Tuesday, August 9 - 1:15p-2:15p
Research and Development at the J M Smucker
Company - A Culture of Growth
 In
the late 90's the management team at Smucker's
took a hard look at how the company was going to
grow in the foods industry after having had
several years of flat to no growth at around
$600 Million in sales. A strategy of acquisition
was adopted, and in 2002 with the acquisition of
Jif and Crisco, two iconic brands, the company
doubled in size. In 2004, another acquisition,
which brought in part of the Pillsbury brand
among others, redoubled the company to now over
$2 Billion. After several smaller "bolt on"
purchases of Knott's and Eagle Brand, the
company doubled again to nearly $5 billion with
the purchase of Folger's in late 2008. With the
mantra of "effective first, efficient second",
Karen Milley will talk about the level of impact
from that much change and growth on the R&D
organization, and the balances between such
choices as: standardized methodology vs.
innovative culture; supply chain optimization
vs. break-through innovation; and career
development vs. resource deployment.
|
Karen Milley
Vice President
Research & Development
Consumer Foods Business
The JM Smucker Company
Karen Milley has
worked for The J. M. Smucker Company in
Orrville, Ohio for 23 years, all of them in
Research and Development or what was previously
referred to as Product Development. After a
series of positions within R&D at Smucker's, in
2008, Karen became Vice President of R&D for the
Consumer Business Unit which managed the
Smucker's flagship brand as well as Jif peanut
butter, and Hungry Jack breakfast. In May of
2011, the Consumer Business Unit merged with the
Baking and Oils Business Unit to form the
Consumer Foods Group, and Karen was chosen to
lead R&D for this larger organization of $2
billion in sales. This new business unit manages
all retail brands with the exception of coffee
brands. Other companies where Karen has worked
include General Mills, Yoplait, and Nabisco
Brands.
Karen graduated
from The Ohio State University with a bachelor
degree in Food Science, and an MBA in Marketing
from Indiana University Kelley School of
Business. |
