The FMI Fresh Food Leadership Council (FFLC) and FMI Midwinter Executive Conference are premier industry gatherings that drive innovation, collaboration, and strategic foresight among food industry leaders. As a key player in retail and CPG intelligence, Inmar is proud to contribute thought leadership and cutting-edge solutions at these events in 2025.
This year, Inmar is deepening its engagement with both FMI Fresh and Midwinter, leveraging key industry insights, innovative technology, and executive leadership to help brands and retailers navigate a rapidly evolving landscape.
FMI FRESH FOOD LEADERSHIP COUNCIL (FFLC)
Held on January 28-29, 2025, at the JW Marriott Marco Island, the FMI Fresh Food Leadership Council focused on the future of fresh food retail. The agenda covered critical topics such as GLP-1’s impact on food consumption, Gen Z & Millennial shopping habits, FSMA Rule 204 compliance and Health & Wellbeing trends in the food industry.
KATHY HAYDEN JOINS INDUSTRY LEADERS TO DISCUSS HEALTH AND WELLNESS IN FRESH FOOD
Kathy Hayden, SVP of Strategic Partnerships, MarTech at Inmar, joined Krystal Register, VP of Health & Well-being at FMI and Stacy Bates, Director of Wellness Nutrition Strategy at H-E-B, for a panel discussion on how retailers can better meet the growing demand for healthier food options. The conversation highlighted strategies for integrating fresh, nutritious products into daily shopping experiences.
“The definition of Health & Wellness is unique to each consumer based on their own personal journey. Retailers have the opportunity to cater to the specific needs of each consumer and household by serving them personalized messaging and media, recipe solutions and loyalty offers that educate and reward them for purchasing the fresh products that help them achieve their personal H&W goals. “ - Kathy Hayden, SVP of Strategic Partnerships, MarTech
FMI ANNUAL MIDWINTER EXECUTIVE CONFERENCE
As the food industry continues to evolve, events like the FMI Fresh Food Leadership Council provide valuable insights into how retailers and brands can adapt to meet consumer expectations. While Fresh focused on the future of food and wellness trends, the FMI Midwinter Executive Conference, held from January 29th - February 2nd 2025, broadened the conversation by addressing strategic leadership, AI-driven shopper engagement, and the evolving role of technology in retail and CPG partnerships.
STRATEGIC EXECUTIVE EXCHANGE MEETINGS STRENGTHEN RETAIL AND CPG PARTNERSHIPS
Throughout FMI Midwinter’s four-day conference, Inmar’s executive leadership team—including Laura Arnett, Ranjana Choudhry, Garry Church, Sherif Fahmy, Lari Harding, Kathy Hayden, David Staas, West Naze and Rob Weisberg —engaged in high-value discussions with leading retail and CPG partners.
These Strategic Executive Exchange (SEE) meetings centered on joint business plans, data-driven personalization, and the evolving role of retail media networks. Key discussions explored how brands can optimize shopper engagement through AI-powered insights, digital incentives, and omnichannel strategies. As economic pressures and shifting consumer behaviors reshape the industry, leveraging technology for precision marketing and loyalty-building emerged as a top priority for 2025.
We sincerely thank the retail and CPG leaders who met with us during these sessions. Your time, insights, and collaboration were invaluable, and we look forward to continuing these conversations and reconnecting at next year’s event.
ROB WEISBERG INTRODUCES CHEF JOSÉ ANDRÉS FOR A CONVERSATION ON IMPACT AND INNOVATION
One of the most inspiring moments of FMI Midwinter took place on Friday, when Rob Weisberg, EVP & President of MarTech at Inmar, introduced Chef José Andrés, renowned chef, humanitarian, and founder of World Central Kitchen for his keynote interview with FMI President & CEO Leslie G. Sarasin.
This highly anticipated conversation explored the intersection of food retail, supply chains, and social responsibility, highlighting the global impact of accessible, nutritious meals. In his introduction, Rob reinforced Inmar’s commitment to helping businesses navigate modern retail challenges while driving meaningful, positive change in the industry.
SPENCER BAIRD & PETE MILES-PROUTEN CONVERSE ABOUT ADAPTIVE LEADERSHIP
As market disruptions, shifting consumer expectations, and technological transformation continue to challenge the retail and CPG industries, strong leadership is more critical than ever. On Saturday at FMI Midwinter, Spencer Baird, CEO of Inmar Intelligence, and Pete Miles-Prouten, SVP, Head of Strategic Partnerships at 84.51, led a thought-provoking discussion on Lessons in Adaptive Leadership: Navigating a Shifting Landscape.
The session explored how leaders can cultivate resilience, innovation, and agility to navigate change successfully. Emphasizing that adaptive leadership goes beyond reacting to change, Spencer & Pete discussed the importance of proactive leadership, emphasizing that successful leaders must balance strategic vision with real-time decision-making to empower teams to innovate and adapt effectively.
"Adaptive leadership is about putting a framework into action. It requires embracing the unknown, enabling thoughtful collaboration, and learning from new experiences rather than relying solely on past expertise." – Spencer Baird, CEO
REFLECTIONING ON AN INVALUABLE WEEK AT FMI 2025
From fresh food innovation to strategic partnerships and adaptive leadership, FMI 2025 reinforced the importance of embracing change, leveraging technology, and building resilient organizations. Inmar remains committed to driving innovation in retail, CPG, and MarTech, helping partners turn insights into action to shape the future of shopper engagement and business growth.
We are grateful for the opportunity to connect with retailers, brands, and industry leaders throughout FMI 2025 and look forward to continuing these discussions in the year ahead.
To learn more about Inmar’s solutions, reach out to solutions@inmar.com.