It’s been an incredibly challenging yet inspiring time in the food + beverage industry. Despite all the major setbacks, including personal and professional adversity — or even loss, we’ve proven our resiliency on many levels. There are strong winds of optimism in the air and the most effective executive leadership teams are embracing new strategies and innovative business practices at a rapid pace.
The need for more consistent, focused, and caring leadership is clear, and the jolt of a global pandemic has forced the hands of many businesses to rethink their talent strategies. It’s also led to an awakening of and recommitment to the deeper values and sense of purpose many of us hold dear. Some of the best leaders are ready for a change.
The future is bright, big moves are being made, and it’s only just beginning.
“The first and most important hallmark of any good leader is authenticity. Authenticity is important because that’s the currency of trust.”
Jeff Harmening, Chairman + CEO, General Mills
BIG NEWS + INDUSTRY CUES
BRINGING IT BACK TO THE BASICS
Many of the most resilient and successful companies are shifting focus to their core offerings, cutting out extras and locking in on the most in-demand products.
Learn more: McKinney
INFLATION COSTS PASSED ALONG TO CONSUMERS
As manufacturers and distributors face increasingly higher prices due to inflation, many are passing those costs along to their customers. The consumer price index rose 4.2% in April compared to the same month last year, the largest year-over-year increase in prices since 2008.
Learn more: Food Processing
KROGER AND OCADO GO FULLY AUTOMATED
Kroger and Ocado have successfully launched the first of up to 20 fully automated fulfillment centers while more than doubling their e-commerce business.
Learn more: Supermarket News
WALMART PUTS A FOCUS ON MOVING WORKERS TO FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT
Looking for more ways to attract and retain employees, Walmart plans to have 740,000 of its 1.2 million U.S. employees working full time by early 2022.
Learn more: The Associated Press
SHAKE SHACK DOUBLES DOWN ON GLOBAL GROWTH
The New York restaurant chain has continued its regional expansion drive throughout Asia and more broadly across the globe with plans to open 35 to 40 new locations internationally this year, with another 40 to 50 to follow in 2022.
Learn more: CNBC
Jason Levi Pinegar
Managing Director
pinegar@mbexec.com
o: 949.930.0563
m: 702.666.2458
Jason co-leads the Food + Beverage Practice at McDermott + Bull and helps his clients by attracting and securing game-changing leadership talent to their executive teams. He specializes in ensuring close alignment with an organization’s unique mission, values, and culture. Jason has a background in business management, with prominence in leadership development and managing organizational change.
About McDermott + Bull
Leveraging deep vertical experience, innovative thinking, and proven time-saving methodologies, we challenge the norm and thrive in the recruitment of difficult-to-find VP to C-Suite executive talent.
We value a personalized service model while having the resources and capabilities of the world’s largest search firms. With experienced partners in the United States, Canada, and Europe, we are the trusted retained search advisor for empowering change on behalf of private and public companies, nonprofit organizations, private equity firms, and their operating companies.