New Platform Development Intern
Sargento Foods Inc•Plymouth, WI
•Hybrid
About The Position
This internship supports the Deli Business Unit's growth objectives by providing hands-on experience in innovation strategy, opportunity identification, consumer and marketplace learning, emerging technologies, and executive-level recommendation development. The intern will lead two high-impact projects focused on strengthening future innovation capabilities.
Requirements
- Currently pursuing a Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Marketing, Business, Consumer Insights, Innovation, Food Science, Data Analytics, AI, or a related field.
- Rising Senior or graduate student with strong academic performance.
- Demonstrated analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
- Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly PowerPoint and Excel.
- Valid driver’s license, vehicle insurance, and vehicle required.
Nice To Haves
- Interest in consumer packaged goods, food, innovation, product development, consumer insights, strategy, or emerging technologies.
- Experience conducting research, analyzing information, and presenting recommendations.
- Familiarity with AI tools, data analysis, or innovation methodologies.
- Demonstrated leadership through coursework, organizations, internships, or extracurricular activities.
Responsibilities
- Synthesize emerging trends across consumers, categories, competitors, retailers, and adjacent markets impacting the future of refrigerated deli dips.
- Leverage syndicated data, secondary research, trend reports, and internal business resources to assess market dynamics and future growth opportunities.
- Translate findings into strategic implications, identifying key opportunities, risks, and areas of whitespace for dips within the Deli Business Unit.
- Identify and prioritize future growth platforms based on consumer needs, market attractiveness, and strategic fit.
- Develop new platform recommendations, including target occasions, value propositions, and areas for innovation exploration.
- Present a prioritized Deli dips opportunity roadmap with supporting rationale and recommendations for future New Platform Development initiatives.
- Assess current innovation processes, tools, templates, research resources, and institutional knowledge utilized across the Deli Business Unit.
- Standardize and organize key innovation resources into a centralized, scalable knowledge hub that improves consistency, onboarding, and knowledge sharing.
- Recommend future governance and maintenance practices to ensure resources remain current, accessible, and effective.
- Research and benchmark best-in-class AI applications relevant to consumer packaged goods, innovation, and product development.
- Evaluate opportunities to enhance New Platform Development processes through AI-enabled tools, workflows, and best practices.
- Develop an AI prompt library and strategic recommendations to improve innovation effectiveness, speed, decision quality, and knowledge reuse.
- Partner with colleagues across New Platform Development, Insights, R&D, Project Management, Sales, Finance, and other functions as appropriate.
- Participate in innovation meetings, research reviews, ideation sessions, and project discussions.
- Gain exposure to Sargento's product development process, innovation tools, consumer research methodologies, and cross-functional ways of working.
- Demonstrate curiosity, initiative, accountability, and a growth mindset while contributing to team objectives.
- Deliver an executive recommendation presentation at the conclusion of the internship.
Benefits
- Lead and own real and relevant projects aligned with business objectives
- Gain valuable skills and experiences to be prepared for entry level opportunities
- Mentorship and career development to learn and grow personally and professionally
- Volunteer in community service activities
- Social professional networking experiences
- Flexible work week onsite Mondays through Thursdays and optional remote Fridays; plus, half day Fridays
- Nationally competitive compensation
- Paid relocation and housing
- 5 unpaid days off for interns and 10 unpaid days off for co-ops
- 401(k) employer contribution top 1% in the nation
- Discounts at the company cheese store and local attractions/events
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What This Job Offers
Career Level
Intern
