Today, consumers’ tastes change rapidly as they seek new food experiences. Shoppers desire more diverse products and are using a variety of channels to satisfy these cravings. As their food palate is expanding, so is their understanding of food safety. Shoppers expect their food to be safe and trust that it is. Knowing that consumer trust is hard won, but easily lost, means maintaining confidence in a safe supply chain has never been more crucial.

Two words sum up food safety in 2018: Romaine Lettuce. Say those words in front of your peers in the food industry and you will be met with heads in hands, eyes rolling, heads shaking and deep sighs. You might even end the conversation before it has a chance to start.

Election years are typically synonymous with gridlock and inefficiency in Washington, but FMI’s government relations team was successful on several policy fronts this year. On a macro level, three areas made the greatest impact on boosting your bottom line – tax reform implementation; reducing regulations and confirming business-friendly judges. FMI worked behind the scenes in each of these areas, but also in some lower profile areas at the federal, state and local levels and in the preliminary as well as legislative and regulatory stages.

FMI’s brand story was particularly prolific this year and our influence extended far beyond the Nation’s Capital. As one area of measurement, we reached a historic high for media mentions, effectively driving our own narrative on the issues that matter most to the food retailing industry. Our communications strategy yielded highlights worthy of mention.