirus pandemic. As part of an industry deemed essential to the nation’s COVID-19 response, FMI members have been and continue to be a critical component ...

Celebrating Supermarket Employee Day

On February 22, 2021, I will be celebrating the hard-working heroes of the supermarket by joining with the industry to proclaim it Supermarket Employee Day. The supermarket has long been acknowledged as the backbone of our communities, but its role ...

Resolutions Re: Solutions for 2021

I found it refreshing to read David Orgel’s recent article How to Be Ready for Anything in 2021 in Drug Store News. It isn’t so much a piece about predictions and resolutions for a new year. It’s more of a preparedness “how-to” for retailers as they ...

Public Advocacy Landscape in 2021

While 2020 has presented a once in a lifetime challenge for the food industry, FMI’s public policy team in conjunction with our members, state association leaders and others in the industry have been able to tap into experience and connections to ...

2020: The Year of the Food Industry

From the cashiers and stockers to the store managers and executives, the drivers and food processors and pharmacist and nutritionists, to the data analysts, delivery experts and farmers, our industry is filled with true Food Industry Heroes who have ...

A Look at the 2020 Congressional Election Results

Female congressional candidates crushed records. There will be at least 142 women serving in the House and at least seven women serving in the Senate. The previous House record was 102 women (set in 2019) comprised of 89 Democrats and 13 ...

Why the Food Industry Cares About Climate Change

Addressing food and environmental concerns across the supply chain isn’t simple work. It will quite literally take farm to fork working together to make change. For this reason, FMI was pleased to join the Food and Agriculture Alliance (FACA)....