FMI – The Food Industry Association has appointed Jennifer Shawgo as senior director, technology strategy and programs, a new role designed to accelerate responsible digital transformation across the food retail sector. Shawgo will lead programs, partnerships and member engagement connecting technology and operations.
Shawgo brings two decades of cross-sector experience spanning distribution, software startups and association leadership.
“Our industry’s investment in technology is about creating practical solutions that strengthen operations and enhance the shopper experience,” said Leslie G. Sarasin, president and CEO of FMI.
“We welcome Jennifer’s expertise as we pursue new technology initiatives like GroceryLab, giving our members the opportunity to explore emerging tools and share insights that turn experimentation into measurable impact.”
Bridging Operations and Innovation
Shawgo’s experience includes distribution roles at UNFI and KeHE, plus positions at SaaS startups Afresh and Vori. She also has held association and policy leadership roles at the Organic Trade Association, California Organic Products Advisory Committee and Good Food Foundation. Industry colleagues recognize her ability to translate complex technology shifts – including artificial intelligence, digital commerce and retail media – into actionable strategies for grocers.
Doug Baker, VP of industry relations at FMI, outlined Shawgo’s mandate.
“Jennifer will stand up FMI’s technology practice to connect the dots between store operations and the shopper experience, grounding every step in responsible innovation,” Baker said.
“She’ll lead member programs and voice of customer partnerships that align retailers, suppliers and technology partners around measurable outcomes, while translating fast-moving shifts in AI, retail media and digital commerce into pragmatic playbooks and toolkits. And by bridging commercial, product, policy and science, she’ll help our members navigate data governance, privacy and interoperability so innovation is both practical and trusted.”
The appointment comes as retailers accelerate technology adoption while navigating questions around data governance, privacy standards and system interoperability. FMI’s technology practice will develop member resources addressing these operational and policy challenges.
GroceryLab and member engagement
Shawgo will oversee initiatives including GroceryLab, FMI’s platform for members to explore emerging technologies and share implementation insights. The program aims to move emerging tools from experimentation to measurable business impact through collaborative learning.
The technology practice will create practical resources translating rapid industry changes into implementation guides and toolkits. The focus extends beyond technology selection to adoption strategies that balance innovation with operational reliability and customer trust.
FMI represents the food retail value chain, including retailers, producers and service providers. The association’s work spans food safety, government affairs, research and industry standards development.
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