Pharmacy Conference to Co-Locate With FMI Show Again Next Year

DAN ALAIMO

CHICAGO — The annual Pharmacy Conference of the Food Marketing Institute, Arlington, Va., will again co-locate with the main FMI Show next year when it moves to Chicago, said Laurie Gethin, senior manager, pharmacy services. The news was announced during the Pharmacy Conference being held here this week, where it is co-located with the FMI Show. Next year’s FMI Show will also include an exhibit area, and that is part of the attraction for the pharmacy executives, Gethin said. In 2009, FMI will hold an education-only event, and the pharmacy group is uncertain whether it will participate. “The supermarket executives see the value of trying to work, build bridges and form synergies between the food and nonfood sides of the store on behalf of the ever more demanding consumers,” she said. Gethin noted that retailer attendance was up at this year’s event, although she could not cite specific numbers.