What it Takes to Win in Fresh Foods Today

FreshForward is shaping up to be a must-attend food industry event. We outline the speakers and topics on this year’s agenda, which will provide attendees with essential insights.

By David Haaf, Vice President, Fresh Foods, FMI

FMI's FreshForward Conference, taking place August 10-12 in St. Louis, will spotlight the strategies, innovations, and leadership approaches helping today's fresh organizations succeed in an increasingly competitive environment.

This year's event is especially meaningful to me. It will be my first FreshForward as FMI's vice president of fresh foods, and while I'm new to the organization, I've had the privilege of spending more than 30 years in the food industry across retail, foodservice, and trade associations. Throughout that journey, I've seen firsthand how fresh can elevate the customer experience, differentiate brands and fuel growth. That's why I'm looking forward to joining industry leaders in St. Louis to explore what's working today and what's next for fresh foods.

Spotlighting Three Essential Topics

FreshForward will illuminate three crucial and timely topics in fresh foods.

 1. Embracing Practical Technology:

Fresh food leaders are increasingly insisting on technology that is practical and brings robust ROI. A panel of technology leaders will include Benjamin Bond of Simbe Robotics, Eric Peters of Procurant, Matt Schwartz of Afresh Technologies, and panel moderator Jennifer Shawgo with FMI.

2. Enhancing Fresh Merchandising:

The food industry is striving to improve fresh merchandising approaches amid shifting shopper expectations. A session on this topic will feature Adam Branin of Giant Eagle, David Melnick of Marriner Marketing, and Tim Ryan of Hussman.

3. Connecting With The Consumer:

Fresh food leaders are eager to boost customer engagement amid the proliferation of marketing and communication platforms. A panel of leaders on this topic will include Ernest Baskin, PhD, of Saint Joseph’s University, Kathy Hayden of Inmar Intelligence, John MacDonald of The GIANT Company, and panel moderator Heather Garlich with FMI.

Assessing The State of Fresh Foods

It’s important in business to understand where you’ve been and where you’re headed. Leslie G. Sarasin, FMI’s president and CEO, will open the conference with a presentation on FMI’s latest research about The State of Fresh Foods. It will cover the most important trends impacting the consumer and business sides of fresh foods.

A closing keynote will address the major forces impacting fresh foods and how leaders can prepare. It will be presented by Kasey Lobaugh, chief innovation officer, consumer industry, Deloitte.

Eyeing The Local Angle

Local foods are highly important to fresh food shoppers. Moreover, many of the best food retailers are known for their outstanding local reputations. One of these is St. Louis-based Schnuck Markets. Given this year’s conference location in St. Louis, Schnuck executives will deliver Executive Insights presentations to introduce each of the three conference panels. This must-see panel of Schnuck Markets experts will include:  

• Tom Henry, chief data and information officer.
• Kim Gray, chief merchandising officer.
• Ted Schnuck, chief operating officer.
  

A Time for Collaboration and Action

After decades in the food industry, I've learned that winning in fresh foods starts with people and a relentless focus on the customer. Success requires strong retailer-supplier collaboration, a willingness to innovate, and the ability to adapt to evolving consumer expectations.

That's what excites me most about FreshForward, which is developed with Deloitte. It brings together industry leaders to share ideas, learn from one another, and identify practical strategies that strengthen fresh performance and create greater value for shoppers. I look forward to seeing you in St. Louis!

Register for Fresh Forward