New Platform Development Intern
Sargento Foods•Plymouth, WI
•Hybrid
About The Position
This internship offers 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 within the Deli Business Unit. Sargento's culture emphasizes treating employees like family, encouraging meaningful contributions to the community, company, and career development. The role provides opportunities to learn and grow, transforming aspirations into reality.
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
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Intern
