News Briefs

The Hershey Co. announced Wednesday that Heather Hoytink has been named president, U.S., effective July 8. Hoytink brings over 20 years of sales, operations and commercial leadership experience, most recently as SVP and chief commercial officer, U.S., of PepsiCo's Away From Home Beverages division.

In her new role, Hoytink will have end-to-end accountability for Hershey's U.S. commercial business, leading execution across the company's full snacking portfolio of confection, salty and protein. She will advance a ONE Hershey commercial model, while driving growth across away-from-home, omnichannel, digital and other emerging channels.

"We're thrilled to welcome Heather to Hershey. She's an outstanding people leader with deep customer relationships, the operating discipline to execute at scale and a track record of growth that will accelerate our U.S. business," said Kirk Tanner, president and CEO of Pennsylvania-based Hershey. "Her experience leading some of the largest, most complex customer and commercial organizations in the industry makes her exceptionally well-suited to lead our team into the next generation of growth."

While at PepsiCo, Hoytink led the North America beverage and commercialization agenda across the Away From Home channel. Prior to that, she served as president of the South Division.

"I'm excited to join Hershey at such a dynamic moment for the business. Hershey's iconic brands, strong customer partnerships and talented team create an incredible foundation for growth," Hoytink said. "I'm energized by building winning teams, investing in people and working closely with customers to unlock new opportunities. I look forward to partnering with the team to build on existing momentum, continue delivering for customers and consumers and drive the next chapter of growth together."

This article first appeared on the site of CGT sister brand Progressive Grocer.

Image recognition company Trax and Form, the maker of GoSpotCheck, have merged to create a retail execution (REX) company that uses AI-enabled tech to deliver shelf-level insights and improve inventory management. 

The consolidated customer roster includes CPGs and retailers such as Unilever, Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits, Sanofi, AB InBev, Suntory Global Spirits and others. End users will be able to access a suite of REX technology, such as shelf monitoring, analytics, merchandising, activation and shopper engagement solutions, along with a library of image recognition models and tools to help accelerate decision-making. 

Also: 4 ways CPG brands can win on the digital shelf

"Together, we can deliver more speed, innovation and impact so customers gain timely, accurate and actionable insights at a global scale," Form CEO Ali Moosani said in a statement. 

The new organization will be led by a leadership team that combines executives from both Form and Trax. The merger is backed by private equity firm Gemspring Capital.

Beverage brands Calypso Lemonade, Mela Watermelon Water, Health-Ade and So Good So You are elevating their merchandising strategy, tapping into technology that can optimize promotional cycles and on-shelf execution. 

The companies are working with Repsly to tackle challenges around product rotations, seasonal packaging, expanding portfolios and increasingly complex retailer requirements.

Through the partnership, the brands gain increased visibility into inventory performance, providing field teams with real-time data so they can make more precise decisions and adjust their promotional planning.

Also: Modern CPG merchandising takes data, AI and meeting the moment

Through more accurate store-level data, they can stay up to date on whether displays are set up correctly, if promotions are live and if out-of-stocks are hurting sales — and how to respond to create new efficiencies and grow sales efforts.

The brands expect to prevent lost sales, improve their display compliance and ensure products are available during demand peaks. 

"They can also expect to improve the efficiency of their teams, leading to increased territory coverage, and ultimately, improved execution and shelf sales," Repsly CEO Matthew Brogie said in a statement. "It also allows leaders to prove the impact of execution on velocity and revenue, making it easier to secure retailer support and protect key placements and team investments."

HanesBrands is investing in its operational intelligence capabilities through a 10-year partnership with Infosys. 

This initiative is designed to help HanesBrands modernize core operations, enhance agility, simplify its IT environment, and increase the value derived from data. 

Under the agreement, the apparel manufacturer will integrate Infosys' Live Enterprise Automation Platform (LEAP) within Topaz, which employs generative AI and AI-enabled operational technologies.  

Benefits that are expected through the initiative include increased productivity, reduced operational complexity and accelerated digital transformation.

HanesBrands was recently acquired by Gildan Activewear. 

AI-enabled trade promotion and merchandising platform DemandTec is now a standalone company following a restructure funded by Longshore Capital Partners. 

The new structure will help the company accelerate research and development, scale go-to-market capabilities, and deepen customer relationships across the retail and consumer goods spaces. 

Also: Collaboration becomes the new currency in trade promotions

Jack Tirella, CEO of DemandTec, said in a statement that the updated organizational structure will advance the company's self-optimizing artificial intelligence, improve predictive accuracy, and deliver higher ROI across pricing, promotions, markdowns and trade collaborations. 

The existing leadership team, with Tirella at the helm, will remain in place. Additionally, existing contracts, product roadmaps and support efforts will continue without disruption.

The Coca-Cola Co. has joined MIT's newly established Generative AI Impact Consortium as its first CPG partner. Other members include OpenAI, Analog Devices, Tata Group, SK Telecom and TWG Global.

The Consortium's Objective

The group brings together interdisciplinary MIT researchers and cross-sector industry leaders to look connect cutting-edge AI research with real-world expertise. Its mission is to generate open-source, ethical solutions to complex challenges. 

“This represents a best-of-the-best combination of industry practicality and academic rigor,” said Pratik Thakar, global vice president and head of generative AI at Coca‑Cola. “It also perfectly complements our commitment to make a difference by using AI in service of humanity.”

“We’re thrilled to have the support of Coca‑Cola as a founding member of the Consortium,” said Anantha P. Chandrakasan, provost of MIT, in a statement. “Their global reach and insights will be critical in helping us identify pressing challenges, pulling together the right partners and resources, and putting plans into action to solve problems.”

[Also: Coca-Cola leader named CIO of the Year]

Current Initiative: Project 'Save the Orange'

The group looks to combat devastating impacts of citrus greening — a bacterial disease that threatens the world’s orange supply and has no known cure. It emerged in 2004 and has infected nearly 100% of Florida's orange trees, leading to billions in losses.

Without improvements in detection, management and treatment, the global orange supply could vanish in the next 25 years, according to the consortium.

Generative AI is using data simulation to accelerate research timelines from years to months. The group plans to merge the technology with agritech, biotech and life science research to solve this problem or slow the spread.