Numainville Joins Retail Feedback Group As Partner

Brian Numainville, Nash Finch’s former senior director, research and public relations, has joined the Plainview, N.Y.-based Retail Feedback Group (RFG) as a principal after more than 18 years with the Minnesota-based food distributor and retailer. Numainville also served as chairman of Nash Finch’s charitable giving arm, NFC Foundation, for seven years.

Founded in 1974, The Retail Feedback Group has consulted with grocery retailers across the U.S. to align their strategies and tactics utilizing feedback from primary and secondary customers, competitive shoppers, store associates, and office/distribution personnel.

“Brian’s extensive market and consumer research expertise, passion for helping retail organizations, public relations and community engagement experience, and food industry involvement offers our clients a valuable perspective,” said Doug Madenberg, RFG managing principal.

For his part, Numainville said he’s energized about joining the innovative, family-owned retail research consultancy as a member of its leadership team. “I look forward to helping organizations succeed in today’s rapidly changing and evolving marketplace.”

During Numainville’s tenure at Nash Finch, he developed and managed a comprehensive research program including consumer and business-to-business surveys, GIS and market analysis, customer satisfaction assessments and employee surveys. His department conducted research studies for internal customers, including corporate-owned retail stores, as well as for hundreds of independently-owned supermarket retailers.

At the industry level, Numainville chaired FMI’s Consumer Market Research Committee for many years and served as a member of the University of Minnesota Food Industry Center Program Leadership Board.

Holding graduate and undergraduate degrees in communication studies from the University of Minnesota, Numainville also holds Professional Researcher Certification (PRC) from the Marketing Research Association.

Numainville has also been recognized for his numerous contributions to the community. He received the 40 Under Forty award from the Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal, as well as the Alumni of Notable Achievement Award from the University of Minnesota and the WCCO "Good Neighbor" award. Numainville currently serves as board chairman for Hands of Freedom, an international nonprofit helping those in poverty in India, and is an officer on the board of Loaves & Fishes, a Twin Cities-based hunger relief organization. He is also a director on the board of a youth and family camp in Iowa.

The Retail Feedback Group offers a broad spectrum of research, consumer insight and consulting services. Its flagship program, Constant Customer Feedback (CCF), is the first automated feedback platform specifically designed and introduced for supermarket retailers, and is currently implemented in hundreds of locations across the United States. RFG has served as a thought leader in the grocery industry, providing research and consulting to both the Food Marketing Institute and National Grocers Association. Other key RFG services include employee engagement and culture assessments, customer satisfaction surveys, traditional consumer research and market analysis.