Hammond Brand & Innovation Consulting is a an independent firm providing a broad spectrum strategic advisory on brand innovation and marketing strategy to client C-level executives leaders and entrepreneurs. As the firm's managing consultant, I conceptualize, architect, and execute integrated strategies including go-to-market plans, business roadmaps, product development, category assessments, market research, customer segmentation, prototyping, brand positioning, and commercialization. Notable client engagements:►Kitchentown: I directed the development of this innovation hub’s consumer packaged goods (CPG) produce venture launch pad and new venture studio. This positioned the business as a value generator in commercializing an extensive product pipeline via structured a brand Stage-Gate process, concept prioritization matrices, marketing capabilities, financial models, and support.►Dreyer’s Grand Ice Cream (Nestlé): During this engagement, I identified new brand opportunities in the Healthy Indulgence segment, performing a category assessment that revitalized the brand's legacy portfolio and maximized licensing revenues via co-pack partners.►Modern Table Plant-Based Pasta (Basic American Foods): I conceptualized and launched a white space Vegan Mac & Cheese product introduced via Whole Foods, as a senior brand leader. To this end, I directed the entry strategy, social media, and product development lifecycle.►Brainiac Kids (Ingenuity Foods): I directed a startup venture in the development and commercialization of a proprietary snack line promoting healthy brain development. This included the brand equity design, ingredients R&D, package prototyping, and the vetting and selection of manufacturer partners.►The Town Kitchen: For this social enterprise food company employing formerly incarcerated youth, I designed and the implemented business strategy, working with the founder on board decks, marketing plans, websites, pro formas, and support materials.

Del Monte Foods is a multi-brand CPG company whose labels include Del Monte, Contadina, College Inn, Joyba, Kitchen Basics, and S&W.I was recruited to build and direct multi-year innovation platforms parlaying the company's brand equity in the frozen, vegetable, tomato, and broth business categories. As such, I led product development for new white space opportunities beyond the traditional grocery channel and “center of store” categories, heading an organization in product formulation and development, category roadmapping, go-to-market strategy, data analytics, distribution, strategic partnerships, launch strategy, and channel management. Key achievements:►Serving as a member of executive steering committees aligning brand and product innovation strategies.►Ideating a frozen category roadmap projected spanning 3 product platforms. We positioned Del Monte for commercialization by honing portfolio and leveraging current omnichannel manufacturing and distribution capabilities.►Launching a Veggieful portfolio generating strong revenues and profitability via a new footprint in the riced vegetable and pocket pie segments, with broad market distribution.►Identifying a high-value untapped channel opportunity in the “natural” segment via the Del Monte Grown Good innovation sub-brand, a non-GMO-verified project with elevated packaging and strong margins.►Pioneering the Take Root Organics brand entry, achieving concept-to-shelf for 8 SKUs in 6 months with strong sales and ACV, beating all launch KPIs. We leveraged the existing supply chain, created the brand design and architecture, trademarked the products, and launched through Kroger. Take Root Organics was recognized with Kantar’s Product of the Year award.►Orchestrating a portfolio of value-add initiatives positioning Del Monte Foods for long-term innovation pipeline growth, including the launch of an organic farmer’s council with eye toward ROC certification, and serving on the AI task force.

Peet's is a broad-market coffee brand with 250 quick serve restaurant locations and wholesale distribution.I was tapped by the President of Retail to serve as the chief marketer of a newly created point-of-sale food and merchandising vertical. In this capacity, I hired and led a multi-tiered organization conceptualizing, developing, procuring, and brand managing a portfolio of ready-to-heat fresh meals, pre-packaged foods, baked goods, and other items. Additionally, I managed the P&L performance, the sourcing and management of food, equipment, and materials vendors, the supply chain, and internal change management. Key achievements:►Rapidly building Food into a major business representing 25% of QSR channel sales and achieving a strong attachment rate, increasing the average check size and boosting customer traffic by 30%. I personally devised the strategy, sourced the capital equipment, and secured more than 50 in-region fresh food vendors.►Program managing retail network change management and go-live, directing cross-vertical workstreams in product assessments, structural changes, staff training, quality standards, merchandising, marketing, and public relations.

Revolution Foods was a startup manufacturer of nutritious, healthy meals served to schools and retail across the US.I was engaged in this short-term role developing and establishing a CPG innovation pipeline to enable expansion into the grocery channel. For this, managed the creation and execution of a 2-year strategic pipeline via trends and segmentation assessment, commercialization, and launch. Key achievement:►Conceptualizing, researching, prototyping, and launching 3 new product platforms for the grocery channel – Dinner Hero, nutrition bar, and pre-packaged refrigerated snacks. Our capabilities included both self-manufacturing and co-packer production.

Safeway was a publicly held Fortune 100 grocery retailer, and was acquired by Cerberus Capital Management (Albertsons) in 2015.I was promoted through product innovation and brand marketing roles managing the performance of various private label brand portfolios. As such, I oversaw matrixed teams, innovation agencies, production through 18 internal manufacturing plants, and vendors. Key achievements:►Acting as an executive transformation agent in accelerating corporate product innovation practices and pipelines. I formalized and delivered a 12-week innovation process across the enterprise, institutionalizing Stage-Gate workflows and innovation mindsets.►Building and Launching Eating Right women’s wellness brand platform, reaching new millennial consumers.►Growing the health and wellness portfolio by 15% overall and achieving 117% of target through both retail and e-commerce channels, including the proprietary O Organics line.►Increasing the flagship Safeway SELECT premium private label brand top-line revenues by 6% YoY in a flat, mature market.

I initially began my career as an Emmy-award-winning Freelance Video Producer. From there, I progressed through roles as an AC Nielsen Account Executive co-located at Nestlé, and in marketing leadership roles at Diageo, Kendall-Jackson Wine Estates, and Treasury Wine Estates.