CHICAGO -- Last week's convention here of the Food Marketing Institute, Washington, included the transition to a new chairman and recognition of the need for a new long-range strategic plan.
apolis, took the FMI chairman's reins from Robert Bartels, president of Martin's Super Markets, South Bend, Ind., who had held the FMI post for two years.
Four other officers were elected, five new directors joined the board and 26 were reelected. Elected vice chairpersons were: Hugh G. Farrington, president and CEO of Hannaford Bros., Scarborough, Maine; Peter V. Gregerson Jr., president and CEO, Gregerson's Food, Gadsden, Ala.; James Kufeldt, president and chairman of the executive committee and a member of the board of Winn-Dixie Stores, Jacksonville, Fla.; and Liz Minyard, co-chairwoman of the board of Minyard Food Stores, Coppell, Texas.
New directors are: Ulysses Adams, Jr., president and CEO of Ferndale Foods, Ferndale, Mich.; Charles Genuardi, president and CEO of Genuardi's Family Markets, Norristown, Pa.; Louis Katopodis, president and CEO of Fiesta Mart, Houston; Peter H.H. Hung, chairman of Hop Hing Group of Cos. and Pearl River IGA, Wan Chai, Hong Kong; and R. Randall Onstead Jr., chief executive officer and president of Randalls Food Markets, Houston.
In a speech during the convention, Wright said the FMI recognizes it needs a new long-range strategic plan. The last one was created in 1993.
"It's been only four years since we created that plan, but already many forces affecting our industry have changed dramatically," including the competitive landscape, changes in government and new realities in demographic and lifestyle trends, Wright said.
Missing Children's Initiative: FMI and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children are pairing up to encourage supermarkets to do more for child safety.
John Walsh, founder of the center and host of the television show "America's Most Wanted," outlined the activities supermarkets can take at the closing session of the convention.
Working with Polaroid Corp., the center has developed KidCare ID events that retailers can host. Stores can offer families a free photo of their child and an identification kit that parents can keep so information is readily available if their child is ever missing.
Shopping-Cart Program: A national shopping-cart safety program was announced at the convention to help parents and caregivers prevent childhood injuries associated with falls from carts. The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission, the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, the Food Marketing Institute, Johnson & Johnson and Safe-Strap Co. are participants in the program.