<p>By: Peggy Robins, Senior Manager, Meeting Services, FMI</p><div class="mg-image–circular" style="float:right;margin:10px;"><img sf-custom-thumbnail="true" src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/leaders-working-together.jpg?sfvrsn=70c33a70_1" sf-constrain-proportions="true" width="600" alt="Business people working around a table." sf-size="132467" /></div><p>food retailers, joint business planning isn’t a nice-to-have — it’s a competitive necessity. In an environment shaped by margin pressure, shifting shopper behavior and evolving store formats, aligning early and often with supplier partners is one of the most powerful ways to stay ahead. That’s where the FMI <a href="https://www.fmi.org/annual-business-conference">Annual Business Conference (ABC)</a> comes in.</p><p>ABC is built for business planning. Over three days, it brings together senior-level retail teams and suppliers across all key categories — fresh, grocery, health and wellness, private brands, general merchandise and more. Conversations that usually take weeks (or months) to coordinate happen in one room, with the right people, in a structured format.</p><p>Retailers consistently tell us they come to ABC to focus on execution. <em>"We use this meeting as our tactical touch base with day-to-day teams,"</em> one said. <em>"It allows us to validate what strategies we set up at Midwinter."</em> Another added, <em>"We meet with key strategic business partners, gain exposure for our company, and stay on top of innovation."</em></p><p>The value lies in its efficiency and the quality of interactions. Whether it’s revisiting fourth-quarter priorities, introducing new tactics or stress-testing assumptions, the structure allows retail teams to quickly assess what’s working and what needs to shift. <em>"It’s time well spent,"</em> noted one wholesaler. <em>"This is an important blocking-and-tackling conference."</em></p><p>ABC also provides a unique leadership development opportunity for retail category managers and senior directors. One participant described it as <em>"a great confidence builder, meeting with high-ranking executives of these big CPG companies."</em> Teams leave with clearer priorities, deeper partnerships and new talent more grounded in how joint planning actually works.</p><p>This year’s ABC begins with "Par-Tee on the Green", a casual Sunday night gathering designed to set the stage for meaningful conversations and reconnect with peers before the collaborative meetings begin.</p><p>If you’re looking to make faster progress with your key suppliers, ABC is the right room at the right time. Want to see which retailers and suppliers are already attending?</p><p><a href="https://www.fmi.org/forms/RedirectForm/?dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fmi.org%2Fannual-business-conference&utm_campaign=abc25&utm_source=blog" class="button">Explore the list of participating companies</a></p>
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