New Platform Development Intern

As a member of the New Platform Development team, the NPD Deli Intern will support the Deli Business Unit's growth objectives through hands-on experience with innovation strategy, opportunity identification, consumer and marketplace learning, emerging technologies, and executive-level recommendation development. The intern will lead two high-impact projects designed to strengthen future innovation capabilities. Examples of potential projects are shown below; specific projects will be finalized closer to start date. The projects will culminate in a final presentation of findings and recommendations to department leadership.

Your Story.

You will support the Deli Business Unit's growth objectives through hands-on experience with innovation strategy, opportunity identification, consumer and marketplace learning, emerging technologies, and executive-level recommendation development. The intern will lead two high-impact projects designed to strengthen future innovation capabilities.

Your Passion. Our Culture.

At Sargento, you work for a company you believe in, with a family of people who believe in you. Our culture stems from a simple premise: Hire good people and treat them like family. At Sargento, you can make decisions based on how they affect people as well as the long-term health of our company. You will be encouraged to make a meaningful difference in the community, in the company and in your career. With diverse experiences and tools to learn and develop, you can transform your aspirations into reality. If you’re ready for the right place to belong and grow your career, you can find it here.

Benefits That Set Us Apart.

• 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

Skills You Will Develop.

• Communication
• Critical Thinking
• Collaboration
• Cross-Functional
• Professionalism
• Leadership
• Technology
• Time Management

What You Do.

Strategic Thinking & Market Assessment

• 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.

Opportunity Identification & Innovation Development

• 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.

Example of Potential Secondary Project: Deli Innovation Knowledge Hub & AI Enablement

Process Excellence & Knowledge Management

• 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.

AI Fluency & Continuous Improvement

• 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.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Exposure

• 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.

Final Deliverable

Executive Recommendation Presentation

At the conclusion of the internship, the intern will deliver an executive recommendation presentation. The deliverables, along with projects, will be finalized closer to start date. Examples of potential deliverables include:

• Landscape Assessment → Synthesis of key consumer, category, competitive, retailer, and marketplace trends; data-driven insights; and the strategic implications for future growth within refrigerated deli dips.
• Platform Recommendations → Prioritized future growth platforms, opportunity areas, and innovation territories supported by market attractiveness, consumer needs, and strategic fit.
• Knowledge Hub → A centralized and scalable repository of standardized innovation processes, tools, templates, research resources, and best practices for the Deli Business Unit.
• AI Roadmap → Recommendations for future AI-enabled innovation capabilities, including prioritized use cases, an AI prompt library, and opportunities to enhance New Platform Development effectiveness, speed, and knowledge reuse.

Your Education and Qualifications.

• 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. There is no mass/public transit system to/from corporate housing location to company locations

Preferred:

• 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.

Our Story.  

With over 2,400 employees and net sales of $1.8 billion, Sargento Foods is a family-owned company that has been a leader in cheese for more than 70 years. We created the world’s first, successful pre-packaged sliced and shredded natural cheeses. Sargento is based in Plymouth, Wisconsin, where we manufacture shredded, sliced and snack natural cheese products, as well as ingredients and sauces. Sargento is known for the exceptional quality of our products and for product design, packaging and merchandising innovations that have transformed our industry.

To learn more about our culture and values, please visit our website at https://careers.sargento.com/us/en.

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