Arla Foods has announced that it will launch a new product and innovation unit, which will strengthen its global product agenda.
The new division will be responsible for all product-related activities focused on research and technology development, product development, and management of all product and packaging changes.
Executive vice-president and CMO, Hanne Søndergaard, added, “The new set up will enable closer collaboration with our commercial zones, markets, and supply chain, ensuring that we are driving our global innovation and product agendas from the strongest possible position to maximise the value of our products.”
An Experienced Team Leader
The dairy giant has named Lars Dalsgaard as the senior vice-president of the new unit, effective 1 April 2019.
Currently, Dalsgaard is the head of global supply chain manufacturing for cheese, butter, and powder (CBP) in Arla.
He has been with the company for the past 35 years, and has been instrumental in developing the its footprint both in cheese, ingredients, and in the UK.
Commenting on the appointment, Søndergaard, said, “Lars has the perfect combination of skills, expertise, and experience within the business and is passionate about taking both our innovation and product agendas to the next level.”
Dairy Innovation
The new unit is a part of a series of strategic moves by Arla to drive and lead dairy innovation on a global scale.
According to Søndergaard, the new unit will implement a new innovation model aimed at achieving a double impact in half the time.
“We will be more experimental, faster to market and roll out successes with speed. We’re also placing innovation leadership in market and global/zone brand teams who are closest to our consumers and customers,” Søndergaard added.
© 2019 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Dayeeta Das. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine.
