Discover the Highlights of the 2025 FMI Midwinter Conference

The annual 2025 FMI Midwinter Conference, held last week in Marco Island, Florida, set the stage for the future of the retail grocery industry. It provided insights into industry trends, shopper behavior, and interesting emerging technologies.

For Hispanic food retailers, the FMI-Food Industry Association event’s focus on shopper engagement and product merchandising is particularly timely. It offers fresh perspectives and strategies for thriving in the rapidly evolving marketplace.

One key theme from the 2025 FMI Midwinter Conference was the growing demand for personalized shopping experiences, a trend expected to redefine customer engagement in the year ahead. For Hispanic food retailers, this is a unique opportunity to cater to their culturally diverse customer base by leveraging advanced insight provided by data analytics to understand better and accommodate specific preferences.

Opportunities to Engage Shoppers

With Hispanic shoppers representing a significant and growing demographic in the U.S. market, offering culturally relevant and personalized experiences can boost loyalty and customer retention. The opportunities for deeper shopper engagement are vast, from tailored marketing campaigns celebrating cultural events like Día de los Muertos to incorporating bilingual messaging.

Companies like Sargento Cheese are translating their marketing and promotion messaging into Spanish to enhance engagement at the point of purchase.

Related Article: Digital Grocery: FMI & NielsenIQ Report

The conference emphasized using digital platforms, electronic shelf tags, and social media channels to connect with younger Hispanic audiences, who increasingly expect seamless, omnichannel shopping experiences.

Hispanic retailers who adopt personalized mobile apps, loyalty programs, and in-store engagement through digital screens will likely see increased foot traffic and online sales.

Authenticity is Key for Hispanic Supermarkets

Another major takeaway from the conference was the importance of authenticity in product merchandising, particularly for Hispanic food retailers.

Oscar Gonzalez, Co-President of Northgate Gonzalez Market, said consumers increasingly seek authentic, culturally significant products that reflect their heritage and traditions. As a result, many Hispanic retailers are expected to focus on stocking shelves with unique, traditional products that appeal to both Hispanic and non-Hispanic customers.

Lowe’s Foods president Tim Lowe emphasized this point: “We need to reach the melting point of all new food trends.”

For example, Gonzalez and Lowe suggested that retailers should expand their offerings of imported goods, such as specialty sauces, spices, and traditional snacks, while also promoting healthier versions of beloved staples.

This trend aligns with the broader industry move toward health-conscious offerings, driven by consumer demand for cleaner ingredients and greater transparency in food sourcing.

New Research Revealed at the 2025 FMI Midwinter Conference

Retail media was also a topic widely discussed at the conference. FMI and NielsenIQ released their new report, Digital Engagement Transforms Grocery Shopping, which found that more than 90% of shoppers participate in both online and in-store shopping, and retailers need to incorporate this finding into their go-to-market strategies.

Hispanic retailers should focus on engaging customers at all contact points to build brand loyalty.

“Consumers are seamlessly blending in-store and online experiences to meet their needs,” said Mark Baum, Chief Collaboration Officer and Senior Vice President of Industry Relations for FMI. “Our research underscores the urgency for food retailers and manufacturers to adapt to this omnichannel reality and leverage digital technologies to enhance convenience, personalization, and trust. Trading partners need to meet consumers where and how they want to be met.”

As Hispanic food retailers look ahead to the coming year, the educational and industry trends discussed at the 2025 FMI Midwinter Conference highlight challenges and opportunities in marketing, operations, and shopper insight.

The key takeaway? The future of Hispanic food retail is bright as long as businesses continue to evolve with the needs of their shoppers, offering a blend of tradition, innovation, and inclusivity in every shopping experience.