GMA President and CEO

GROCERY MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION:

MANAGING ECONOMIC

AND

POLITICAL CHANGE

Pamela G. Bailey, President & CEO GROCERY MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION

THIS YEAR WILL BE PIVOTAL, A TIME OF GREAT CHANGE in government, for our

economy, for our industry and for the GMA. Openness to new ideas, new ways of thinking

and innovation are the keys to successfully navigating the challenges before us. GMA will

continue to serve as a laboratory for new ideas on a host of issues –– trading partner

collaboration, environmental sustainability, product safety and energy policy to name a

few. Here is how we will work to meet the challenges and maximize the opportunities

facing the food, beverage and consumer packaged goods industry in 2009 and beyond.

E

ARLIER THIS MONTH, THE EYES OF THE COUNTRY –– AND

THE WORLD –– TURNED TO WASHINGTON, D.C., AS

WE INAUGURATED AMERICA’S 44TH PRESIDENT. This

is a time of change, not just for the Obama

Administration, but for our economy, for our industry and

for the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), as we

confront the challenges and opportunities before us.

GMA is no different. For over 100 years, GMA has

served as a laboratory for new ideas, helping its member

companies connect with their consumers, as well as take

costs out of the manufacturing and supply chain process.

Openness to new ideas, new ways of thinking and inno-

vation are the keys to successfully navigating these chal-

lenging economic times. Thankfully, the food, beverage

and consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry sets the

standard when it comes to innovation. CPG companies

thrive because they constantly have their fingers on the

pulse of consumers, and consistently adapt to provide

them with new and innovative products that improve

the quality of life and keep pace with our ever-changing

lifestyles.

For instance, customer and channel collaboration,

always an important area of focus for GMA, is taking on

new meaning in the current economic environment.

Maintaining and improving the bottom line by estab-

lishing new and sustainable business growth is more

important then ever before.

THAT IS WHY WE ARE WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE STAFF

AND MEMBERS OF THE FOOD MARKETING INSTITUTE (FMI)

to take our collaboration to an even higher level. GMA

and FMI recently signed a Joint Collaboration Memorandum

of Understanding that codifies our long-standing partner-

ship and calls for stronger collaboration in our industry