The Retail Management Certificate Program is Expanding

By: Cynthia Brazzel, Director, Member Relations and Advocacy, Western Region, Food Marketing Institute

Established in 2000 by the Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC), the Retail Management Certificate is an industry-led accredited community college business program that provides food retail employees with the most relevant skills and competencies needed for managerial success. Through the program, students learn the key skills needed for retail management career progress. 

FMI is committed to helping scale the program so that the industry can invest in and retain a talented workforce. We’ve been working closely with WAFC to scale the program nationally, and just this last year 12 new colleges were approved to offer the certificate program. Now the Retail Management Certificate Program is available in Illinois Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee and Wisconsin, along with several new approved colleges in Texas. 

Recently, the Retail Management Certificate Program got an even bigger boost with a $2.9 million grant to develop programs at approved community colleges and offer scholarships. The grant, distributed by the League for Innovation for the Community College, is called Brighter Futures and awarded community colleges can expand the program to a wider number of students by offering incumbent grocery employees free courses or reduced tuition. With these added resources, we have the opportunity to scale the Retail Management Certificate Program and showcase the fantastic career the grocery retail can afford.  

For more information, visit RetailManagementCertificate.com.