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| | About the Authors
Bob Burke
Bob Burke founded
Natural Products Consulting
in early 1998. Prior to that he was Vice President of Sales and
Corporate Development for Stonyfield
Farm Yogurt (1986-1998).
Click here to go to Natural Products Consulting website.
While at Stonyfield Farm, held the positions of Vice President of
Marketing and Sales, and Vice President of Sales and Corporate
Development. For the last 8 years, had served on the company's executive
committee contributing to a wide range of general management and
cross-functional issues.
During his tenure, the company grew from approximately $1 million to $43
million in sales, achieved national and international distribution, and
became a well known as a leader in socially and environmentally
responsible business practices.
Bob has been active in the Organic Trade Association, where he has been
a member of the Host Committee for 5 years. Bob also served as an
outside board member of Equal
Exchange for eight years; a worker owned co-op that practices fair
trade with third world farmer co-ops. Currently he is an outside
director of the Nantucket Harvest Company, Inc. (Stirrings
and Nantucket Offshore
brands),
EcoFish, a leading brand of
sustainably harvested and safe seafood products,
NutraBella, makers of
BellyBar and Stonyfield Farm. He also co-founded the "G.E.N.A." group; an association
comprised of 13 leading New England/New York based natural products
companies.
Clients: Have had the privilege of working
with exciting companies such as: Annie’s Homegrown, Oregon Chai,
Snyder’s of Hanover, United Natural Foods, No Pudge!, Kraft Foods, Bayer
Consumer Care Division, ConAgra, Kellogg’s, General Mills, Stacy’s Pita
Chips, Kettle Cuisine, Small Planet Foods, New Hope Natural Media,
Bushes Beans, Nantucket Offshore/Stirrings, Immaculate Baking, Dr.
Bronner’s Magic Soaps, Dancing Deer Bakery, The Natural Dentist, Rice
Select, EcoFish, S.C. Johnson and others.
Prior to Stonyfield Farm, held marketing positions with Colombo, Inc.
and Sperry Top-Sider. Earned MBA from Babson
College, now the F.W.Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College.
Bob has delivered presentations, seminars and moderated panels at
leading trade shows and conferences such as Natural Products Expo East &
West, The NASFT's Winter and Summer Fancy Food Shows, OTA's "All Things
Organic Trade Show and Conference", Natural Products Europe in London,
Canadian Consulate in Boston, Kosherfest in New York, The Soyfoods
Conference, Agrifood Trade Services in Nova Scotia and has been a
featured trainer and speaker at Management Venture Institute forums.
In 2002, he co-founded the
Natural Products Consulting Institute with Rick McKelvey to publish
The Natural Products Field Manual, Staking Out Space on the
Supermarket Shelf, and The Sales Manager's Handbook.
They also produce popular sales and marketing seminars for companies
bringing natural and specialty products to market. For more information
on seminars, please visit:
http://www.npcinstitute.com/Sales%20seminar.htm
Bob has been qualified as an "expert witness" in federal court on the
subject of the sales and marketing of natural, organic and specialty
products.
He recently authored the NASFT's White Paper on Trade Promotion.
| Bob was named one of
the "Top 25 Business Builders" of the Natural Products Industry
over the last 25 years by Natural Foods Merchandiser
Magazine. please click
25 Natural Business Builders |
Bob lives in Andover, MA with his wife, Kathy and four children:
Conor, Caitlin, Devin and Rory. |
For more information, please go to: Natural
Products Consulting
Rick
McKelvey
Rick
brings over fifteen years proven experience within the natural products
industry. Prior to forming Natural Business Insight in July 2001 he worked
for twelve years as Vice President of Sales and Marketing with Lightlife Foods,
Inc.
He joined the husband
and wife-run business as its first Sales Manager at $1 million in sales.
Rick’s creation and implementation of growth plans resulted in the profitable
expansion of sales to $25 million,
and eventual sale to Con Agra Foods. Under Rick’s leadership, Lightlife
emerged as the number one fresh meatless company (vegetarian hot dogs, luncheon
“meats,” sausages, etc.), with nationwide distribution through natural
product outlets. Rick also successfully navigated the “cross-over” of the
brand into the supermarket trade nationally; becoming the top-selling fresh
meatless brand in the U.S. Rick also led the company’s efforts in developing Lightlife’s food service, private label, and international business.
In marketing, Rick is experienced in brand-building utilizing
a “guerilla marketing”
strategy, and emphasizing the importance of relationship-building through a
thorough knowledge and close contact with the consumer. Rick is systems driven in his approach to business and prioritizes controlled,
profitable growth. He served on
Lightlife’s executive committee for six years.
Rick has served on the board, and as a past President, of the Soyfoods Association of North America, as
well as on the board of the local Y.M.C.A. and is currently a member of his
church vestry. Rick is also co-founder with Bob of the G.E.N.A. Group and holds
an MBA from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He lives in the small
country town of Conway, MA, where he spends his free time with his wife of 15
years, Lynn, and his children, Matthew and Meaghan.
Rick
and Bob have worked separately and together
on many assignments. They have offered the following services to large and small
companies: strategic planning, budgeting and pricing; developing sales and
marketing plans; building distribution; broker selection and management;
organizational development; strategic options; sales training; export plans;
filling key sales and marketing roles on a part-time, interim basis; and sales
reporting systems and analysis.
website
by RML
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