ARLINGTON, Va. — FMI—The Food Industry Association is introducing GroceryLab, a new hands-on forum designed to help food retailers and suppliers co-create a “zero-friction grocery ecosystem” fueled by data, technology, and collaboration. The inaugural event will take place June 2–4, 2026, at the Gem Theatre in Detroit.
The launch comes as FMI’s State of Technology report highlights more than $10 billion in industry technology investments in 2024, underscoring the sector’s urgency to modernize operations and customer engagement.
“From the debut of the first POS machine in 1974 to the investment of $1.5 billion in technology and online delivery capabilities during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic to help feed the nation, our members have proven themselves to be tech-forward leaders shaping tomorrow,” said Leslie G. Sarasin, FMI president and chief executive officer. “Our mission in creating this new forum for members is to reduce the friction between bold ideas and real-world execution. To us, GroceryLab is more than a gathering – it’s a launchpad.”
Technology at the Forefront
FMI’s research shows that 47% of food retailers and 93% of suppliers now use artificial intelligence (AI) to improve efficiency, analytics, and customer engagement. Retailers are piloting a wide range of in-store technologies:
- 86% are testing systems to improve efficiency,
- 80% are experimenting with tools to enhance customer experience, and
- 63% are trialing solutions aimed at strengthening ecommerce.
Executives surveyed by FMI emphasized that technology must deliver measurable results, whether through incremental sales, customer acquisition, or operational gains. Data integrity and cross-industry collaboration were cited as critical factors in scaling new solutions.
A Forum for Innovation
GroceryLab will bring together chief merchants, COOs, CIOs, CMOs, chief customer officers, and retail media leaders from across the food industry. Participants will engage in co-design sessions and innovation workshops to tackle challenges ranging from supply chain resilience to shopper engagement.
Sarasin added, “It’s our goal to give attendees a license to innovate, backed by actionable insights that tackle today’s biggest operational and innovation challenges head-on. While the future of technology is exciting, it’s the practical applications in driving incremental sales, attracting new customers, and boosting efficiency that truly move the needle.”
FMI credited its founding committee and consulting partner ThinkBlue with helping shape GroceryLab into what the association calls the industry’s first “cross-functional, behavior-shifting forum” to reimagine the grocery experience.
With the event debut less than a year away, FMI is positioning GroceryLab as a catalyst for an industry already investing heavily in digital tools, automation, and AI — but increasingly focused on ensuring those investments translate into real-world business value.
