FMI - The Food Industry Association

Arlington, VA - Today, FMI – The Food Industry Association commented on the September Consumer Price Index (CPI) numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which show a decrease of 0.1% for food-at-home inflation in September and a 1.8% increase over the last 12 months. FMI Vice President, Tax, Trade, Sustainability and Policy Development Andy Harig offered the following statement.

Oct 13, 20262 min read The FDA's newly released 2026 Food Code updates the national model for retail food safety and will shape future requirements as states and localities adopt it. By: Jessica Badour, Senior Project Manager, Food Safety Training, FMI The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently released the 2026 Food Code, marking the latest update to the model regulations that guide retail food safety practices across the United States.

Oct 13, 20263 min read FMI’s FreshForward Action Guide provides practical strategies for technology, consumer engagement and fresh food merchandising. By David Haaf, Vice President, Fresh Foods, FMI Fresh food leaders need good ideas to overcome challenges, seize opportunities and strengthen performance. But ideas alone are not enough. The real value comes from actionable strategies that provide clear pathways to success.

Oct 9, 20264 min read FMI announced its FMItech Pitch Class of 2027, including companies supporting the food industry in AI, digital commerce, retail media measurement, workflow automation, cultural intelligence and space planning.

Oct 8, 20263 min read Sustainability requires balancing environmental, animal welfare, human health and economic priorities, with progress depending on understanding tradeoffs across the food system. By: Julie Savoie, Senior Director, Workforce, Talent & Sustainability, FMI Attending Perdue Farms’ 11th Annual Animal Care & Sustainability Summit offered an opportunity to see how animal care, environmental stewardship, human health and farm viability intersect in a working farm setting.

Arlington, Va.—FMI—The Food Industry Association released The Power of Foodservice at Retail 2026, which finds grocery foodservice items have become fully integrated into consumers' meal landscape, with more than half (56%) of households combining home preparation with foods prepared outside the home for dinner at least once a week. “We’re seeing more and more households replace home-cooked and restaurant meals with deli-prepared foods,” said David Haaf, vice president of fresh foods for FMI.

Oct 6, 20263 min read The American family is changing, but the enduring value of meals together remains strong, with new research showing how family meals are adapting to reflect the diverse ways families are built and experienced today.

About FMI As the food industry association, FMI works with and on behalf of the entire industry to advance a safer, healthier and more efficient consumer food supply chain. FMI brings together a wide range of members across the value chain — from retailers that sell to consumers, to producers that supply food and other products, as well as the wide variety of companies providing critical services — to amplify the collective work of the industry. www.FMI.org

Oct 5, 20263 min read Mid-sized retailers are leading in technology advancements due to agility and advanced planning. By: Julie Savoie, Senior Director, Work Force, Talent & Sustainability, FMI At a time when much of the industry's technology conversation centers on artificial intelligence, automation, and digital transformation, an unexpected group of innovators is emerging: mid-sized food retailers.

Consumer confidence in retail pricing is fundamental to maintaining trust in our nation’s food system. Food retail prices reflect a complex set of factors, including supply and demand, input costs such as labor and energy, inventory levels, promotions, shelf life, competition, seasonal conditions, supply-chain dynamics and broader market conditions. As pricing technologies evolve, innovation should continue to support accuracy, value, transparency, and consumer confidence.