FMI - OMEGA - West Virginia Oil Marketers & Grocers Association

Today, February 1, is the day of the Iowa Caucus, a day when Iowa voters meet in their various electoral precincts or “caucuses” to begin the process of electing a nominee for the Democratic and Republican parties. While Iowa only represents a small percentage of the delegates to select the parties’ nominees, the Iowa Caucus is the first major event of the presidential election. Next week, voters in New Hampshire go through a similar process to cast direct votes to select nominees for their respective political parties. Next month, March 1 represents “Super Tuesday,” during which several states will hold their primaries and will serve as a turning point for many of the candidates’ campaigns.

New research from FMI and Technomic, The Sophistication of Supermarket Fresh Prepared Foods, finds that as supermarkets become increasingly skilled in food service, this decision for shoppers becomes more complex. The study details the sophistication of supermarket fresh prepared foods among 28 banners, representing 8,000 stores, and substantiates the $15 billion growth of supermarket fresh prepared foods over the last eight years. The study finds that most stores (64 percent) witnessed 2014 prepared foods category growth of nine percent or higher. Here are the top 10 in-depth findings from the report.

Data quality makes consumer transparency in the supply chain possible. However retailers and trading partners today have to balance consumer expectation with business efficiencies. From reducing product damages to improving warehouse operations and traceability, retailers and suppliers today can enhance data quality to improve supply chain operations and satisfy consumer demands.

More than ever before, consumers want to know where there food is from, what is in their food and even how their food will impact their lifestyles over time. The pressure to convey this information is especially relevant to supermarkets’ fresh departments, which recent FMI research demonstrates is continuing to grow and will continue for the next three-to-five years.

FMI monitors over 80 issues at the state level. Currently, more than 7,000 bills have been introduced for discussion this New Year. To help prepare for this onslaught of state legislative and regulatory activity, FMI releases the 50 State Legislative Outlook every January.