Founded in 2021, McFarland Insights & Innovation is a woman-owned, custom consumer research agency with expertise in qualitative and quantitative methodology. McFarland Insights & Innovation believes in an insights driven approach to innovation. Our mission is to fuel the next generation of innovations with relevant consumer insights and empower businesses to offer products and services that consumers will love.

- Managing the consumer and market insight needs for the North American region- Lead BC's in-house custom consumer survey research program, globally and regionally- Execute and manage various research projects in North America spanning various methodologies- Watching regional and global trends and producing content to demonstrate these trends- Partner with Innovation team to inspire on trend and market relevant solutions and applications- Working cross culturally as part of… Show more - Managing the consumer and market insight needs for the North American region- Lead BC's in-house custom consumer survey research program, globally and regionally- Execute and manage various research projects in North America spanning various methodologies- Watching regional and global trends and producing content to demonstrate these trends- Partner with Innovation team to inspire on trend and market relevant solutions and applications- Working cross culturally as part of the Global Marketing Team Show less

- Providing research content and data to support North American insight needs- Executing the US portions of global research and consumer insights projects- Ad hoc market and consumer insights research and data collection - Watching regional and global trends and producing content to demonstrate these trends- Partner with Innovation team to inspire on trend and market relevant solutions and applications- Working cross culturally as part of the Global Marketing Team- As… Show more - Providing research content and data to support North American insight needs- Executing the US portions of global research and consumer insights projects- Ad hoc market and consumer insights research and data collection - Watching regional and global trends and producing content to demonstrate these trends- Partner with Innovation team to inspire on trend and market relevant solutions and applications- Working cross culturally as part of the Global Marketing Team- As the first CMI team member in North America, my role was to be a champion for the team's mission in the North America region- CMI team mission: Spread consumer & customer knowledge inside the company; deliver sensory, market & consumer insights; feed the innovation funnel; transform our business from trend watching to trendsetting; be a partner for strategy and decision making for internal and external stakeholders. Show less

- Support the Meat business unit and Food Service channel with market research needs- Providing research, market overviews and trend updates to sales, R&D and culinary staff- Guide ideation and innovation around technologies, products and applications- Support strategic planning for key accounts

- Manage the strategic procurement of food ingredients at a corporate level - Responsibility included raw material needs for North America- Communicate and coordinate with plant buyers at US and Canadian manufacturing plants- Use agricultural commodity market to actively manage price risk- Negotiate contract terms with domestic and foreign suppliers for non-exchange traded commodities- Represent the Americas region leveraging global buying power in global contract… Show more - Manage the strategic procurement of food ingredients at a corporate level - Responsibility included raw material needs for North America- Communicate and coordinate with plant buyers at US and Canadian manufacturing plants- Use agricultural commodity market to actively manage price risk- Negotiate contract terms with domestic and foreign suppliers for non-exchange traded commodities- Represent the Americas region leveraging global buying power in global contract negotiations - Lead reviews of coverage and risk with commercial accountants and business units- Identify and implement multiple profit improvement projects- Reduce raw material lead time and negotiate payment terms- Purchasing portfolio has included: tropical oils, non-sucrose sweeteners, spices and herbs, fruits, vegetables Show less

- Learned wine making skills and vine cultivation from seasoned French vigneron- Assisted in vine pruning and general care, bottling, winery upkeep- Conducted vineyard tours and tastings with tourists

- Recruited consumers to participate in sensory and consumer tests for various goods - including food products - for several high profile CPG and food service accounts