News

Follow the Yellow Brick Road to Family Meals

The genius of the Wizard of Oz story lies in its ability to creatively convey a simple, but hard truth about human nature; we frequently go wishing for miracle solutions to our problems, when the answers we seek are already in our possession. Tin ...

Confessions of a Leftover Laggard

I admit to being a bit late to the game when it comes to appreciating the benefits and advantages to leftovers. Truth be told, I’ve never liked them. Even as a child, my Mother reported I would roll my eyes and, in my television-influenced ...

Moving from Weariness to Well-being

For five months now, requirements in addressing COVID-19 have touched, affected, or changed most every aspect of our lives. Not the least of these is the fact it has reversed a significant food trend; it has driven us from being an eating culture, ...

The New Normal Encouraging New Habits

The food industry recognizes that “family meal fatigue” is a real thing for everyone and that customers in all categories are in the same boat in which I find myself. We need help, solutions and new ideas to address the menu challenges of this ...

Eating and Cooking During COVID-19; Lessons in Tart Improvisation

According to the U.S. Grocery Shoppers Trends COVID-19 Tracker survey, 76% of consumers have changed how they eat due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While I do not always plan my meals, 27% of consumers are planning more meals in advance these days. Some ...

A Recipe for Safely Preparing Food at Home during COVID-19

What’s for dinner? It is one of those age-old questions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the question has evolved and it’s not just what’s for dinner, but what’s for breakfast? Lunch? Snack? Dessert?...

Together, Again… Again, Unless We’re Not: Family Meals Faces Some New Issues

We have a pulled together some COVID-19 Family Meal resources and on the Family Meals Website at www.FamilyMealsMovement.org. Drawing on a wide variety of sources, our tip compilation runs the gamut of family meal ideas ...

Home is Where the Heart… Wait, Home is Where Everything Is

Helping families of all shapes and sizes share meals together both in home and virtually is a foundational purpose the various parts of the food industry open their respective doors for business each day – even in these coronavirus stressful days. ...

2020 Midwinter Executive Conference by the Numbers

In a matter of days, the food industry will land in Phoenix for the 2020 Midwinter Executive Conference. Top industry executives will gather to discuss proven and emerging trends, and how it will influence future business operations....

Mark Your Calendars: Special Days During the Holidays

In the spirit of Giving Tuesday, I encourage you to donate to the FMI Foundation, a 501(c)3 charitable organization that supports research and education in the areas of food safety, nutrition, and health. Here are some of our 2019 successes that ...

Three Winning Strategies for Private Brand Retailers

Succeeding in private brands requires great products, but that’s not all.Increasingly it’s also about pursuing key strategies to accelerate the business. A number of strategies were discussed at the recent FMI Private Brands DC ...

Monster of an Idea to Keep Family Meals Alive

In 2019 the Gold Plate Awards will recognize retailer, supplier and community collaborator programs that creatively participated in National Family Meals Month in September....

Helping Families Be Healthier and Happier with Quick, Easy Seafood Meals

The FMI Foundation partnered with the Seafood Nurtrition Partnership™ to emphasize the importance of family meals, expanding National Family Meals Month™ throughout the year and into a true movement - the Family Meals Movement....

Photo Friday: Helping Families Share More Meals Together

National Family Meals Month™ is coming to a close, but the family meals celebration is still going strong. Here are some of the ways the food retail industry is helping consumers share more meals ...

Food And Families Fit Like A Hand In A Mitt

FMI's Foundation’s National Family Meals Month™Spokesmitt, Mitty the Mitt, joins the Voice of Food Retail as a guest author to share favorite family meal memories and speak to the impact the food retail industry has made helping consumers have one ...

A Family Meal Masterpiece

September is National Family Meals Month™ – the time when supermarkets across the nation unite to urge their shoppers to commit to having more family meal together each week than they have currently. According to our 2019 U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends ...

Chillax! Mealtime Is Covered

It’s been said that frozen foods are the original meal kit. Frozen foods cover every meal occasion: breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and dessert....

Life on the Verge of a Meltdown – Personalizing Shopping with a Toddler

Grocery shopping with a toddler is like shopping with a ticking time bomb. You have a finite amount of time to get your shopping completed before the inevitable meltdown ...

How to Get Involved with National Family Meals Month™

AFFI and FMI provide opportunities for manufacturers and retailers to get involved in National Family Meals ...

Can’t Decide on a Family Meal?

Everybody is joining the Family Meals Movement – are you? One of the best ways to join the movement is to start with National Family Meals Month this September. ...