The Food Marketing Institute changes its name

The Food Marketing Institute has changed its name to FMI - The Food Industry Association.

In a press release published to its website on Tuesday, the trade organization said the new brand identity was reflective of its overall strategy to expand its representation of the food marketplace. FMI recently broadened its membership to include suppliers and "other business partners."

“Driven by consumer relevance, we are in the business of food, wherever it is bought, sold or produced, and we are well-positioned to represent everything in the shopping basket--and work closely with every participant in the marketplace,” said FMI president and CEO Leslie Sarasin.

FMI said it would continue to serve as the central voice for the industry, and remains committed to effectiveness on public policy and to the issues that matter most to its members.

FMI was founded more than 40 years ago, when the Super Market Institute and the National Association of Food Chains merged. Its member companies operate nearly 33,000 retail food stores and 12,000 pharmacies. The Arlington, Va.-based trade organization has almost 500 associate member companies that provide products and services to the food retail industry.