GMA-FMI Alliance Grows

Mark Hamstra

AN ALLIANCE BETWEEN Grocery Manufacturers Association and Food Marketing Institute has been highly successful, and is expanding into new areas, according to Pamela G. Bailey, president and chief executive officer, GMA.

The two associations, representing suppliers and retailers, respectively, now have three joint GMA-FMI conferences: a supply chain conference, a conference on unsalables, and a conference on environmental sustainability, scheduled in September. The collaboration is part of the associations' Trading Partner Alliance, which is tackling more and more projects, Bailey explained.

For example, the two associations are working together, along with counterparts in Canada, as part of “liaison group,” to spearhead regional initiatives developed in partnership with the Consumer Goods Forum, a global organization representing both retailers and suppliers.

“Part of our vision is that the operational excellence pillar of the Consumer Goods Forum will be implemented in North America by GMA and FMI together through the Trading Partner Alliance,” Bailey said.