Marketing Director – Food Service & Away-from-Home

Heartland Food Products Group is a global leader in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry, producing low-calorie sweeteners, coffee, coffee creamers and liquid water enhancers. We manufacture and market Splenda, the #1 brand in the low calorie sweetener category and the most recognized in the world.

Our goal is to transform the sweetener category from commoditized ingredients to a destination that unleashed shopper’s potential for better, healthier baking and beverages. We make coffee, tea and water taste better and help people live happier, healthier and longer lives by making it easy to reduce sugar.

We offer an excellent compensation and benefits package. Come grow with us!

The Marketing Director of Food Service & Away-from-Home channels is responsible for creating a strategic growth plan for Splenda sales in our business-to-business channels. The current Splenda Food Service business is an important and growing sales channel for Splenda and almost entirely based in traditional sweetener packets. We have aspirations to double the AFH business behind: (1.) new product innovation, including product lines beyond sweeteners, that make it easier for Consumers dining away-from-home to reduce sugar in their foods & beverages; (2.) channel expansion beyond traditional dining venues and into education, healthcare, and entertainment venues like sports and concert venues with product lines like our Java House Cold Brew bottled coffee, coffee syrups and Splenda Diabetes Care nutrition shakes.

The Marketing Director of Food Service & Away-from-Home channels will: (1.) partner with Sales to develop a long-term growth plan to double our sales in the channel; (2.) align the plan with internal stakeholders including leadership and critical functional leaders needed to execute the plan, like R&D and Supply Chain; (3.) execute the plan in market by supporting strategic selling efforts and developing marketing messaging and collateral to reach Distributors, Operators & Business Owners and (4.) identify opportunities for new product innovation, partner to bring innovation to life and lead commercialization of the innovation within the AFH channel.

Key business partners will include our Indianapolis-based, all-channel (Retail, eComm & Away-from-Home) Sales & Marketing team as well as the dedicated field-based AFH/Food Service Sales team.

The Marketing Director of Food Service & AFH reports to the SVP of Marketing but will partner with a broad range of multi-functional business partners in both Marketing & non-Marketing functions to grow the Splenda AFH business. Example focus areas include:

▪ Partner with the field-based sales organization to attend sales calls with Distributors, Operators & Business Owners as part of new business development efforts.

▪ Represent the Splenda brand, in-person at trade shows as well as develop Splenda booth presence, strategic messaging and collateral – in partnership with the Events Manager & Design Team.

▪ Partner with R&D, Marketing, Sales & Finance to establish new product lines, beyond sweeteners, to support Food Service channel growth.

▪ Partner with Sales & Finance to forecast for annual planning and new product launches.

▪ Develop messaging and collateral to facilitate communication to Distributors, Operators & Business Owners.

This position will have overall responsibility for Splenda AFH long-term growth plan, brand visual identity, marketing communications and new product pipeline sufficiency.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop a holistic business strategy that enable Splenda AFH sales to double in the next 3 years behind new product development and channel expansion.

• Develop and execute all Splenda AFH marketing communications.

• Develop Splenda brand presence and represent the brand, in-person at critical Trade Shows. Targeting 4-5 touch points/year.

• Partner with field-based sales team to develop new business relationships within the AFH channel.

Desired Skills & Required Experience

• Heartland’s culture is fast, flexible & innovative. The applicant must possess these traits and be willing and able to operate with a continually learning mindset.

• BS/BA in business, marketing or related discipline required. MBA preferred.

• 5-7 years previous experience in Food Service environment, ideally with CPG products background.

• Demonstrated strengths in B2B marketing, business strategy, long range planning, & new business development.

• Proficiency using Microsoft Office, Power Point and Excel as a vehicle to communicate.

• This position is located in Carmel, IN (northern Indianapolis) at the company headquarters & requires some travel for Customer sales calls, Consumer research, and trade shows/events.

Heartland Food Products Group