2012 Consumer Affairs & Communications Seminar

Consumer Affairs Committee Meeting
(Committee members and invited guests only)

FMI SPEAKS
Presented by Sue Borra and David Fikes, FMI

Hear the top four macro-trends in the industry based on FMI's U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends survey and share with your colleagues how you business is changing for the marketplace.

Roundtable Discussions

Sponsored Breakfast - "Communicating About Beef"
Presented by Season Solorio on behalf of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff

This presentation will share consumer research insights, funded by The Beef Checkoff, to better help attendees understand the questions that are top of mind with consumers when it comes to raising beef today and how the entire beef community—from farmers and ranchers to retailers—can work together to help address those questions and concerns.

Monsanto - Chesterfield plant visit

• Discussion from Monsanto on biotechnology program, tour of labs and greenhouses and reviews of  healthy oils and vegetables and breeding technology program
• Q&A with Monsanto staff

Listeria Update
Presented by Hilary Thesmar, FMI

Sponsored Breakfast - "Blueberries as Nature’s Little Blue Dynamos"
Presented by Emily Valentine on behalf of the US Highbush Blueberry Council

Blueberries have moved beyond the breakfast plate and into our daily lives. Nature’s “Little Blue Dynamos” are a healthy, versatile, and fun addition to your daily menu. Find out about the new and innovative ways to promote blueberries to your customers.

Animal Welfare Panel Discussion
Presented by Gail Golab, American Veterinary Medical Association and Terry Fleck, Center for Food Integrity

"Around the Corner" Issues and Tools

Five years ago, Twitter didn’t exist. Now it has more than 500 million active users and is engrained in companies’ business plans. Wrapping up the Seminar, attendees will discuss current and future hot issues as well as brainstorm tools and resources the industry sees as the next ‘Big Thing.’