Industry Intelligence

Douglas R. Conant, former president and CEO of Camden, N.J.-based Campbell Soup Co., has received the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) William H. Albers Industry Relations Award for his excellence in trading partner relations in the food retail supplier community. The award was bestowed at FMI’s Midwinter Executive Conference in Orlando, Fla.

As Campbell’s 11th leader, Conant faced the challenges of reversing a declining market value, and shepherding the company through a comprehensive transformation. He was instrumental in working with retailers to augment store experiences and trading partner relations. Under Conant’s guidance, the company developed innovative, in-store iQ Maximizer racks to streamline the shopping experience by organizing soups into “Shoppable Chunks.” This customer improvement led enhanced retail operations, as supermarkets witnessed a decrease in both labor needed for restocking shelves and loss from expired foods.

“Conant bridged his commitment to his employees to that of the marketplace,” said Leslie G. Sarasin, president and CEO of Arlington, Va.-based FMI. “Throughout his tenure, I knew Conant as an agile leader and an innovative trading partner at retail.”

Author of the best-selling “TouchPoints: Creating Powerful Leadership Connections in the Smallest of Moments” and a noted speaker, Conant remains active on several committees to bolster the supplier bond. His accomplishments include supporting FMI’s board meetings and the “Passion for Food” program, which invites key retail leaders to share ideas and showcase the Campbell’s culinary experience.

He additionally serves as chairman of the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP), and a member of the boards of the National Organization on Disabilities (NOD) and the Families and Work Institute.