BevNET is pleased to announce that Mary Ellen Adcock, the vice president of natural foods for Kroger, will be speaking on the topic of building beverage brands in Kroger stores during the BevNET Live program in New York.

Her talk will offer an unmatched opportunity to hear how beverage entrepreneurs can access the reach and volume offered by Kroger, the largest grocery store operator in the U.S., while still maintaining scalable, measured growth objectives.

Ms. Adcock recently announced her intention to move Kroger to the forefront of consumer consciousness when it comes to debuting new and innovative beverages. She will speak at BevNET Live about the best ways that entrepreneurial beverage companies can fit with those plans. Her talk will encompass the style of products that catch the attention of Kroger and Kroger-owned stores, the best ways to debut, scale, build and support those products within the Kroger network, and the overall relationship tone she is hoping to implement in the way that the company works with beverage suppliers.

The Kroger network comprises more than 2400 grocery stores, with a variety of thematic footprints; it’s also one that is, like many retailers, working proactively to become more competitive as a launch point for new food and drinks. A look at the organization’s overall strategy with regard to building an innovative beverage product set will provide BevNET Live attendees with an important set of goals for retailer/supplier cooperation, as well as put them in prime position to take advantage of the opportunities that Kroger can offer for even the newest beverage companies.

About Mary Ellen Adcock

Mary Ellen Adcock is Vice President of Natural Foods Merchandising for Kroger, the country’s largest supermarket company. She began her career with Kroger in 1999.   Ms. Adcock has held several leadership positions in Human Resources and Manufacturing including Operations Manager, General Manager and Director of Bakery/Deli Manufacturing.  She was promoted to Vice President of Bakery/Deli Manufacturing in October of 2009, and was named to her current position in 2012. Ms. Adchock graduated Magna Cum Laude from Vanderbilt University with a bachelor’s degree in Human and Organizational Development and Business. She earned her MBA from the University of Colorado. She and her husband, Heath, live in Cincinnati, Ohio.