ARLINGTON, VA – FMI -The Food Industry Association has added to its Board of Directors, with a goal of furthering connectivity among food retailers, suppliers and other business partners. FMI introduced another two leaders from its product suppliers, tallying 13 in 2020, along with five new retailer and wholesaler leaders.  

“I am grateful for the imaginative leadership, the courageous perseverance and the care our companies have displayed throughout this national crisis,” said Leslie Sarasin, chief executive officer of FMI. “Over the last eight months, our board leaders have had an opportunity to convene for productive, non-competitive dialogue on everything from public policy matters to food and product safety concerns, and of course supply chain issues  – ultimately keeping this nation fed and cared for during these demanding times.”  

Newest Retailer/Wholesaler board members include: 

  • Tim Devanney, co-president, Highland Park Market  

  • Bob Palmer, CEO, C&S Wholesale Grocers 

  • John Laney, senior vice president, general merchandise manager – packaged goods, Walmart  

  • Lisa Roath, senior vice president, merchandising, food and beverage, Target  

  • Tony Sarsam, president and CEO, SpartanNash  

Newest Product Supplier board members include: 

  • Tony Gavin, executive vice president, Bimbo Bakeries, USA 

  • Shane Grant, executive vice president and CEO, Danone North America 

During her President’s Report to the Board, Sarasin shared that the association continues to re-evaluate member expectations of FMI and the ways industry participants want to engage with FMI to support its core mission to advocate, collaborate and educate while supporting the food industry’s efforts to feed families and enrich lives. She noted in this context that FMI recruited 12 new, diverse retail members to join the association this year.  These new retail members include:  

  • Bodega Latina Corporation;  

  • Cantoro Italian Market;  

  • Dom’s Kitchen and Market;  

  • Fresh Farms Market;  

  • Good Ranchers;  

  • Jackson Mitchell Holdings, Inc.;  

  • Plum Market;  

  • Ranchr, Inc.;  

  • Salt & Light;  

  • Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc.;  

  • The Fresh Market, Inc.; and  

  • Zupan's Markets.  

The following companies have joined FMI as new Product Supplier members in recent months:  

  • Anheuser-Busch Companies, LLC;  

  • Bimbo Bakeries USA;  

  • Campbell Soup Company;  

  • Kimberly-Clark Corporation;  

  • Mondelez International;  

  • Nestlé USA; 

  • PepsiCo, Inc.; 

  • The Pictsweet Company; 

  • The Coca-Cola Company;  

  • The J.M. Smucker Company;  

  • Treehouse Foods, Inc.; 

  • Unilever; and  

  • Danone North America.