Project Description

Expand Your Brand Scope

Business Portfolio & Strategies

The Challenge

The leading brand in the slow cooking category, Crock Pot, was experiencing only modest growth, despite several new product introductions. Average retail price points and margins were declining, despite overall category growth. The business team was challenged to move to a category leadership position reversing the margin declines and driving growth.

The Strategy

Starting with consumer research to understand the differentiated equities of the brand and consumer jobs to be done, the team redefined the “business of the brand”. Simply stated, the business transformed from a “slow cooker” business to performing the job of “providing an easy solution for busy moms to feed their family a healthier dinner vs take-out or fast food”. To accomplish this, the brand identified and launched several new categories including recipe books and bookazines, dry spice kits, sauces and starters, fresh meal kits and frozen meal subscriptions delivered to your door.

The Results

Net sales grew 15% and POS 25%.

Endorsements

Mary Ann’s leadership and vision not only provided stability and collaboration for a diverse set of business units and brands, but also set a direction that allowed growth and innovation to take place.

Rich Lyons, Capgemini

Mary Ann brings teams of diverse experience and discipline together to effectively create disruptive ideas, align on priorities and deliver results through collaboration, empowerment and resourcefulness.

Mark Johnson, Innosight

Mary Ann provided the leadership critical to building a new business, from the ground up, within the existing corporate infrastructure- not an easy accomplishment in a Fortune500 company!

Bryan Janeczko, Loeb.nyc

Perhaps Mary Ann’s strongest attribute is her ability to work with large teams and find a way to inspire change and results.

Mike Fagan, President, Domtar Personal Care

Mary Ann has a unique ability to provide real strategic vision to any business challenge; in particular, she understands how to lead organizations in creating and implementing innovative new business models and transformative growth initiatives.

Mike Docherty, NextBig

Mary Ann is a “thinker” and a “doer”, which is a rare and valuable combination in my experience.

Glen Waisner, Catalyst Consulting Partners, LLC

Mary Ann has become an extension of our leadership team providing ongoing mentorship to our global marketing leadership

Mike Fagan, President, Domtar Personal Care

In all cases, Mary Ann provided leadership, insight and unwavering focus on consumers and their needs.

Glen Waisner, Catalyst Consulting Partners, LLC

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