Speaks serves as a historical record of what is occurring in the food retail industry at any given time. As we complete data collection for the 2018 Speaks survey (responses due by May 31), I took a visit through the FMI archives to review the Speaks reports over the past almost seven decades. They tell an interesting story about what was happening in the industry and in America.

Grilling displays are popping up in stores all across the country, and for good reason. The grocery industry is positioned to win the grilling basket throughout the entire year. Barbecue cuts of meat are growing 10 times faster than the total fresh meat category as a whole.

For many of us, it is hard to appreciate the role this free trade agreement plays in making our lives better; after all, we don’t get a receipt that says “NAFTA saved you $3.09 on today’s purchases” in the way we do for membership in store clubs or the use of coupons. But the ripples are still there – and they make grilling season a little easier and more affordable for many Americans.

Memorial Day weekend signals that summer is here and the grilling season has officially started. This week families will head to their local grocery store or place a special online order to stock up on this season’s cookout supplies, and food retailers can take this opportunity to remind customers that a delicious and healthy barbeque begins with the basic food safety practices in order to prevent foodborne illness. To help retailers support these grill masters in preparing a safe and healthy meal, the Partnership for Food Safety Education offers a number of consumer education resources for retailers to connect with their customers on food safety.