24�SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2025�ABASTO.COM ECONOMY FOCUS By Abasto T he Food Industry Association (FMI), in its fagship study, Te Food Retailing Industry Speaks 2025, reveals how the food retail industry is evolving toward a modern shopping experience while facing a com- plex operating environment. The analysis highlights successful strategies across the sector and offers a deeper exploration of how su- permarkets and food suppliers are adapting their bu- sinesses. ECONOMIC PRESSURES ARE GROWING Te food industry continues to face a challenging macro- economic situation. Approximately 80% of retailers and suppliers expect trade policies and tarifs to continue to afect prices and disrupt supply chains. In addition, most expect operating costs to remain high. FMI President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin refected on the annual report, stating, “Our industry, long accusto- med to operating on tight margins, is once again feeling the economic squeeze, with food retail proft margins at 1.7%, while food suppliers reported net revenues of 7.7%, in line with 2023 fgures. “These performance pressures persist, and the out- look presented in our recent analysis highlights a broader trend: a sharp increase in costs associated with regulatory measures at the federal and state levels and their impact on the food industry in recent years. As re- gulatory burdens and complexity continue to increase, our sector is preparing to face even higher costs in the future,” Sarasin said. He added: “With more than half of suppliers and more than a third of retailers expecting compliance costs to in- crease in 2025, we are focused on advocating for changes to these policies and providing tools to our members to help reduce the burden of compliance.” HOW THE FOOD INDUSTRY IS ADAPTING TO ECONOMIC CHANGES Continues on page 26...