Research

Our Voice of The Food Industry blog offers commentary from FMI subject matter experts on timely and important topics to the food industry.
  • What’s In Your Kitchen?

    Jun 22, 2020
    My freezer, refrigerator and kitchen cabinets have never been this full. And, as I look at the results of our most recent U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends COVID-19 Tracker survey of consumers, it appears that my household is not unique. This food anxiety ...
  • Understanding the Food Retailing Industry During COVID-19

    Jun 1, 2020
    We are surveying our industry during a particularly challenge-riddled time, where COVID-19 has caused our day-to-day store operations and business plans to change dramatically in a very short period. That is why participation in this year’s Speaks ...
  • Food Waste During COVID-19

    May 28, 2020
    We are both single shopper households, and during the COVID-19 pandemic have been lucky to be able to work from home while experimenting with new ways of food shopping and “cooking.” Right in line with a finding in the U.S. Grocery Trends COVID 19 ...
  • Unprecedented Times

    May 21, 2020
    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 ...
  • If We Had a Crystal Ball … What Could Grocery Shopping Look Like in the Future?

    May 15, 2020
    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 ...
  • We’re All In This Together

    Apr 30, 2020
    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, ...
  • COVID-19’s Impact on Grocery Shopping in Just Five Weeks

    Apr 24, 2020
    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 ...
  • Latinx and Black Consumer Adjustments to Grocery Shopping During COVID-19

    Apr 17, 2020
    Over the last few weeks, FMI and The Hartman Group have been tracking how shoppers are finding new ways of grocery shopping during this pandemic. This week, we want to take a closer look at Latinx and Black grocery shoppers compared to all shoppers ...
  • Home is Where the Heart… Wait, Home is Where Everything Is

    Apr 15, 2020
    Helping families of all shapes and sizes share meals together both in home and virtually is a foundational purpose the various parts of the food industry open their respective doors for business each day – even in these coronavirus stressful days. ...
  • Feeding Families in the Time of COVID-19

    Apr 10, 2020
    Americans coping with new realities presented by the COVID-19 pandemic are experiencing increased uncertainty and anxiety about their food procurement. These worries are driven by a combination of a growing concern about the spread of the virus and ...
  • Grocery Shopping in the Time of COVID-19

    Apr 2, 2020
    As consumers experience the unprecedented realities presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and confront the frustrating truths of supply and demand, once ingrained grocery shopping habits have shifted to some new behaviors. As one would expect, shoppers ...
  • What will Help Consumers Accept Gene Edited Food Products?

    Mar 31, 2020
    The FMI Foundation, in collaboration with American Seed Trade Association, Farm Bureau and the Farm Foundation, recently commissioned Dr. Vincenzina Caputo at Michigan State University to conduct research gauging consumer acceptance of gene edited ...
  • Food Industry Leaders Must Learn, Unlearn and Relearn

    Mar 1, 2020
    The trick to navigating this new landscape is being smart about what you need to learn, what you must unlearn and then what you need to relearn. And the key to effective leadership during this era of evolution is first, knowing the degree to which ...
  • Numbers Don’t Lie: Grocery Remains A Steady Hand in Developing the Workforce of Tomorrow

    Feb 23, 2020
    Numbers don’t lie. The food retail industry knows where its strength lies and is making the investment in upgrading skills and technology to develop the workforce of the future. When it comes to our business model, nothing could be more fundamental. ...
  • Omnishopper Size of the Prize

    Feb 18, 2020
    For the past few years, FMI has partnered with Nielsen on important research that does just that—pauses and looks at the state of the omnichannel marketplace for grocery shoppers and reflects on what is happening. In the beginning we focused on ...