FMI, Prometric Team on Store-level Food Safety Certification

The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) has formed a five-year partnership with Prometric, a provider of technology-enabled testing and assessment, to bring the Certified Food Protection Manager (CPFM) exam under the FMI SafeMark program to FMI members and their employees. Arlington, Va.-based FMI will leverage Prometric’s test delivery infrastructure to place exams in food retail stores and Prometric test centers.  

“Food safety is the hallmark on grocers’ relationships with their customers,” said FMI VP of Food Safety Programs Hilary Thesmar, a 2016 Top Woman in Grocery. “The nation’s food retailers do everything to maintain shopper trust, which is the primary reason FMI partnered with such a noted authority for food safety training and certifications.  

“The benefit of this alliance is twofold, as we also value the professionals at retail ensuring these associates have the resources to effectively advance their careers,” continued Thesmar.  

“Prometric’s investments in technology and operations have enabled us to bring market-leading clients such as FMI unique and valuable offerings for their members.  We are excited to help advance FMI’s vision for food safety and industry leadership by creating a globally convenient avenue for certification anywhere FMI members have storefronts,” said Charles Kernan, COO of Chicago-based Prometric. “This offering places FMI at the leading edge of reliable and secure food safety certification.”  

Accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the Certified Food Protection Manager (CPFM) exam adheres to standards set forth by the Conference for Food Protection (CFP), resulting in a fair and impartial testing experience and a scientifically developed, legally defensible exam.  

The exams will be supervised by trained and certified proctors, and Prometric will offer web-based and paper-based exam formats on-site at FMI member retail locations, as well as computer-based exams throughout its global test center network.  More than 90 percent of the U.S. population lives within 50 miles, or about one hour’s drive, from a Prometric test center.

FMI’s U.S. members operate almost 40,000 retail food stores and 25,000 pharmacies, representing a combined annual sales volume of almost $770 billion.  

Attendees of FMI Connect at Chicago’s McCormick Place can learn more about the agreement at booth # 1245 on the expo floor.