FMI Creates New Virtual Midsummer 2020 Event

The significant disruptions ushered in by COVID-19 with trading partner collaboration have prompted FMI to create a new virtual event—FMI Midsummer Strategic Executive Exchange—to help accelerate business recovery and streamline supply chain collaboration.

Set to run over the course of eight business days, FMI Midsummer 2020 will begin July 7 with a keynote, followed by an agenda that allows for flexibility with 48 possible meeting time slots using a collaborative technology platform during the weeks of July 7-10 and July 13-16.

Officials from The Food Industry Association said the new, virtual trading partner program will mirror its Strategic Executive Exchanges and will include a menu of meeting windows to offer retailers and suppliers the ability to pick the dates, times and quantity of meetings that best meet their availability and needs over the course of the event.

“COVID-19 has provided FMI members a vivid reminder of the need for enhanced communications and planning and has proven that agility and speed are the new normal as companies seek to stabilize their business operations and better prepare for a future filled with unknowns,” FMI President and CEO Leslie Sarasin said in a statement.

The Midsummer program is open to FMI members from retail, wholesale and consumer products companies, as well as suppliers who sell food, beverage and nonfood products.

“The possibility of focused private online meetings with multiple company teams over the course of a few days is an excellent opportunity for trading partners to regroup, discuss business challenges, opportunities and anticipate post-pandemic shifting consumer shopping behaviors,” said Mark Baum, SVP of industry relations and chief collaboration officer for FMI. 

The Midsummer program offers business continuity, and it complements the upcoming FMI Annual Business Conference (ABC) scheduled for Sept. 13-16, 2020, as well as the Arlington, Va.-based association’s marquee event, FMI Midwinter Executive Conference.

FMI has more information about the event in the Frequently Asked Questions section of the event’s microsite.