FMI Industry Collaboration Council Meeting Minutes
Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles, Virginia
October 22-23, 2014
Attendees
Steve Arnold, Associated Wholesale Grocers,
Inc.
Joe Bivona, Time Inc. Retail
Ric Alvarez, Overhill Farms, Inc.
Bob Cutler, Western Family Foods, Inc.
Dave Jones, Kellogg Company
Keith Olscamp, Campbell Soup Company
Art Rosenberg, Pepsico, Inc.
Beth Johnson, Catalina
Bill Kies, Kies Consulting, LLC
Bob Richardson, The Clorox Company
Brent Cotton, The Hershey Company
Chris Morrison, Trace One
Chuck Wall, Freight Handlers, Inc.
David MacQuarrie, Jempak GK Inc.
Dexter Manning, Grant Thornton LLP
Elise Fennig, Kraft Foods Group, Inc.
Gary Petersen, Red Gold, Inc.
Gordon Wade, Category Management
Association
Holly Maher, Rehrig Pacific Company
James Harris, H-E-B
Jim Hertel, Willard Bishop, LLC
John Mayer, The J.M. Smucker Company
Karen Sickles, Park City Group, Inc.
Kate Coler, Safeway Inc.
Larry Vorpahl, Hormel Foods Corporation
Mel Bomprezzi, The Kroger Co.
Melissa Herbert, Neogen Corporation
Michael Hackbarth, The Fremont Company
Michael Ridenour, Kraft Foods Group, Inc.
Nick Voss, MillerCoors
Patrick D’Ambrosio, National Frozen Foods
Corporation
Paul Cooke, Nestle Purina Petcare Company
Peter Thompson, Colgate-Palmolive Company
Rick Brindle, Mondelez International
Rick Tuma, Ontario Food Exports
Seth Nable, RW2 Technologies, Inc.
Shawna Lemke, Monsanto Company
Stephen Sibert, Instream Media, Inc.
Steve Burkhardt, Festival Foods
Steve Sigrist, Newell Rubbermaid
Tess Hohman, General Mills, Inc.
Thomas Bornemann, Ernst & Young LLP
Tim Quinn, Mars Chocolate North America
Tim Tillia, American Greetings Corporation
Timothy Laseter, Strategy&
Tom Duffy, Nielsen
Tom Joyce, The Hershey Company
Tom Solomon, Altierre Corporation
Wanda Williams, Waste Management, Inc.
Wayne Altschul, IGA, Inc.
Win Weber, Winston Weber & Associates Inc.
FMI Staff
Leslie Sarasin
Mark Baum
Pat Walsh
Dagmar Farr
Sue Borra
Carol Abel
Doug Baker
Rick Stein
Cathy Polley
Peter Collins
Lucas Darnell
Charmaine Wiggins
Adell Cokley
Heather Cain
Welcome & Introductions
Joe Bivona, Time Inc. Retail, and Steve Arnold, Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc., welcomed everyone
to the meeting and had everyone introduce themselves. Pat Walsh, FMI, reviewed the antitrust statement
and gave an overview of the agenda for the next two days.
Review May Deliverables, Governance, Structure & Membership
Pat reviewed the new organizational structure of the council that was introduced at the May meeting
along with the co-chairs and FMI staff leads. It consists of the following:
2 Operating Committees
Education and Communication
Innovation and Technology
5 Verticals
Food and Beverage
GMHBC
Private Brands
Fresh
Pharmacy
Q. What is the process to become a chair and what is the term limit?
A. We are in the process of developing the governance for the council.
Goals and Objectives
When we got together in May we focused on the emerging issues as the key areas of focus for the
Industry Collaboration Council (ICC). This is the focus for the work of the subcommittees.
Actions Items and Committee Work Plans
Each of the various operating committees had breakout opportunities where they identified action items
and goals.
Q. How do we tie the emerging issues to what we are working on?
A. We looked at the eleven issues and applied it to what we are working on. We agreed on three
priorities and we are in the process of developing goals and objectives, outcomes and our measures of
success.
Pat gave an overview of Innovation and Technology group as an example of some of the work done at the
May meeting. He reviewed their mission and the four areas they are focused on.
Joe reminded everyone that we do not want the committees to work in silos. We are going to create a
cadence of calls, etc. to move the items forward and to keep everyone informed.
Committee expectations
The following questions should be addressed in your sessions.
How will these committees operate and communicate?
How do we align the work across the entire council?
How do we avoid duplication of effort?
What issues are the committees specifically responsible for versus issues that are common for total store
collaboration?
Steve reminded the group that we are also looking to maintain communication in between the council
meetings. Joe also reminded the group that we will finalize our internal communications (the group) and
external communications soon.
Pat reviewed the following council & committee operating principles.
Council focus is on total store collaboration.
Council and committees are parity based.
Support FMI Strategic Plan to include emerging issues and opportunities.
Committee focus can be specific and/or aligned with total store collaboration.
Committees will share information on initiatives with council and committees.
ICC Leadership Committee has oversight to prioritize, align and coordinate work streams and
communications.
Q. Are you trying to take on too much at one time?
A-We initially just want to have a success. It is up to the committees to figure out what they can do and
if they have the capacity.
The focus of the committees was applauded. Focus is the one thing that has to remain in the forefront of
all decisions and initiatives. We have to make sure we minimize duplication of efforts across our
committees and other associations. Mark Baum, FMI, informed the council that formal constraints are in
place to avoid duplication from the different associations and various industries.
The group was asked, “What does success look like, and what are your expectations”? The consensus
was that we want to deliver on strategic outcomes. It was also determined that this is where we should
start and then work backward from there. We are all here to better our companies. However, we have to
recognize that the problems we identify today might not be the same problems we are dealing with in six
months. We have to be fluid and keep in mind what success looks like.
ICC Webpage
Adell Cokley, FMI, walked the council through the process for accessing the new ICC webpage that is
only available to ICC members and their designees. The page can be accessed via www.fmi.org/icc or by
going to www.fmi.org, hovering over member community and selecting Industry Collaboration Council.
You will need your membership login credentials. If you need assistance or encounter problems
accessing the site, please contact Adell at acokley@fmi.org or at 202-220-0709. If you have an assistant
who needs access to the page, then please have them contact Adell.
Sherry Frey, Nielsen Perishables Group, gave a presentation on Total Store Connectivity. A copy of the
presentation is available here.
October 23, 2014
Committee Updates
Food and Beverage
Cathy Polley, FMI, gave an overview on family meals. Click here for a copy of the plan. The food and
beverage group will be a part of the vetting process. Keith Olscamp, Campbell Soup Company, gave an
update on the initiatives for the Food and Beverage group.
Food and beverage report
GMHBC
Peter Thompson, Colgate Palmolive, gave an update on the initiatives for the GMHBC group. The goal
of the GMHBC group is to elevate the categories where we currently compete. They plan to define the
GMHBC shopper and what it means to the basket. The first question they plan to address is the role in
GMHBC in health and wellness.
GMHBC report
Fresh
RickStein, FMI, gave an overview of the formation of the fresh committee, its priorities and outcomes
and their members.
Fresh Report
Private Brands
Ric Alvarez,Overhil Hill Farms, gave an overview of the Private Brands Council.
Private Brands Report
Innovation and Technology
Timothy Laseter, Strategy&, gave the overview for the Innovation and Technology group.
They started by covering the areas of where success was evident. The question was then asked is there
something we can do that would be as impactful. The one item that seemed to resonate with the group as
an area where they could have an immediate impact was out of stocks and category management.
Mark Baum suggested that we imbed GS1 on the technology side of this vertical. It was shared that many
companies have done studies that have gone nowhere. We need to determine why these studies went
nowhere and develop strategies to make sure it does not happen to us.
They would like to create the next generation of category management or shopper insights. A lot of
changes have occurred over the past twenty years and it is time for a reinvention.
The group was reminded that all members of the council were willing and able to provide subject matter
experts whenever the need arose.
Innovation & Technology Report
Education and Communication
Dave Jones, Kellogg Company, gave the update for the Education and Communication group.
Education & Communication Report
Strategic Plan Update
Steve introduced Leslie Sarasin, President & CEO, FMI. Leslie welcomed the new members who were
participating in their first council meeting. She gave a brief overview of the strategic plan and the five key
components of the strategic plan.
Strengthen the core proposition
Re-institute the show as the industry focal event
Lead retailer & supplier total store collaboration
Grow the breadth and depth of the membership
Upgrade the operating model
FMI Connect
Leslie encouraged everyone to think about FMI Connect and to share with our team the things you would
like to see at the event in 2015. Leslie then introduced Randy Edeker, Hy-Vee, Inc., chair of the FMI
Connect planning committee, who presented to the Council via video.
Randy listed the elements necessary to build on next year’s event.
 Listen-FMI has been listening to the FMI community on how to make FMI Connect the premier
gathering for our industry.
 Respond- plan to bring major enhancements to FMI Connect and Future Connect
o Plan to launch business innovation meetings
o High profile keynote presentations
o Integrate the Future Connect education program into the show floor as well as traditional
style learning
o Create more opportunities for our partners to tailor their support of FMI Connect and
Future Connect to meet their goals
 Be Committed- commit to attend the entire event and to bring the right people
 Be Positive-communicate your support and commitment early and after
 Be There-we need your full support
Leslie then laid out the preliminary schedule for the event which is available here.
The question of where does talent development fall in FMI’s current action plan? Are we doing anything
to develop the best and brightest? Leslie informed the group that FMI is addressing this at Future Connect
and we also plan to focus on how to make our industry attractive to new graduates and those disciplines
that normally would not pursue a career in grocery, i.e. accountants, lawyers, etc.
Midwinter
Leslie then proceeded to give an overview of the Midwinter and all of the events going on. The
Midwinter overview is available here.
ABC
Mark Baum, Senior Vice President, Industry Relations & Chief Collaboration Officer, gave an update on
ABC.
Over fifty companies are participating in the event. Additional information is available here.
Question
Several members of the council expressed concerns about making sure that as FMI expands the program,
that the focus is not diminished.
FMI Industry Relations Update
Mark gave an overview of Industry Relations and how the different committees are connected.
Final Announcements
Joe opened the floor for responses from the retailers who had joined us for the first time. The consensus
was that the meeting was a success and that they are looking forward to what the future brings.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:55 am.