Steve Gerhart’s Post

The Netherlands is the gateway to the EU market, a strategic location for the growing South American avocado production, led by Peru and Colombia, but also for the emerging African avocado industry, which today includes not only South Africa but also Kenya and Morocco, among others. 

We’re proud to see our CEO, Ofek Ron ⚓️ , featured in a spotlight interview with Restaurant Technology News! Ofek dives deep into Oshi's journey, from the initial inspiration to the challenges and breakthroughs that have shaped our mission to revolutionize the seafood industry with plant-based alternatives. He also discusses the innovative technology behind our products and the vision that drives us forward. This interview offers a glimpse into the passion and dedication that fuel Oshi’s success. Read the full story - link in the comments #Oshiseafood #PlantBased #FoodTech #SustainableSeafood #Leadership

Grassroot Greatness 5 Post series! Post 1: Discovering Hidden Potential In every organization, there are stories of individuals who, from seemingly unlikely positions, revolutionized entire industries. Take Richard Montañez, a janitor at Frito-Lay, who saw potential in adding chili powder to Cheetos, a move that led to the creation of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos—a product that became a cultural sensation. Similarly, Vivian Herrick, an administrative assistant at PepsiCo, noticed a growing trend in bottled water consumption and proposed what would eventually become Aquafina, one of the leading bottled water brands in the U.S. Key Takeaway for Leaders: Never underestimate the potential of your team members, regardless of their roles. Empowering every associate to contribute ideas could lead to your next big breakthrough. #GrassrootGreatness

𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝗰. is a US multinational manufacturer of confectionary, pet food, and other food products. It reported revenues of USD45B in 2022 and produces, among others, the popular Mars and Snickers bars as well as the Pedigree and Whiskas pet care range. Carlos Valdes-Dapena spent 17 years at 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘀 and was the Director of Organisation and Group Effectiveness. He shares his views on a 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺- 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 activity that the company embarked on in a 𝗛𝗕𝗥 article. "𝑂𝑛𝑐𝑒, 𝑤𝑒 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑠𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑑𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑎𝑟𝑠 𝑡𝑜 ℎ𝑖𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑛 𝑜𝑟𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑎 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑛 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑎 𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑝 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑒𝑛𝑖𝑜𝑟 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑎𝑡 𝑎𝑛 𝑜𝑓𝑓𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑝 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑚 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘 𝑡𝑜𝑔𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟 𝑖𝑛 ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑦. 𝐼𝑡 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑎 𝑛𝑖𝑐𝑒 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑎𝑝ℎ𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑎𝑛 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒. 𝐼𝑡 𝑑𝑖𝑑 𝑛𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ, 𝑡𝑜 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 ℎ𝑜𝑤 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑝 𝑜𝑓 𝑙𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑘𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜𝑔𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟. 𝐸𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑠 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑠𝑒 𝑚𝑎𝑦 𝑔𝑒𝑡 𝑝𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑙 𝑐𝑙𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑟 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎 𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑒; 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑏𝑜𝑛𝑑 𝑝𝑒𝑜𝑝𝑙𝑒. 𝑇ℎ𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑏𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑠, 𝑡ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ, 𝑑𝑜 𝑛𝑜𝑡 ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑑 𝑢𝑝 𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑎𝑦-𝑡𝑜-𝑑𝑎𝑦 𝑝𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑎𝑛 𝑜𝑟𝑔𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑠𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑓𝑜𝑐𝑢𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑛 𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑟𝑒𝑠𝑢𝑙𝑡𝑠." While 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺-𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 activities are helpful in building camaraderie, can it directly contribute to improved business performance under day-to-day pressures? What are your thoughts? #dearbossbook

Success Story of Indra Nooyi, who served as CEO of PepsiCo from 2006 to 2018, is a remarkable leader whose tenure exemplifies the power of vision and innovation. Under her leadership, Nooyi championed the "Performance with Purpose" initiative, focusing on healthier products, environmental sustainability, and positive community impact. By transforming PepsiCo’s portfolio to include more nutritious options and reducing the company’s environmental footprint, she not only drove significant revenue growth but also positioned the brand as a leader in corporate responsibility. Her strategic foresight helped navigate the shifting consumer preferences towards healthier eating, resulting in a 78% increase in the company’s share price during her tenure. Entrepreneurs can learn invaluable lessons from Nooyi’s approach. Her emphasis on long-term sustainability over short-term gains highlights the importance of aligning business goals with broader societal needs. Nooyi’s commitment to innovation demonstrates that staying attuned to market trends and consumer demands can drive growth and relevance. Additionally, her focus on fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace emphasizes the value of collaboration and varied perspectives in problem-solving, reminding entrepreneurs that a strong, unified team is essential for success in today’s competitive landscape. #LeadershipSuccess #InspiringLeaders #LearnFromTheBest

Congratulations to the Co-op leadership team for landing their speeches with such impact and inspiration. I am so curious to see the ripple effects from that... Comments on Linked in read from “this was the best IGD ever” to “I am so impressed how many suppliers wanted to have meaningful conversations after”- It left their suppliers not just attentive, but fully engaged. They weren’t just sitting through a corporate presentation—they were inspired, moved, and even had a few good laughs along the way. What made it special? Co-op’s leaders didn’t just talk about growth or strategy. They shared real stories. Stories about what fair trade does for people. What it means. It means that the children of banana workers get to go to university. Show me another retailer that has maintained their relationships and agreements in such a way that this is possible now. It means that the health centre in Tilimuqui serves 10,000 people funded by the amazing wine we get to enjoy. I had the pleasure of helping to craft many of  those speeches and working with the leaders on how to deliver them with passion and authenticity. And let me tell you, watching those speeches land—seeing people sit up, laugh, and get genuinely moved—was something special. What does member owned mean? What does “investing in quality” mean? They explained it with stories, example and heart. Co-op cares. They pioneered compostable bags, they actually support the chocolate farmers in Peru, it’s not just a marketing fad when you see those claims. These aren’t just achievements—they are values in action, and that’s what truly resonates. What they hadn’t done so much before is actually talk about it. In STORIES. And with impact. It’s clear that when leaders speak what matters, the connection is real. I am here to radically deepen the impact speakers have on stage and on screen. So… what needs to be talked about in your business? #Coop #IGD #publicspeaking #storytellinginbusiness #impact

Chobani's Journey from Niche to Market Leader: A Strategy Masterclass In the early 2000s, Hamdi Ulukaya, a Turkish immigrant, spotted a significant opportunity in the U.S. yogurt market. He envisioned introducing authentic Greek yogurt to American consumers at a time when the market was dominated by less premium, sugar-heavy options. Chobani started with less than 1% market share in 2007. Through a blend of market insight, quality focus, and strategic execution, by 2017, Greek yogurt captured 50% of the U.S. market, with Chobani leading this transformation. Their revenue soared, reaching over $1 billion and hitting $1.75 billion by 2023, reflecting a 14% sales increase in the first nine months of that year. Here are three pivotal lessons from Chobani’s success: Adapt to Market Terrain: Ulukaya didn't just enter the market; he redefined it. He saw the shift towards health-conscious and authentic food choices. By tailoring Chobani to these trends, he demonstrated the importance of understanding and adapting to market conditions. Quality as Your North Star: Chobani's commitment to using only natural ingredients without preservatives sets it apart, making quality the brand's hallmark. This lesson shows that in saturated markets, a superior product can carve out a significant niche. Execution Excellence: Beyond product innovation, Chobani's success was built on meticulous execution. From innovative marketing to strategic product placement in mainstream grocery sections, their approach was flawless. This teaches us that strategy is as much about how you execute your vision as the vision itself. Chobani's story is not just about yogurt but about how a clear vision, combined with an understanding of market dynamics, can lead to industry revolution. For business leaders, this narrative underscores the power of strategic clarity, quality focus, and execution precision in achieving business success. #BusinessStrategy #Leadership #MarketGrowth #Innovation #Chobani #StrategyToWin

🌟 Diversity in Leadership: The Unseen Superpower in Food Technology 🌟 In a world that craves innovation like a morning cup of coffee, diversity within leadership teams isn't just nice to have; it’s essential. Why? Because diverse teams bring a smorgasbord of perspectives that transform everyday challenges into groundbreaking opportunities. Imagine combining the unexpected, like chocolate and chili, to create a winning flavor. That's what diverse leadership does in the food technology sector. It’s not just about blending backgrounds but about mixing a variety of skills and experiences to craft solutions that meet complex consumer demands and navigate regulatory mazes. As I've seen in my role at Meyrick Consulting, companies embracing diversity in their leadership teams are the ones pioneering new frontiers—from sustainable packaging solutions to revolutionary food safety protocols. These teams are resilient; they're equipped to think laterally, innovate continuously, and adapt rapidly, which is exactly what the fast-evolving food tech landscape requires. Let's ask ourselves: Are our leadership teams as diverse as the markets we serve? Are we nurturing a culture that values varied perspectives? Embrace diversity, and you're not just adding flavour. You're setting the table for enduring success. #Leadership #FoodTech #DiversityInLeadership #Innovation

Organizational leadership is simple. "Align all your choices to your purpose". Doing THAT is hard. I'm grateful to share with you a delicious way to get the skinny on culture and performance. If you've been in the world of work for a years now, you've likely seen something like the Star Model, the 7 S framework, Organization Cube, Culture Sandwich, or heard something about an organizational operating system. Each of these tools are describing different groups of choice to pay attention to. The models are like the Taco Bell menu... Same ingredients; in different shapes. Those frameworks have been spliced, distilled and separated to their ingredients and what remains is a mouthwatering buffet of choices which leaders from any seat can use to systemically investigate those messy problems that just seem to fester. You can see the full descriptions and their applications in my latest article: Organizations are Tacos https://lnkd.in/gmpnQrwJ As hard as we try, we can't change other people. We can change choices about each ingredient. Top management thinker Jurgen Appelo highlights to "Manage the system not the people". Creator of #IntentBasedLeadership and Turnaround facilitator L. David Marquat advocates to "Fix the system, not the people". To paraphrase the great philosopher Homer Simpson, "Organization design is the cause of and solution to all workplace challenges." Understanding what ingredients are mixing their flavors in your organization is a key step to lasting performance and an authentic culture. A Pinch of #Spice can transform. The #Filling can be Fulfilling The #Shell holds it together