It has been well substantiated that shoppers today ask more questions about their food than ever before. They want to know its story and are in search of intersections – those places where the details of their food’s story resonate with some aspect of their story, whether it be a shared value, a familiar look, smell or taste, a recognizable point of origin or a fond memory.

Last week the FMI Foundation attended the House Conference District Director Fly-in, where local district directors gathers on Capitol Hill to hear about national initiatives they can take back to their hometowns.

The consumer desire for product engagement can also be just as readily identified as a negotiation of the brand relationship; knowing what information to share, when to share it and how to convey it. It is learning the relationship dance steps for the consumer who wants to know what they want to know, when they want to know it and in a way they can understand.

It is hard to believe, but October 2019 will mark four years since the card brand-imposed liability shift went into effect, requiring retailers to invest significant time, resources, and capital to accept “chip” cards in their stores. Now that we are mostly over the EMV hurdle, what’s next on the payment’s horizon?