Niagara University Partners With Industry Leaders To Establish Food Marketing Center Of Excellence
Niagara University, with guidance from regional food industry leaders, has established a Food Marketing Center of Excellence within the university’s College of Business Administration.
The center will work with these industry leaders to create, build and inspire transformative programs and partnerships within the Western New York community. In addition, the center will enhance the university’s recent creation of a new undergraduate degree in marketing with a concentration in food and consumer packaged goods.
The center and food marketing program have been built with guidance from a who’s who of regional food industry leaders, including Jamie McKeon, VP of marketing for Rich Products Corporation, John Persons, president and COO of Tops Friendly Markets, Michael Keating, senior VP for operations of Wegmans Food Markets, Robert Denning, president and CEO of Perry’s Ice Cream, “Wing King” Drew Cerza, and several others.
“We’ve assembled an advisory board of industry leaders and Niagara University faculty and administrators to build out what I believe will be the premier partnership of industry and academia,” said William J. Chiodo, executive vice president of Acosta Sales and Marketing and chair of the advisory board. “Our goal is to educate the future leaders of our industry and, through research, help address the industry’s challenges and opportunities. The food marketing program at Niagara will truly be a win-win-win, as it will benefit the students, the regional food industry and the community.”