Join the Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network (CFBN) for an exclusive morning dedicated to the power of partnership. We are thrilled to be co-hosting this month's Innovation Breakfast with our friends at Chicago Innovation, a leading voice in celebrating and advancing innovation across the city. This special event will explore how strategic collaborations are driving breakthroughs in the food and beverage industry, from product development to market entry.
This Month's Topic: In this session, we will delve into "Innovative Collaborations," examining how working together—whether with startups, established corporations, or even competitors—can unlock new opportunities and accelerate growth. While our speakers are to be announced, you can expect to hear from experts who have successfully forged partnerships that have reshaped the industry.
Networking: As always, the event will include dedicated time for networking over coffee and light breakfast bites. Connect with a diverse group of professionals from both the food & beverage and broader innovation communities.
AGENDA
7:00 AM Doors Open / Check-In
7:30 AM Panel Discussion / Q&A
8:30 AM Networking
9:00 AM Event Ends
SPEAKERS
MARI ROSENFELD
VP & GM, Commercial Growth
Farmer’s Fridge
Mari Rosenfeld is a strategic Finance and Commercial leader passionate about making fresh, accessible food available to everyone. As VP & General Manager of Commercial Growth at Farmer’s Fridge, she owns the P&L and leads teams that drive revenue growth across go-to-market strategy, pricing and assortment, and channel operations. A CPA with a Masters Degree from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, Mari began her career in Finance at EY, then built Farmer’s Fridge’s financial foundation before expanding her scope to lead the company’s growth strategy. Over the past several years, her leadership has helped Farmer’s Fridge grow from its Chicago roots to 26+ markets nationwide, launch a direct to consumer ecommerce business during COVID, and scale from 200 to 2,500+ locations. Outside of work, Mari extends her commitment to Chicago food accessibility by serving as an Associate Board Member of Green City Market and by eating her fair share of amazing Chicago local food along the way.
TOPE SADIKU
Director, Organizational Design I Global People
McDonald's
Tope Sadiku is a strategic leader with deep expertise in organizational effectiveness, behavioral science, and business transformation. As the Global Director of Organisation Effectiveness Design at McDonald's, she drives impactful change across Global Finance and Global Legal, optimizing structures, processes, and talent strategies to enhance performance at scale.
With a background in Accounting, Finance, and Economics, as well as an MBA in Business Strategy, Tope combines analytical rigor with human-centered design to create high-performing, future-ready organizations. Her career spans industries and continents, bringing a global perspective to leadership, innovation, and the evolving workplace.
LISA SAXSON REED
Sr. Director, Global Insights, Sensory User Experience, R&D Analytical/Data Science
McCain Foods
Throughout her career in consumer research, sensory, design, and innovation, Lisa has dedicated herself to deeply understanding consumers. She’s passionate about holistic design and delivering business teams what they need to bring category-building ideas quickly to market. She is excited about the power of digitization broadly and AI specifically to increase the efficiency of teams to identify new opportunities to delight consumers/customers.
Lisa heads up the global insight, sensory ux, and R&D data science teams at McCain Foods, one of the world’s largest providers of frozen potatoes globally. Prior to McCain, Lisa was at MARS Wrigley, where she transformed the consumer insight capability in R&D/Design. She also worked at Unilever and started her career at P&G.
ANDREA SCHWENK
CMO
Egglife Foods
Andrea Schwenk is a brand-builder currently serving as Chief Marketing Officer for Egglife Foods, an innovative start-up cracking the code on protein-packed, low-carb foods by harnessing the power of eggs. Recently honored as a Game Changer by She Runs It and named one of Brand Innovators’ 40 under 40 in 2023, Andrea has nearly two decades of experience in brand building and product marketing, having worked on several fortune 500 brands including Burger King, Beam, Aramark and Buffalo Wild Wings before joining Egglife Foods.
CHRIS URBAN
Senior Vice President Growth Platforms and Partnerships
Dairy Management Incorporated
Chris serves DMI as Senior Vice President Growth Platforms and Partnerships where he is focused on advancing U.S dairy’s health and wellness product leadership through consumer insights, technology-powered breakthrough science and innovation with a primary focus of identifying and developing future partnerships ranging from large influential companies to cutting edge entrepreneurs.
Chris has more than 20 years of experience in the CPG food and beverage industry. Most recently he was Vice President, Global Growth Office, at Kraft Heinz where he ran a start-up with Oprah Winfrey, developed a global outbound licensing business, advanced a global sustainability strategy for condiments and implemented a global program to accelerate creative excellence for 400+ marketers.
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