By Sue Wilkinson, Senior Director, Information Service & Research, Food Marketing Institute 
In its 64th year, FMI’s The Food Retailing Industry Speaks (Speaks) provides the industry with important operational and financial benchmarks ranging from sales and profits to shrink, turns and differentiation tactics.
For the last 10 years, FMI Speaks has surveyed senior leaders in the food industry on the issues that affect their ability to succeed in the marketplace. In what has come to be a crucial question in the Speaks report, respondents were asked to rate issues that impact their business on a scale 1 to 10, where 10 is the highest impact.
Since its inclusion in the FMI Worry Index, Food Safety has ranked in the top third of leader concerns and registered a 6.5 rating for 2013. While shoppers generally take some responsibility for ensuring that their food is safe, the percentage of shoppers who rely on food retailers to take a stronger role has risen from 25 percent in 2009 to 42 percent in 2014. Shoppers trust their grocery store to ensure that the food they purchase is a safe (91%) and believe that retailers actively work to ensure food-safety standards.
According to FMI U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends 2014, consumers trust food stores in general (30%) and my “primary” store (43%) over other food industry players and even the government. Within the food sector, only farmers enjoy greater baseline credibility from consumers. Shoppers are more willing to trust retailers, particularly their local stores, on issues related to food and wellness. This is especially important for issues related to food safety, health and wellness and even privacy.
Source: Food Retailing Industry Speaks, 2014 (report not yet available)
Industry Topics address your specific area of expertise with resources, reports, events and more.
Our Research covers consumer behavior and retail operation benchmarks so you can make informed business decisions.
Events and Education including online and in-person help you advance your food retail career.
Food Safety training, resources and guidance that help you create a company food safety culture.
Government Affairs work — federal and state — on the latest food industry policy, regulatory and legislative issues.
Get Involved. From industry awards to newsletters and committees, these resources help you take advantage of your membership.
Best practices, guidance documents, infographics, signage and more for the food industry on the COVID-19 pandemic.
