FMI’s Bill Manteria Announces Retirement

ARLINGTON, VA — January 14, 2011— Bill Manteria, vice president for state government relations at the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), announced his retirement effective March 15, 2011.

“Bill has spent his career working to ensure the success of the food and retail sector. We greatly appreciate his dedication and his valuable contributions. His knowledge and experience in state government affairs has benefitted FMI members across the country,” said Leslie G. Sarasin, president and chief executive officer, FMI. “We will miss him and we wish him all the best as he begins this new chapter in his life.”

Manteria has served as vice president for state government relations at FMI since 1998. He was responsible for directing FMI’s State Government Relations Department and its relationship with the State Association Council, monitoring and developing industry responses to key state legislative and regulatory issues affecting the retail food industry.

Prior to joining FMI, Manteria served as vice president of state association affairs at the National Retail Federation from 1995 to 1998. He worked for the Woolworth Corporation for 20 years as a member of the company’s corporate law department and the government affairs department.

Food Marketing Institute (FMI) conducts programs in public affairs, food safety, research, education and industry relations on behalf of its 1,500 member companies — food retailers and wholesalers — in the United States and around the world. FMI’s U.S. members operate approximately 26,000 retail food stores and 14,000 pharmacies. Their combined annual sales volume of $680 billion represents three-quarters of all retail food store sales in the United States. FMI’s retail membership is composed of large multi-store chains, regional firms and independent supermarkets. Its international membership includes 200 companies from more than 50 countries. FMI’s associate members include the supplier partners of its retail and wholesale members.