All Consumer Packaged Goods

Article How Nestlé Thinks About New Ventures, from Pizza Vending Machines to Probiotic Bars
April 1, 2024 | By Hadley Thompson, Meghan Hall
We talked with Doug Munk, the Senior Director of New Business Ventures for Nestlé USA, about his insights about his time navigating the complexities of building and sustaining new ventures within large organizations.
Article How Colgate-Palmolive Got the Industry to Shift to Recyclable Toothpaste Tubes
December 29, 2023 | By Hadley Thompson
We talk with Colgate-Palmolive's Ann Tracy about the making the recyclable tube happen; the company's three "ambition pillars"; and how the company tracks progress toward its sustinability goals.
Research Report Benchmarking Innovation in Consumer Packaged Goods
September 12, 2023
In Q3 2023, we interviewed leaders at global consumer packaged goods companies to understand the state of innovation in their organizations. We were specifically interested in the extent to which they pursue organic venture building and capability / business model innovation, in addition to their standard commitments to line extensions,...
Article Chew Innovation CEO on the Future of Food
August 9, 2023 | By Hadley Thompson
Adam Melonas, CEO and Founder of Chew Innovation in Boston, shares his insights on communication around innovation; working with large CPG companies; scalability of products for the largest total addressable market; and more.
Article Colgate’s Chief Sustainability Officer on the Keys to Driving Progress
February 22, 2023 | By Meghan Hall, Scott Kirsner
Ann Tracy, Chief Sustainability Officer at Colgate-Palmolive, shares her insights on developing a strategic plan; identifying what initiatives an organization should be a leader in; and using external partnerships to bolster R&D efforts in an interview from our recent report, Benchmarking Innovation Impact.
Article Kimberly-Clark’s Chief R&D Officer on the Biggest Challenge Facing R&D Today
February 20, 2023 | By Meghan Hall
Robert Long, Kimberly-Clark's first-ever Chief R&D Officer, shared his insights on the importance of diversity of thought; the biggest challenges in R&D today; and external scouting in an interview for our recent benchmarking research.
Article Member Spotlight: Jeff George, Hain Celestial Group
July 28, 2022 | By Nora Swidey
Jeff George is the Senior Vice President of Research and Development for Hain Celestial Group, a natural food and personal care company consisting of over fifty brands with worldwide distribution. In his role, George oversees R&D, quality, food safety, and regulation. We spoke with him as part of our IL Member Spotlight...
Article How 3M Reorganized R&D — and How the Company Tracks R&D Impact
February 16, 2022
In early 2020, 3M decentralized its operating model to give the presidents of its four business groups more autonomy over R&D. We talk to SVP Cordell Hardy about how it started, and how it’s going.
Podcast Busting Myths with the Head of Innovation and Science at Mars
October 19, 2021 | By Collin Robisheaux
Mars President of Innovation, Science, Technology, and Mars Edge Jean-Christophe Flatin discusses connecting with candy (and pet care!) consumers, and “myth busts” the top misconceptions he sees within innovation teams.
Article How Consumer Goods Companies Can Turn Everyday Users into Influencers
October 11, 2021 | By Jos Harrison, Contributing Columnist and Global Head of Brand Experience and Design at Reckitt
Jos Harrison, Global Head of Brand Experience and Design at the consumer packaged goods firm Reckitt, outlines how brands can leverage building positive relationships with the everyday consumer to grow a strong brand recognition and experience.
Article PepsiCo’s Demand Accelerator Takes Consumer Insights to Next Level
August 20, 2021 | By Collin Robisheaux
The Global SVP and Head of PepsioCo’s Demand Accelerator program discussed the efficacy of the Demand Accelerator, the specific data PepsiCo uses, consumer trends in the food and beverage industry, and more.
Article Co-Creation Tips from P&G’s 6-Year-Old Venture Program
August 12, 2021 | By Kaitlin Milliken
When Leigh Radford started the venture creation unit inside Proctor & Gamble, she was tasked with creating the next billion-dollar business for the personal care company. “I’m a very big believer…[in] learnings ahead of investment, and that has really treated us well to make sure we’re not over-invested in things...
Podcast Podcast: P&G on How to Tie Design to Consumer Needs
July 20, 2021 | By Collin Robisheaux, Kaitlin Milliken
Bringing designers in early can help companies execute on big ideas and create smoother customer experiences. But how do you get that right, especially if design isn’t baked into the culture, or if other functions tend to dominate the innovation process? This episode of Innovation Answered explores…
Article Designing for Global Markets at Kimberly-Clark
June 24, 2021 | By Collin Robisheaux
Diapers, baby wipes, and toilet paper are essential household products that millions of families can’t live without. But how can these products be reimagined after spending decades on store shelves? Justin Sparks, Global Design Director, Kimberly-Clark Design — both of packaging and the products themselves — plays a key role in...
Article Campbell’s Snacks Exec on Marrying Strategy with Creativity
June 10, 2021 | By Lilly Milman
Audrey Smith, Director of Visual Equity and Design for Campbell’s Snacks, shares details about her design process, the power of the designer’s mindset, and more.
Article P&G’s Global Design Officer on How Design Inspires Experimentation
April 22, 2021 | By Lilly Milman
Why do we trust Mr. Clean, outfitted in a white t-shirt with one hoop earring, to clean our homes, or the family of blue Charmin bears to sell us toilet paper? We speak to Procter & Gamble’s Global Design Officer Phil Duncan to learn more.
Article Utz Brands SVP on Tuning In to Post-Pandemic Trends
March 22, 2021 | By Kaitlin Milliken
Over the course of the past year, people have spent more time perusing the pantry for favorite snack options. But as the world begins to reopen, companies in the snack foods industry may need to tune back in to pre-pandemic trends, says Shannan Redcay of Utz.
Article PepsiCo’s Chief Design Officer on Embracing Failure
March 4, 2021
Mauro Porcini, PepsiCo’s first-ever Chief Design Officer, offers insight on the intersections of innovation and design, methods for getting to the root of customer needs.
Article How Tyson’s CTO Is Using Big Data to Forecast COVID Spread
February 25, 2021 | By Lilly Milman
Because food distribution was labeled an essential business, Tyson Foods never shut down any of its plants. Right at the start of the pandemic — as early as January — Scott Spradley and his team began analyzing data to predict how infection might spread within them.
Article Five Snacking Trends that Guide Innovation at Hostess
January 12, 2021 | By Kaitlin Milliken
Hostess Brands’ new Vice President of Growth and Innovation, Tina Lambert, shares five trends in snacking and how Hostess measures success…