BARRINGTON, ILL. – Willard “Bill” Bishop, a retail grocery expert who founded two industry-leading consultancies, died March 25. He was 80.

Bishop led Willard Bishop Consulting for almost four decades. Then, in 2011, he founded Brick Meets Click to help retailers and other industry members navigate the new world of digital technology. 

As chief architect, Bishop led Brick Meets Click along with his children, Cindy Christian, Steve Bishop and David Bishop.  

A private Celebration of Life service is being planned for mid-May in Barrington. The family is also working on coordinating a separate online memorial event to allow people from across the grocery industry who developed relationships with Bishop to gather and honor him.

In lieu of flowers, the family is inviting memorial donations to be made in Bishop’s honor to F.I.S.H. Food Pantry, Carpentersville, Ill., (www.fish-food-pantry.org) or to your local food pantry.