<div><p xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" paraid="237979700" paraeid="{c0ad4fad-0a8d-41ec-957e-9a6a1b4bb81b}{64}" style="text-align:center;"><em>FMI proudly celebrates 221 food industry professionals who completed the Future Leaders eXperience, an engaging 4-month online program designed to enhance leadership skills and collaboration across the food retail sector.</em></p><p xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" paraid="237979700" paraeid="{c0ad4fad-0a8d-41ec-957e-9a6a1b4bb81b}{64}">By: Kara Adams, Director, Education (e-learning), FMI</p><img src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/future-leaders-full-group-photo-2025.tmb-large-350-.jpg?Culture=en&sfvrsn=4fa1602c_1" style="float:right;margin:10px;" class="-align-right" alt="Future Leaders Full Group Photo 2025" sf-size="100" /><p xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" paraid="237979700" paraeid="{c0ad4fad-0a8d-41ec-957e-9a6a1b4bb81b}{64}"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;">FMI is proud to celebrate 221 food industry professionals who have completed the </span><a href="https://www.fmi.org/future-leaders" style="font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;white-space:inherit;" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">FMI Future Leaders eXperience</a><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;"> and earned their Food Retail Leader Certificate! </span></p><p xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" paraid="237979700" paraeid="{c0ad4fad-0a8d-41ec-957e-9a6a1b4bb81b}{64}"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;"></span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;">Every graduate of the Future Leaders eXperience brings new insights, confidence and collaboration skills back to their companies. Offered online since 2020 and designed in partnership with </span><a href="https://www.rootinc.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" style="font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;white-space:inherit;">Root (a division of Accenture)</a><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;">, the program brings together leaders from across the food industry for an engaging, interactive 4-month experience that blends learning, reflection and connection. Leaders walk away ready to take on bigger challenges and take their teams to new heights. </span></p><p xml:lang="EN-US" lang="EN-US" paraid="237979700" paraeid="{c0ad4fad-0a8d-41ec-957e-9a6a1b4bb81b}{64}"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;"></span><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;">Our 16 Coaches deserve special recognition as well. They not only supported this year’s participants but also deepened their own leadership capabilities in the process by participating in the eXperience for a second (or even third!) time. </span></p></div><div><p paraid="1059514260" paraeid="{34109b06-20df-48ce-968a-c2062475e23f}{98}"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;">Here’s what a few of this year’s leaders had to say: </span></p></div><div><blockquote><p paraid="902218773" paraeid="{34109b06-20df-48ce-968a-c2062475e23f}{112}">It was a great experience engaging with the team, sharing real-world insights, and learning from one another throughout the course. I truly enjoyed every session and appreciated the opportunity to grow and develop my leadership skills.</p><footer>- Ericka Lewis, Kroger</footer><p> </p></blockquote></div><div><blockquote><p paraid="42716132" paraeid="{34109b06-20df-48ce-968a-c2062475e23f}{126}">You guys have helped develop my perspective in a way that would’ve never happened if it wasn’t for this experience.</p><footer>- Kevin Salvador, DeCicco & Sons Markets</footer><p> </p></blockquote></div><div><blockquote><p paraid="35077097" paraeid="{34109b06-20df-48ce-968a-c2062475e23f}{136}">I gained a higher understanding of the role and responsibilities of a good leader. But this opportunity sparked an interest in the craft that is leadership. </p><footer>- Ben Wright, Big Y Foods, Inc.</footer><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;"></span><p> </p></blockquote></div><div><p paraid="424896468" paraeid="{34109b06-20df-48ce-968a-c2062475e23f}{156}">When we look at this year’s graduating class, one thing is clear: the future of food industry leadership is in good hands. <span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;">Congratulations to all the new certificate holders, and thank you to the companies, coaches and partners who continue to champion this work. Together, we’re shaping a stronger, more connected food industry, and a more resilient future of food retail. </span></p><p paraid="424896468" paraeid="{34109b06-20df-48ce-968a-c2062475e23f}{156}"><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;"></span><a href="https://www.fmi.org/future-leaders" rel="noreferrer noopener" class="button" style="font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;white-space:inherit;" target="_blank">Learn More</a><span style="background-color:transparent;color:inherit;font-family:inherit;font-size:inherit;text-align:inherit;text-transform:inherit;word-spacing:normal;caret-color:auto;white-space:inherit;"> </span></p></div>
[#item_full_content]
