Gallery: 9 FMI Midwinter Highlights

FMI presented the Herbert Hoover Award for humanitarian business efforts to Al Plamann, chief executive officer, Unified Grocers.
Read more: Plamann Wins Hoover Award
Photo courtesy of FMI

At the final FMI Midwinter presentation Kroger's Chairman and CEO David Dillon gave advice that centered on "the power and value of feedback and knowing yourself," which he said is a hard-to-perfect but important attribute.
Read more: Dillon Closes Midwinter With Leadership Message

"Consumers see the store as one experience," said Diane Dietz, executive vice president and chief marketing officer, Safeway, at a panel of young leaders.
"We are creating more occasion- and theme-based marketing, involving partnering between marketing and merchandising groups. We need to start with the consumer's needs, and solve those, as opposed to starting with internal departments."
Read more: Retailers, Suppliers Emphasize Consumer Experience
Photo courtesy of FMI

At an education session, Harvey Hartman, chairman and CEO, The Hartman Group, said there are more men as primary shoppers, more single households, and more people are eating while alone.
Read more: Consumer Eating Preferences Shift Further: Study
Photo courtesy of FMI

The FMI Show, the longtime signature event of the Food Marketing Institute, will return to annual frequency beginning in 2014.
Leslie G. Sarasin, president and chief executive officer, FMI, pictured left.
Read more: FMI Show Returning to Annual Event
Photo courtesy of FMI

Left to right: Judy Spires, Steve Smith, Steve Burd, moderator Tucker Carlson, a contributor to Fox News.
"We're an industry that's been forever providing food in the most effective way," said Judy Spires, CEO, AG Supermarket Holdings, during a discussion about food safety regulations. "Yet we feel under attack."
Read more: Retailers Press for Innovation Over Regulation Photo courtesy of FMI

A view of FMI Midwinter's tailgating party and kickoff event
Photo courtesy of FMI

FMI presented the Robert B. Wegman Award for entrepreneurial excellence to Norman Mayne, chief executive officer, Dorothy Lane Market.
Read more: Mayne Wins Wegman Award
Photo courtesy of FMI

"There is such divine justice to Anne’s receiving the Glen P. Woodard Award, as she walked side-by-side with Glen Woodard on Capitol Hill for two decades until his death in 1995,” said Sarasin, when presenting the Glen P. Woodard Award to longtime industry advocate Anne McGhee Curry (pictured). Read more: FMI's Curry Wins Woodard Award
Photo courtesy of FMI