Retail Operations

State of the Industry: Asset Protection in Food Retail

A can of soup, a stapler, a trophy—what do these items all have in common? Their ability to protect you in the case of an active assailant threat. Recently, we received active assailant training at FMI. As part of this training, we were asked to ...

The Good News Remains: Both Consumers and Retailers Have Choices

Despite the uncertain economic environment we find ourselves in currently, consumers remain largely resilient and flexible in their purchasing decision-making. While concern over inflation and out-of-stocks continue to be top of mind for shoppers, ...

Mitigating Labor Shortage and Workforce Challenges Through Employee Satisfaction

Developing employee satisfaction is the secret ingredient of employee management. It takes a complicated mix of modern leadership, coaching, training and engagement, but the result is an employee that wants to stay at your company and ...

This National Nutrition Month Become a MyPlate Partner

March is also the perfect time to join together with USDA to help promote the food groups included in MyPlate. For over a decade, USDA has collaborated with the MyPlate National Strategic Partners, a varied group of companies and organizations all ...

Six Imperative Issues Facing the Food Industry in 2023

The articles in this year’s Boardroom volume 8 reflect FMI’s Imperative Issues Framework. Boardroom continues to provide analysis and recommendations through the lens of the food industry's imperative issues – from supply chain and workforce ...

Recapping The Third Annual Supermarket Employee Day

Everyday supermarket employees work within their communities to ensure families and neighbors are fed and receive fresh wholesome products to support their health and well-being. In recent years, the world has acknowledged how truly essential these ...

Drumroll Please: Introducing the 2023 Class of FMI Store Manager Awards Nominees

In addition to celebrating the hardworking people who make up our industry, we want to pay special attention to the store managers who are the heartbeat of local supermarkets across the globe. These devoted leaders embody their company’s vision and ...

The Impulse Equation for Nonfoods Items

It wasn’t that long ago when most shoppers were a captive audience at the checkout stand, prone to scanning the rack while waiting and tossing in a pack of gum, a tube of lip balm, hair ties or maybe some batteries. Of course, while such last-minute ...

Technology-Driven Consumer Loyalty

We’ve got some unique circumstances facing the food industry currently. While we know from our 2022 The Food Retailing Industry Speaks report that food retailers and suppliers are facing pressures like inflation, supply chain issues and workforce ...

Coupons, Packaging and Home Meal Prep – Oh My!

At the FMI Midwinter Executive Conference, our speakers addressed: The Complexity of Coupons; The Biggest Challenges, Opportunities and Strategies That Lie Ahead for the CPG Industry; and Evolving Eats—What’s Cooking with ...

How Retailers Can Take Back Seasonal GM Sales

If you’re going to do it, do it right. That phrase extends to many aspects of life and business. In the food retail industry, the advice especially resonates in category management, as retailers must determine what products to carry and how to best ...

Celebrating Our Supermarket Heroes

February 22nd marks the annual Supermarket Employee Day, a special day dedicated to recognizing and celebrating the hard-working individuals that keep supermarkets running. As a grocery store employer, this is your day to shine and show your ...

Where Food and Technology Meet

While the competition and presentations at FMITech at Midwinter enlightened attendees to the latest and greatest our industry has to offer in technological advancements, the Lunch and Insights presentation by Laurie Demeritt of The Hartman Group ...

You’ve Stirred It Up! Now Let It Simmer.

The food industry put both its best foot forward and its best food forward at the 2023 Stir It Up! event. The closing event of the 2023 FMI Midwinter Executive Conference, this fundraiser for the FMI Foundation featured six kitchens pitting their ...

Five Ways To Be A Better Manager In The Food Industry

In 2021, the food retail industry experienced 48% turnover in their overall retail workforce. While retailers have engaged in a number of programs to decrease turnover such as offering better wages/salaries, improved benefits, training/skills ...