FMI - OMEGA - West Virginia Oil Marketers & Grocers Association

Cooking brings me joy! At least that was the case until the pandemic struck. One would think that the absence of an hour-long commute at the end of the workday would make me even more excited to cook dinner. Nope. At the end of the day, I am exhausted with no appetite for food or the time it takes to cook dinner. Cooking on a weeknight looks different than cooking on a weekend or for a special occasion, and perhaps because every day seems like the same day these days, I have lost my mojo.

The pandemic has accelerated ecommerce demand, pressuring capabilities and providing invaluable lessons for the future. I am not usually one to make dramatic statements about industry developments, but I have mostly put that aside during this pandemic, when everything seems to be unprecedented. But here is a sweeping statement I am comfortable making: online grocery shopping is undergoing its biggest test.

My freezer, refrigerator and kitchen cabinets have never been this full. And, as I look at the results of our most recent U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends COVID-19 Tracker survey of consumers, it appears that my household is not unique. This food anxiety driven by the events around the pandemic is shaping our food shopping behaviors.

Unfortunately, both COVID-19 and hurricane season are incredibly devastating to a business, communities, and personal health. But, one key differentiator is that for days, we can see the hurricane heading toward us, allowing for some preparation and, in many cases, evacuation from the imminent danger.

I am most excited in my new role at FMI to connect with so many others working to better serve all aspects of the food industry as together we embrace solutions for health and well-being.