Apr 12, 1999
         WASHINGTON, DC — April 12, 1999 — Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA) announced today plans for three day-long forums to address the need for food retailers and manufacturers to develop contingency plans for possible supply and demand challenges associated with the Year 2000 computer bug. Specifically, the industry aims to address the issue of potential consumer food stockpiling and its impact on the supply chain.

     "The food industry is well prepared for the Year 2000," said Tim Hammonds, FMI President and CEO. "By hosting these contingency planning forums, we want to assure retailers and consumers that the industry is evaluating and preparing for every possible scenario, as we have been doing for the past two years."

     Led by representatives of Ernst & Young and designed as interactive roundtable discussions, the Y2K Contingency Planning Forums will be held May 25 in Chicago; June 22 in Dallas, and July 8 in Atlanta. The forums will cover potential supply chain problems — including magnitude, sources and implications — that could result from the Y2K bug; individual companies’ contingency planning efforts, and special "Safe Ground" tolerances or flexible trading partner arrangements.

     "Promoting ongoing dialogue between manufacturers and their retail customers is critical in planning for Y2K," said Bill James, GMA Vice President, Industry Affairs. "Our goal is to anticipate and prevent any interruptions in the food supply chain by bringing trading partners together to thoroughly analyze the contingency planning process."

     Approximately 150 food industry professionals are expected at each of the sessions. Information systems and logistics executives are the most likely to attend.

To register for one of the Y2K Contingency Planning Forums, or for more information, please call FMI (202/452-8444) or GMA (202/337-9400).
For more information on FMI's Y2K solutions, click below.