About Us

Emerge is a community supported by FMI

FMI proudly advocates on behalf of the food retail industry, which employs nearly 5 million workers and represents a combined annual sales volume of almost $800 billion.

FMI member companies operate nearly 33,000 retail food stores and 12,000 pharmacies.
FMI membership includes the entire spectrum of food retail venues; single owner grocery stores, large multi-store supermarket chains, pharmacies, online and mixed retail stores.

Our Commitment

FMI is passionate and committed to helping emerging brands succeed in grocery retail distribution. One of the most valuable success factors for emerging brands is distribution, because the number of stores and amount of shelf space is finite.

We support all players across the grocery retail industry to foster healthy trading partner relationships.

Why FMI?

Through programs in public affairs, food safety, research, education, health and wellness and industry relations, FMI offers resources and provides valuable benefits to almost 1,000 food retail and wholesale member companies and serves 85 international retail member companies. In addition, FMI has almost 500 Associate member companies that provide products and services to the food retail industry.

Retailers/Wholesalers

Take a look at our U.S. member directory and our international members. Our members include Walmart, Amazon/Wholefoods, Safeway, Publix, HEB, Kroger, Wakefern, Wegmans and many more.

Leadership

FMI has a wide range of active member committees and leadership including our Board of Directors.

Supplier Partners

Whether you want to develop healthy trading partner relationships, or seek more shelf space, Emerge helps you succeed with access to FMI Associate members.

FMI has more than 500 FMI Associate members.

FMI Mission Statement

FMI represents food retailers and wholesalers and develops and promotes policies, programs and forums supporting its members, their customers and supplier partners, and other industry stakeholders in the areas of:

government relations;
food and product safety and defense;
education;
industry collaboration and networking;
research;
health and wellness;
social, environmental and sustainability programs; and
communications.

By pursuing these activities, FMI provides leadership and advocacy for the food and consumer product industry worldwide as the industry innovates to meet the changing needs of its customers. For more information, visit www.fmi.org and for information regarding the FMI Foundation, visit www.fmifoundation.org.

FMI Expertise

The FMI staff team, based in Arlington, Virginia, has expertise in a wide-variety of retail areas including food safety, health & wellness, supply chain, sustainability, packaging, private brands and more.

Leslie Sarasin, Esq., CAE

President and Chief Executive Officer
Mark Baum

Chief Collaboration Officer & Senior Vice President, Industry Relations
Dagmar Farr

Chief Member Relations Officer and Senior Vice President, Membership and Education
David Fikes

Executive Director, FMI Foundation
Jennifer Hatcher

Chief Public Policy Officer & Senior Vice President, Government Relations
Hilary Thesmar, PhD, RD

Chief Food & Product Safety Officer & Senior Vice President, Food Safety Programs
Heather Garlich

Senior Vice President, Communications
Stephanie Barnes

Chief Regulatory Officer & Legal Counsel
Doug Baker

Vice President, Private Brands & Technology
Carol Abel

Vice President of Education Program Development
LeAnn Chuboff

Vice President, SQFI Technical Affairs
Margaret Core

Vice President, Marketing & Industry Events
Rick Stein

Vice President, Fresh Foods
Steve Markenson

Director, Research
Patrick Walsh

Chief Business Development & Vice President, Supply Chain
Sue Wilkinson

Senior Director, Information Service & Research