Private Brands Goes to Washington

By Doug Baker, Vice President, Private Brands, Food Marketing Institute

Last week the FMI Private Brand Council held its first Washington, D.C. Summit. This event was the culmination of a year’s worth of evaluating what is currently offered by the FMI Private Brand Council and industry. The group came to our nation’s capital because of the growing number of issues taking place here including regulatory topics, Nutrition Facts Panel changes, GMO legislation, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA), and consumer demands topics such as transparency. The group was able to talk to key government stakeholders and learn about FMI resources on how best to address each topic. 

Mike Taylor, Deputy Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) kicked off the meeting and discussed the Nutrition Facts Panel, menu labeling legislation and FSMA. This was followed by representatives from the Senate Agricultural Committee, who discussed the recent hearing on GMO legislation on the Senate floor.

In addition to regulatory and legislative topics, the Council spent time with FMI functional leaders on the work FMI is doing to support the industry and their respective companies. Through the FMI Board of Directors, there are a number of resources, both in people and tools, which have been employed and developed to aide our members. Hillary Thesmar, PhD, RD, who leads FMI’s Food Safety Department, reported on recalls from 2014 through year-to-date. She showed the group that unclaimed or inaccurately labeled allergens are driving recalls. This was alarming to the group because it is one area that should be easily managed and maintained with appropriate oversite and diligence. On a positive note, recalls due to pathogens have improved over the last few years.

Along the same “food safety” topic, Safe Quality Food Institute Senior Director John Schultz, talked to the group about the benefits of SQF’s GFSI accredited program to ensure companies are focused on safety and benefits for upcoming FSMA regulations. 

From the industry, Private Brand Council members listened to companies, IX-One and Digimarc, on executing against industry initiatives around traceability and consumer transparency. In addition, Oliver Wyman provided the Council with an in-depth look at the changing landscape of the U.S. grocery retail industry.

For myself, this first annual D.C. Summit far exceeded my expectations and it validated why I joined FMI almost two years ago. The industry is changing at a rapid pace and the private brand industry is at an inflection point in this change. FMI and the Private Brand Leadership Council are uniquely positioned to lead the private brand industry through this change. It is my pleasure to play a small part and work alongside some of the brightest and best in the private brand industry. I invite you to join us.

For more information on the FMI Private Brand Leadership Council, contact Doug Baker.