The J.M. Smucker Co.

It’s no secret that volunteerism and giving back to our communities is at the heart of who we are as an organization. We are proud of all employees who prioritize those values both in and outside the office. Today, we’d like to recognize Drew Ziegler, who is one of our most active employee volunteers. Drew is a scientist of research and development for frozen handheld and spreads. Outside of the office, he volunteers much of his time fostering kittens and helping with maintenance at Kitten Krazy in Medina, OH. He also spends time running Dungeons & Dragons adventures through Extra Life as a fundraiser for Akron Children's Hospital, officiating non-profit roller derby leagues and many other local volunteer events. Please join us in thanking Drew for making a difference in his workplace and his community!

Our Robin Hood® brand is a Canadian staple that has stood the test of time in large part due to its willingness to innovate while staying true to the brand's 100+ year legacy. The latest example is the recent launch of the Experience the Magic campaign, designed to inspire both new and seasoned bakers alike with a full portfolio of TV and digital advertising featuring culinary experts, social media influencers and all-new recipes. Consumers can try out these new recipes for themselves by visiting the brand's website at robinhood.ca. 

Robert Crane, Senior Vice President and Head of Sales & Sales Commercialization, recently spoke with Food Dive about how our relationships with our retail partners have evolved and become even stronger as we collaborate to meet the needs of our shared consumers. Robert discusses a range of topics including how we use data and analytics to create a next-level understanding of consumers, our commitment to refresh the categories we participate in through meaningful innovation and more. Check out the full piece here: https://lnkd.in/eQAwywAv

Last week, our Orrville headquarters got a visit from some feline friends from the Wayne County Humane Society to create an exciting adoption event. We are proud of the hard work our Meow Mix® and Smucker Experience teams put into this collaboration to promote cat and kitten adoption through the “cat club” - complete with disco lights, music & lounge seating. At the end of the day, several cats found their new fur-ever home! For those interested in learning more about the Wayne County Humane Society and the adorable cats eligible for adoption, check them out here: https://lnkd.in/gq_zTUv3

We are proud to help celebrate Michael Madriaga, Vice President, Government and Industry Relations, and the inspiring story that took him from the Office of the Governor of California to Capitol Hill in Washington. Check out the profile of Michael in the most recent issue of Hispanic Executive: https://lnkd.in/gxByJbME.

Today, we wish a happy birthday to the legendary Johnny Appleseed, whose famed story was rumored to have helped give The J.M. Smucker Co. its start! Johnny Appleseed, born John Chapman, traveled through Ohio planting apple tree nurseries in many counties, including Wayne (home to our headquarters in Orrville) until the mid 1820s. In 1897, Jerome Monroe Smucker began his business selling apple butter that, as legend has it, was made using fruit from the orchards Johnny Appleseed himself had planted decades earlier. The full story is a fun and fascinating tribute to this American legend. Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/grJ_d8Qj

We are always proud to support our friends at Canine Assistants and the Cleveland Browns. Thank you to all Barking Backers members for not only supporting in a worthy cause, but also for helping to create the largest organized dog fan club in professional sports!

Get ready for a burst of irresistible flavor with our new Uncrustables® Peanut Butter & Raspberry Spread Sandwiches! The love for Uncrustables has continued to grow exponentially over the years and we’re excited to add a new flavor to the lineup for consumers to love even more. As the sixth flavor in the Uncrustables family, this innovative combo features the unbeatably soft bread and creamy peanut butter we’re all familiar with, now with a layer of sweet, seedless raspberry spread. This ingenious combo is already rolling out to retailers across the country.

For our latest Smucker Spotlight, we are proud to recognize Maria Emilia Vidal - Lead, Customer Commercialization on our Market Development Organization team. In this role, Maria Emilia supports critical engagement with our retail partners and has established strong relationships based on a commitment to working together to serve our shared consumers. Through her dedication and thoughtful approach, Maria Emilia has supported early acceptance of our biggest innovation launches this fiscal year to help get some of our most exciting new product concepts into consumers’ hands. In addition, Maria Emilia was part of the founding team to start our RAICES employee resource group and is still highly involved by passionately promoting inclusivity and allyship while nurturing this strong community. We are also proud to celebrate her recent recognition as one of AmMore’s 100+ Latinos Cleveland Must Know. This program strives to shine a positive light around Latino professionals and the Latino community in Greater Cleveland while supporting Latino professionals in leadership, development, community building, and more. Thank you, Maria Emilia, for your work to support the advancement of our business and culture!

As this year's football season kicks off, our team at Milk-Bone® is proud to present another year of Barking Backers- the ultimate fan club for your furry friends! Since its start in 2022, Barking Backers has grown to over 20,000 registered dogs plus their owners, making this the largest dog fan club in professional sport. In addition to giving us a fun way to celebrate two of America’s greatest loves, football and dogs, this relationship allows us to bring attention to and provide additional funding for Canine Assistants.  Perks of the club include exclusive merchandise, experiences, and specially tailored events. If you’re interested in signing up your furry friend while supporting a worthwhile cause, visit: https://lnkd.in/gJM2DAUP