Two retail associations to combine risk events

The Food Marketing Institute and National Retail Federation will combine their existing risk and safety signature events into one cross-industry event starting in 2018.



The two groups will sponsor Protect in 2018, according to an announcement made Wednesday at the FMI’s Audit, Safety, Asset Protection Conference in Orlando.



“Respecting the changing grocery landscape and the intense consolidation our industry has witnessed over the last several years, our trade groups are making similar strategic decisions to maximize efficiencies and deliver greater value to the audiences we serve,” said FMI president and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin. “Our partnership with NRF on Protect 2018 will afford our food retail members the opportunity to expand their horizons, network in a larger sphere and get at the root of what they seek to do best – mitigate risk.”



NRF president and CEO Matthew Shay added: “Securing retail brands, assets, people and profits is the essence of PROTECT’s brand promise,” said NRF president and CEO Matthew Shay. “We are enthusiastic to amplify the sphere of influence of this gathering and ultimately help deliver the resources and information necessary to safeguard, prepare, protect and defend the nation’s commerce streams.”



More information about the combined event, to be held in Dallas on June 11-18, 2018, will be announced at this year’s Protect conference, which is sponsored by NRF and will take place at the Garylord National Harbor in Washington D.C. on June 26-28.