The first ever Food Retail Industry Speaks report appeared in 1949. Sixty eight years later, this report continues to provide the industry with important benchmarks, facts and figures that are used in our advocacy work on Capitol Hill, in conversations with the media and by our members desiring to make informed business decisions.
As we prepare to launch the 2018 Speaks survey, a visit through the FMI archives to review the 1949 report reveals some interesting findings:
- There were nearly 4,600 retail food stores (compared to more than 38,000 today*).
- Supermarket sales totaled just over $2 billion (compared to over $668 billion today*).
- The ideal store size was just under 12,000 square feet (compared to more than 41,000 square feet today).
- Annual sales gains were 20 percent, while food retail prices were rising at 8 percent (compared to little change today).
- One-half of companies offered employees health insurance plans (compared to a very different situation today)
- Around 8 percent of stores had installed this new concept called a Food-O-Mat (the evolution of convenience).
- Only 22 percent of stores had air conditioning (yes air conditioning, not WiFi).
To read the rest of the story, please go to: Food Marketing Institute
