Consumer >> CEO Interviews >> April 14, 2003
DANIEL P. DILLON is President and Chief Executive Officer of
Welch Foods, Inc., a $550 million packaged goods company best
known for its line of juices, frozen concentrates, jams, and
jellies ' particularly Concord grape-based products. Mr. Dillon
joined Welch's in 1981 as vice president of marketing, became
senior vice president in 1991, chief operating officer in 1994,
and chief executive officer in 1995. During his 22 years with
Welch's, he has been responsible for establishing the company's
new products program, key to Welch's business turnaround, growing
the company from a declining $220 million in 1981 to $550 million
in fiscal year 2002. He re-energized the Welch's brand by
broadening the product line, increasing advertising support, and
successfully penetrating new channels of distribution. In the
early 1990's, he led Welch's acquisition efforts, overseeing
several acquisitions, including Cascadian Farm, a leading organic
food company ' later sold to General Mills ' and Welch's
acquisition of BAMA Foods in 1994. BAMA is the leading marketer
of jams and jellies in the Southeast. Prior to Welch's, Mr.
Dillon was director of marketing and sales at Anderson Clayton
Foods; and for 11 years, he held increasingly responsible sales
positions and marketing positions at General Mills. He was
product manager of such businesses as Wheaties and Hamburger
Helper. For two years, he was marketing manager in the new
business development division of General Mills, working on
acquisitions and strategic alliances such as General Mills'
alliance with the French Dairy Cooperative Sodima for the
marketing of Yoplait Yogurt in the US. He is a graduate of
Florida State University, receiving a BS in 1964 and an MBA in
1966. Profile
National Grape Cooperative.
Mr. Dillon: Welch's is a packaged goods manufacturer perhaps best
known for its grape juice and grape
