Nov 16, 2020

Board Composition Recognizes Significant Additions to FMI Member Community in 2020

ARLINGTON, VA – FMI -The Food Industry Association today announces additions to its Board of Directors, with a goal of furthering connectivity among food retailers, suppliers and other business partners. FMI introduces another two leaders from its product suppliers, tallying 13 in 2020, along with five new retailer and wholesaler leaders. The appointments were approved at the association’s virtual Board meeting, which also recognized significant additions to the FMI member community in 2020.

FMI President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin said, “I am grateful for the imaginative leadership, the courageous perseverance and the care our companies have displayed throughout this national crisis. Over the last eight months, our board leaders have had an opportunity to convene for productive, non-competitive dialog on everything from public policy matters to food and product safety concerns, and of course supply chain issues  – ultimately keeping this nation fed and cared for during these demanding times.”

Sarasin further noted, “FMI has successfully created an environment in which companies – both retailers and suppliers – can come together for honest exchanges, productive conversation and opportunities to learn from each other, with the consumer ultimately being the beneficiary of this collaboration.”

Newest Retailer/Wholesaler Board Members Include:

Tim Devanney, co-president, Highland Park Market 
Bob Palmer, CEO, C&S Wholesale Grocers
John Laney, senior vice president, general merchandise manager – packaged goods, Walmart 
Lisa Roath, senior vice president, merchandising, food and beverage, Target 
Tony Sarsam, president and CEO, SpartanNash 

Newest Product Supplier Board Members Include:

Tony Gavin, executive vice president, Bimbo Bakeries, USA
Shane Grant, executive vice president and CEO, Danone North America

A full listing of FMI’s Board leadership can be found here.

During her President’s Report to the Board, Sarasin shared that the association continues to re-evaluate member expectations of FMI and the ways industry participants want to engage with FMI to support its core mission to advocate, collaborate and educate while supporting the food industry’s efforts to feed families and enrich lives. She noted in this context that FMI recruited 12 new, diverse retail members to join the association this year.  These new retail members include: 

Bodega Latina Corporation; 
Cantoro Italian Market; 
Dom’s Kitchen and Market; 
Fresh Farms Market; 
Good Ranchers; 
Jackson Mitchell Holdings, Inc.; 
Plum Market; 
Ranchr, Inc.; 
Salt & Light; 
Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc.; 
The Fresh Market, Inc.; and 
Zupan's Markets. 

Furthermore, the following companies have joined FMI as new Product Supplier members in recent months: 

Anheuser-Busch Companies, LLC; 
Bimbo Bakeries USA; 
Campbell Soup Company; 
Kimberly-Clark Corporation; 
Mondelez International; 
Nestlé USA;
PepsiCo, Inc.;
The Pictsweet Company;
The Coca-Cola Company; 
The J.M. Smucker Company; 
Treehouse Foods, Inc.;
Unilever; and 
Danone North America.