The FMI Annual Business Conference (ABC) is a strategic industry event that brings together retailers, wholesalers, suppliers, and service providers across the food industry to conduct joint business planning. It offers an efficient environment to meet with multiple business partners in one place and collaborate on growth strategies, consumer insights, new product introductions, supply-chain improvements, and overall business alignment. Attending allows you to strengthen partnerships, gain industry insights, and engage in high-value planning that can shape your company’s strategic direction.

Registration for the Annual Business Conference will be available online through the FMI event webpage. https://www.fmi.org/annual-business-conference

The Annual Business Conference draws senior-level leaders and decision-makers from across the food retail ecosystem. Attendees typically include executives from retail and wholesale companies, CPG manufacturers and suppliers and private brand teams.. It is a meeting place for business strategists, category leaders, and professionals involved in purchasing, merchandising, supply chain, operations and vendor relations. The Annual Business Conference is an invite-only event and exclusive to FMI members.

Registration fees for the Annual Business Conference vary based on membership status and timing. Early-bird rates will be available. Group or multi-attendee rates may be available for organizations sending multiple participants. Full pricing will be posted on the event registration page: https://www.fmi.org/annual-business-conference

Business casual attire is recommended for all sessions and networking events at the Annual Business Conference.

Team members involved in strategic planning, category management, merchandising, private brands, supply chain, procurement, sales or retail/wholesale partnerships will get the most value from attending the Annual Business Conference. Executives and managers who work directly with suppliers, retailers, or wholesalers—and those responsible for planning annual business strategies—benefit most from the concentrated, collaborative environment.

The Annual Business Conference focuses on joint business planning and topics that drive growth across the food retail supply chain. Areas typically include category strategies, shopper insights, private brand development, supply-chain optimization, omni-channel planning, promotion strategies, new product introductions, operational efficiencies, and long-term strategic alignment between business partners.

Unlike broad industry trade shows, the Annual Business Conference is a high-efficiency, meeting-focused event designed specifically for strategic collaboration. It emphasizes private, pre-scheduled business meetings rather than expo floors or large general sessions. This allows companies to conduct a year’s worth of partner conversations in a few days, strengthening relationships and enabling actionable, forward-looking plans. The format is built to maximize productivity and cross-supply-chain alignment, making it uniquely valuable for retailers, wholesalers, and suppliers.

Yes, there will be networking opportunities at the Annual Business Conference given the executive-leadership format and the description of one-on-one meetings, structured interaction and strategic engagement among attendees.

By attending the Annual Business Conference, you’ll gain a clearer understanding of your partners’ priorities and walk away with concrete plans that support your business goals for the year ahead. You can expect to learn about emerging category trends, evolving consumer behaviors, supply-chain improvements and private brand growth opportunities. The event’s focused, pre-scheduled meetings help you strengthen relationships, align on strategies, resolve challenges and accelerate collaborative initiatives. Ultimately, you leave with actionable insights and stronger partnerships that drive better results across your business.

For questions about the Annual Business Conference, please reach out to Peggy Robins.

Updates about the Annual Business Conference will be posted on the FMI event webpage and shared through FMI newsletters and social media channels. https://www.fmi.org/annual-business-conference

Trade media may reach out to media@fmi.org to request attendance to FMI events. Some FMI events are closed to media. Please see our press credentials for events details: https://www.fmi.org/newsroom/press-credentials