Programs seek to raise job applicant prospects and employee performance


TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (September 23, 2010) – The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and LearnSomething today announced the release of the Food, Drug and Mass Career Preparation Programs. The programs provide pre-employment training for job applicants and performance training for current retail workers.

To ensure that the programs have continuing value to completers, FMI and LearnSomething are developing programs only for those careers positions projected to have increasing and long-term demand.

The formula used to develop these programs has been time-tested. “We know from our lengthy experience in grocery and pharmacy that great training is transformative, strengthening retailers’ brand and results, as well as employee job satisfaction,” explains Steve Roden, CEO of LearnSomething. “Getting training right is always the result of maintaining a superior production team and collaborating with the right partners, such as FMI, who has a fantastic track record in supporting their members.”
The online format was chosen to accommodate both employees’ and retailers’ schedules, and requires a shorter completion time than comparable classroom programs.

The first program available — the Pharmacy Technician Preparation Program — includes the preparation course for pharmacy technician certification. Soon to be available is the Retail Associate Preparation Program, with specialization either in Food or in Health, Beauty and Wellness. Both programs provide an overview of retail operations and can be used as a launch point for pursuing management roles.

All program completers receive a Certificate of Completion endorsed by the FMI Foundation.

Leslie G. Sarasin, President and Chief Executive Officer of FMI, sees these programs as a perfect way to support FMI’s mission. “These programs provide the broad foundation and versatile skills employees need to perform well today and adapt quickly to tomorrow’s changes. In the end, it’s all about meeting the changing needs of our members, their customers and the essential link between the two —retail employees. We couldn’t be more thrilled to be involved in this partnership with LearnSomething. We are certain that our members who review these preparation programs will agree.”

About LearnSomething

LearnSomething is the leading provider of eLearning solutions for the food, drug and health care industries, and delivers flexible learning management solutions and services for nearly 100 associations. For more than 15 years LearnSomething’s products and custom development services have helped companies and professional associations meet training objectives through flexible online, blended and instructor-led programs. LearnSomething’s shopper education program, ShopperAssist™, distributes product-solution messages that inform shoppers when it matters most.