10 innovation leaders in food and beverage
Vice President of Innovation, Chief Innovation Officer and Global Vice President of R&D Innovation are among the current titles held by these innovation leaders in food and beverage, at food makers including PepsiCo, Mars and Dairy Farmers of America. A reader can learn how innovation leaders approach their work from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
Andrés Figueroa
LinkedInExperience: Vice President of Innovation · Siete Foods
Andrés Figueroa has been Vice President of Innovation at Siete Foods since March 2023, based in Austin, Texas, with a profile headline of Vice President of Innovation @ Siete Family Foods | Food Innovation. Andrés Figueroa was Sr. Director of Culinary, Innovation, and Quality at Siete Foods from 2021 to 2023 and Director of Culinary and Innovation there from 2019 to 2021.
Carolyn Tomlinson
LinkedInExperience: Director, Break Through Innovation · Rich Products Corporation
Carolyn Tomlinson has held the title Director, Break Through Innovation at Rich Products Corporation since March 2021 and is also listed as Vice President there since February 2026, based in Orchard Park, New York, with a profile headline of Vice President, Innovation, Speed to Market and Packaging. Carolyn Tomlinson was Senior Business Development Manager at Rich Products Corporation from 2017 to 2021.
Dale Foster
LinkedInExperience: Vice President Innovation · Boar's Head Brand
Dale Foster has been Vice President Innovation at Boar's Head Brand since March 2026, based in Palmetto, Florida, with a profile headline of Vice President Innovation, R&D and Culinary. Dale Foster is also listed as Managing Director of Innovation at Boar's Head Brand since June 2023 and was Director of Innovation there from 2016 to 2018.
Daniel Zakri
LinkedInExperience: Vice President Of Innovation · Sandridge Crafted Foods
Daniel Zakri has been Vice President Of Innovation at Sandridge Crafted Foods since July 2006, based in Greater Cleveland, and describes a history of working in the food production industry. Daniel Zakri was Corporate Executive Chef at The Penn Traffic Company from 2001 to 2006 and Executive Chef at American Food & Vending from 1999 to 2001.
Katrina Paleski Cummins
LinkedInExperience: Global Foods Group - Sr. Director, Innovation & Growth Strategy · PepsiCo
Katrina Paleski Cummins has been Global Foods Group - Sr. Director, Innovation & Growth Strategy at PepsiCo since May 2023, based in the New York City Metropolitan Area, and the profile headline reads Vice President of Innovation @ Kraft Heinz. Katrina Paleski Cummins was Marketing Director, PepsiCo-Starbucks North America Coffee Partnership at PepsiCo from 2019 to 2023 and Marketing Director - Foodservice Innovation there from 2017 to 2019.
Penny Patterson-Smith
LinkedInExperience: Chief Innovation Officer · Flowers Foods & Subsidiaries
Penny Patterson-Smith has been Chief Innovation Officer at Flowers Foods & Subsidiaries since May 2023, based in Thomasville, Georgia, and the profile says the role leads research and development, product lifecycle management, innovation, renovation and agile teams. Penny Patterson-Smith was Senior Vice President, Cake Brands at Flowers Foods & Subsidiaries from 2020 to 2023 and Director, Global Chocolate Innovation at The Hershey Company from 2006 to 2015.
Qing Qi
LinkedInExperience: Global Vice President of R&D Innovation, Mars Wrigley · Mars
Qing Qi has been Global Vice President of R&D Innovation, Mars Wrigley at Mars since March 2020, based in Woodridge, Illinois. Qing Qi was Global Vice President, Research and Development, Gum & Mint Business Unit, Mars Wrigley from 2017 to 2020, Vice President of R&D - Asia Pacific at Mars from 2014 to 2017 and Global / NA Innovation Director - Mint and Confection there from 2011 to 2013.
Raquel Melo
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, Innovation · Dairy Farmers of America
Raquel Melo has been Vice President, Innovation at Dairy Farmers of America since July 2024, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and was Vice President, Product Innovation there from 2019 to 2024. Raquel Melo was Vice President, Innovation & New Business Development at Land O'Lakes, Inc. from 2013 to 2018 and Director, Innovation New Products there from 2010 to 2013.
Sara J. Stabelfeldt
LinkedInExperience: Vice President of Innovation · Schreiber Foods
Sara J. Stabelfeldt has been Vice President of Innovation at Schreiber Foods since May 2024, based in Appleton, Wisconsin, and was Director Of Innovation there from 2020 to 2024. Sara J. Stabelfeldt was Innovation Strategy Leader at Kimberly-Clark from 2015 to 2020 and Research Technical Leader there from 2012 to 2014.
Veronica Riojas
LinkedInExperience: Vice President of Innovation & Emerging Brands, Global Foods Group · PepsiCo
Veronica Riojas has been Vice President of Innovation & Emerging Brands, Global Foods Group at PepsiCo since June 2024, based in Plano, Texas. Veronica Riojas was CMO PepsiCo Latin America from 2022 to 2024, VP Latin America Insights & Analytics at PepsiCo from 2020 to 2022 and Sr. Director Category Management Frito Lay there from 2015 to 2018.
Choose the right perspective
Pick the person whose own product category and innovation scope sit closest to the decision you face. Check the start and end dates of each role to see how recent the experience is.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01What did you focus on first when you took on your current innovation role, and what did you learn from it?
- 02How do you decide which new product ideas move forward to launch and which ones you stop?
- 03How have you built and developed the innovation team that reports to you?
Reaching innovation leaders in food and beverage
How can I contact one of these innovation leaders in food and beverage?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 9 companies, including Siete Foods, Rich Products Corporation and Boar's Head Brand, based on profile data retrieved on October 24, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach innovation leaders in food and beverage?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. The offer is what the person receives, and Instant Expert's fee is added on top, so a $100 offer costs you $125. The fee is 20% of what you pay. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
Can an AI agent ask one of these innovation leaders in food and beverage a question?
Yes. An agent with a USDC wallet on Base can ask one question without an Instant Expert account. It names the person, for example by the LinkedIn URL on this page, and pays per ask over x402 (HTTP 402). The person answers in writing or by voice note, and if nobody answers within 7 days, the payment goes back to the wallet automatically. Claude and ChatGPT can do the same through the Instant Expert connector: setup is at /docs/mcp for Claude and /docs/chatgpt for ChatGPT. x402 docs
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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