FMI Accelerates Commitment to Hunger-Relief Efforts 2010-02-08

DAVID ORGEL

ORLANDO, Fla. — Food Marketing Institute has begun “an enhanced program of collaboration” with the hunger-relief organization Feeding America and is urging the industry to make needy shoppers aware of government food assistance benefits.

In an address at FMI's Midwinter Executive Conference here late last month, Leslie G. Sarasin, the organization's president and CEO, challenged the membership to “continue to stand together and commit today to further help end hunger in America. I ask that you and your companies work in partnership with food banks to increase the amount of food and funds donated by our industry.”

FMI distributed “action cards” with details on how members can join these efforts. The cards ask attendees to provide their name and contact information to commit their support.

“We will support the industry in your individual and collective efforts to address hunger,” she said.

Sarasin pointed to government estimates that up to 16 million people who aren't getting SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits may qualify.

“I ask you to join in a collective effort to connect customers through our retail channels with SNAP benefits, provided through America's food stamp program,” she said.

Sarasin said FMI is also accelerating its focus on initiatives around health and wellness and sustainability. The health emphasis included the creation of a CEO health and wellness task force and an executive-level, multi-disciplinary advisory council. In May, FMI will co-locate a new health and wellness conference at its FMI 2010 event.

Sarasin also pointed to further progress on the “Healthy Weight Commitment” program, which was launched two years ago during FMI Midwinter. During an FMI board meeting in advance of Midwinter, retailers met with two key White House officials about efforts to end childhood obesity and empower families to make healthy choices for their children, Sarasin said.

The White House officials said this effort will be “the first lady's singular and defining issue - and it will be a top priority for the president,” Sarasin elaborated. The program will focus on nutritious food in schools, opportunities for kids to be physically active, and finding ways to give more communities access to affordable, healthy food.

On the sustainability front, FMI will collaborate with Grocery Manufacturers Association on its first Joint Industry Sustainability Summit in October.

Turning to the government arena, Sarasin said the focus will shift in 2010. “While 2009 was a year spent introducing our industry to a new administration, 2010 will become the year of the regulator,” she said. “After legislation such as food safety is enacted, lots of crucial decisions on how to implement these measures will fall to regulators.