Eyeing New Realities For Food Industry Leadership

The food industry continues to adapt to the notion that profound change has become a constant, with it emerging as the normative state of affairs. The articles in the 11th edition of the “Boardroom” reflect both the urgency and the opportunity inherent in this environment.

Throughout conversations with FMI’s board of directors and senior industry executives, one theme continues to surface: the leadership playbook is changing faster than ever before. The pressures shaping today’s food industry require leaders who can continually adapt and guide their organizations through uncertainty with clarity and confidence.

FMI’s work, in conjunction with Oliver Wyman, centers on understanding where the industry is heading and how to meet the changing needs of consumers, communities, and the broader grocery value chain.

In 2013, FMI and Oliver Wyman joined forces to create “Boardroom,” a forward-thinking annual journal designed for C-suite executives tackling the most compelling issues confronting the food industry. A key mission of the journals is to illuminate critical issues identified in the FMI Strategic Imperative Issues Framework. Each article in “Boardroom” is carefully curated and written to amplify these essential issues, educating and inspiring leaders.

This year’s edition presents articles that delve into topics including artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, health and well-being, transparency, omnichannel strategies, shifting consumer behaviors, pricing and rising costs, regulatory issues, trade, and the workforce. You’ll see pieces that offer a pragmatic view of AI agents, guidance for the future of cyber risk, a viewpoint on how consumer goods companies need to embrace health and wellness, and a reimagining of customer journeys.

Food industry leaders and organizations have already been adapting for this era of growing complexity. FMI’s research in the most recent “The Food Retailing Industry Speaks” report relays that industry strategies include steering through an uncertain macro environment; providing comfort to consumers in the face of new challenges and needs; responding to evolving shopper preferences by creating destinations — not just stores; envisioning the possible through technology; and future-proofing the business through investments and differentiation.

FMI and Oliver Wyman are enthusiastic about helping leaders continue to advance their strategies. We believe “Boardroom Volume 11” will educate and inspire leaders to meet the needs of the moment and the future.