At its latest meeting, the FMI Supplier Development Committee showcased how AI integration is driving efficiency, advancing supplier development, and shaping the future of inclusive supply chains.
By: Cynthia Brazzel, Senior Director, Member Relations & Advocacy, Western Region, FMI
Last week, the FMI Supplier Development Committee gathered for its annual retreat, bringing together leaders from 11 companies to tackle challenges, explore opportunities, and share best practices that drive progress in supplier development.
Participants shared the significant improvements they achieved through AI integration, underscoring its growing role in shaping the future of supplier variety. The energy in the room reflected a shared commitment: advancing inclusive supply chains while embracing innovation.
Supplier development is an essential practice in the food industry to ensure we reflect our consumers and meet the array of their needs. This committee is comprised of professionals who vet certifications of suppliers, helping develop them to meet the requirements and demands of consumers.
The committee discussed a timely topic: how organizations are leveraging AI to strengthen supplier development efforts. Members focused on three major areas:
- Driving efficiency across processes
- Enhancing data insights for smarter decisions
- Improving day-to-day tasks and collaboration
The retreat featured dynamic discussions within the group as well as insights from two guest speakers.
Justin Nelson, President of the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), emphasized the importance of collaboration and standards, bringing special attention to a new joint initiative with WBENC (Women Business Enterprise National Council).
“The SME (Small-Medium Enterprise) Certification Collaborative aims to establish and promote a unified set of standards for SME certification—ensuring consistency, transparency, and quality across the certification ecosystem,” Nelson said.
David Fikes, executive director of the FMI Foundation, who also leads the FMI Work Culture Council, shared the value of FMI research. He cited data from FMI's The Food Retailing Industry Speaks report to demonstrate benchmarks relevant to supplier development.
The group concluded by establishing 2026 goals designed to amplify impact across the industry:
- Align FMI imperative issues with Supplier Development Committee function
- Strengthen knowledge sharing and content integration
- Drive industry-wide impact through supplier development
With these goals in place, the committee is poised to lead the way in creating an innovative and collaborative future for supplier development.
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