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How to Build Agile Teams That Thrive in CPG

Is your team ready to pivot at a moment’s notice? Here’s how to build an agile team that thrives amidst change. 

We all know market conditions can shift overnight, the ability to adapt quickly isn’t just a nice-to-have; it’s a survival skill. Agile teams, with their focus on flexibility, collaboration, and iterative work processes, are leading the charge in industries like CPG, where speed and responsiveness are game-changers. This blog dives into the leadership and operational strategies that can help you develop and manage agile teams effectively. 

Understanding Agile Teams in CPG 

Agile teams are defined by their ability to work collaboratively, make quick decisions, and respond rapidly to market changes. In the traditionally slow-moving CPG industry, adopting agile principles allows companies to become more nimble and competitive against smaller, faster-moving rivals.  

The Role of Leadership: Leaders play a pivotal role in fostering agile environments. Their support, guidance, and willingness to embrace change are essential for creating a team culture that prioritizes adaptability and continuous learning. 

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Developing Agile Teams 

Recruitment and Team Composition:

Building an agile team starts with the right talent. Look for individuals who are not only skilled but also adaptable and open to continuous learning. Emphasize a mix of skills within your team to encourage diverse perspectives. 

Fostering a Growth Mindset:

An agile team thrives on a culture of feedback and continuous improvement. Encourage your team members to view every challenge as a learning opportunity. Regular training sessions and workshops can help keep the team aligned with agile principles. 

Empowering Teams Through Autonomy:

Empower your teams by giving them the autonomy to make decisions. This reduces bottlenecks and allows for faster responses to changes in market demands. Trust your team to take ownership of their projects and see how quickly they start to innovate. 

Managing Agile Teams 

Operational Flexibility:

Agile teams should have the freedom to adjust their processes based on the needs of the project. This might mean altering sprint cycles, reallocating resources, or pivoting to a new strategy when necessary. Flexibility is key. 

Feedback Loops and Continuous Improvement:

Implement systems that allow for regular feedback and adaptation. Daily stand-ups, sprint reviews, and retrospectives are crucial in maintaining transparency and identifying areas for improvement. 

Balancing Control with Freedom:

Finding the right balance between guiding your team and giving them space to experiment is crucial. Leaders should act as coaches, providing direction when needed but allowing the team the freedom to explore different approaches.  

Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them 

Micromanagement:

Micromanaging stifles innovation. Trust your agile team to make the right calls, and step in only when necessary. 

Resistance to Change:

Agile requires a cultural shift. Be prepared to address resistance by demonstrating the benefits and fostering a supportive environment for change. 

Overemphasis on Speed:

Agile is not just about moving fast but about moving smart. Ensure that your team maintains a balance between speed and thoughtful execution. 

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Case Study: Danone’s Agile Transformation 

Danone, a global leader in the CPG sector, offers a prime example of agile principles in action. Faced with a rapidly changing market and increasing competition, Danone decided to overhaul its traditional product development process by implementing agile squads. 

The Approach: These squads were small, cross-functional teams empowered to make decisions and iterate quickly. Danone’s leadership fully supported this transformation, giving the squads the autonomy they needed to innovate without being bogged down by bureaucracy. 

The Results: In just 12 weeks, these agile squads developed 15 market-ready products—a feat that would have been impossible under their old methods. The agile approach allowed Danone to rapidly test, refine, and launch products that directly responded to evolving consumer demands, giving them a significant competitive edge. 

Conclusion: Bringing It All Together 

Agile teams are reshaping the way CPG companies operate, helping them stay ahead of the curve in an increasingly dynamic market. By focusing on adaptable leadership, flexible operations, and continuous improvement, your team can also become more responsive, innovative, and successful. 

Our Impact

In 1995, our founders embarked on a journey that would disrupt the status quo of the executive recruiting industry. We have been transforming companies and lives ever since.

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9,395

First Round Interviews

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3,000+

Total Placements

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47%

Diversity Placements

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$700M

Economic Impact

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Brent Albertson

CEO, Zing Zang LLC

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Non-Alcoholic Beverages

“ Our experience with Protis Global has been very positive. They have strong multi-industry CPG experience and understand our business model and standards. They know the difference between an “A-player” and a “B-player” in several functions, and the honesty around that standard helps us move faster. Mike and team set up a great process, especially in early canvassing and vetting that helps our leaders engage at the right time and make decisions fast. ”

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Colin Nolan

Executive Vice President, Mark Anthony Brewing Inc.

Beer, Wine & Spirits
Beer, Wine & Spirits

“Protis Global’s approach to talent acquisition is marked by diligence, transparency, and a genuine dedication to client satisfaction. Their strategic insights and personalized service have made a substantial impact on our organization, ensuring that we always have the best professionals driving our initiatives forward. The team at Protis Global demonstrates a keen ability to identify individuals who not only possess the requisite skills but also align seamlessly with our company culture.”

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Hilal Tabsh

Chief Revenue Officer, Glass House Brands

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Cannabis

“Over the last 10+ years my experience with Michael Bitar and the Protis Global team has been exceptional across multiple industries. Michael and his team work to get to the true needs of my hiring plan and partner with us throughout the process. They understand our business, company culture, what success looks like, and then propose candidates that will produce results while also fitting into our team dynamic. Overall it’s a great team and experience and I would recommend to anyone looking to hire top-notch quality candidates reach out to Protis Global and Michael Bitar.”

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Peter Iglesias

Chief Executive Officer, Bespoken Spirits

Beer, Wine, & Spirits
Beer, Wine, & Spirits

“I highly recommend Protis Global as a top-notch recruiting agency. I have had the pleasure of working with them for the past 15 years, both as a candidate and employer in the Spirits and Wine industry. In my 25 years of experience, I have found Protis Global to be the most efficient and effective recruiting agency I have ever dealt with. Protis Global has consistently come through for me in the clutch, providing exceptional professionalism and execution in job searches and placements. Their dedication to finding the right fit for both candidates and employers sets them apart from other agencies. I have always been impressed by their ability to understand the needs of both parties and successfully connect them in a timely manner.”

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Soley Van Lokeren

SVP, People

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Non-Alcoholic Beverages

“I have been in the field of human resources for over thirty years, in executive level roles both in-house and in outsourced positions. Michael Bitar is my favorite talent acquisition professional with which I have ever worked. He cares deeply about building a relationship with his clients, learning their business, culture, challenges, and truly understanding the needs of a role requisition. His approach is mirrored by the rest of the Protis team, who are courteous, thorough, and who make you feel like you are their only client. Protis successfully delivered hires for our Chief Commercial Officer role and for three key challenging roles (in both Marketing and Sales). They are simply – the best!”

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Brian Kuz

Chief Sales Officer

Food & Snacks
Food & Snacks

“Protis is unique in their go-to-market strategy in that they not only find the right candidate for the role, but they find the right opportunity and company for the candidate. Protis Global looks for people who are ready to make a change...I will continue to recommend Protis Global as one of the best placement agencies in the World, as I have worked on every continent and have dealt with the big executive placement firms and the boutique ones. Protis shines above all, and as long as I am hiring, I will continue to go to Protis Global first, if not exclusively.”

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Chris Hall

CEO, poppi

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Non-Alcoholic Beverages

“Partnering with Protis Global has been a game-changer for poppi. They understood our vision and the unique challenges we faced as a rapidly growing brand. Their expertise in executive search helped us find the right leaders who not only fit our culture but also brought the skills and passion needed to drive accelerated growth. The Protis Global team actively took our feedback and adapted the search so that we could focus on what we do best – creating innovative, healthy beverages that our customers love. They’ve truly become an extension of our team, and we couldn’t imagine achieving our success without the team members they helped us to bring aboard.”

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Chad Palma

President of Sales, Spindrift

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Non-Alcoholic Beverages

“Michael Bitar and the Protis team have been such a pleasure to work with over the years. Not only do they do amazing work with recruiting but we have also developed a partnership between our two companies. Michael and his team provide a crucial role in reviewing my hiring needs at the beginning of each year. Once the review is complete, Michael begins searching for quality candidates that fit the role and culture for Spindrift. He and his team do an outstanding job of finding the right candidates for the position in need. I highly recommend Michael and the Protis team for your hiring needs.”

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John Sacksteder

President, Mark Anthony Brewing Inc

Beer, Wine & Spirits
Beer, Wine & Spirits

“From the start, the relationship with Protis Global was different than other recruiting firms.  The team had a deeper level of commitment and desire to learn about our business than I had experienced with other firms. Our company was experiencing a time of exponential growth and our staffing needs were complex. We needed very experienced people across every possible function in the Operation and Supply Chain Teams and we needed them in a hurry. The Protis Global Team mobilized quickly and established a methodology to identify strong candidates and work them through the interview process in a professional and timely manner. Their grit, determination, understanding our needs and culture, sense of urgency and drive to exceed our expectations set them apart from the pack.”

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Kathleen Hutchison

Senior National Account Manager at Arla Foods

Food & Snacks
Food & Snacks

Kayla was awesome and very thorough in her vetting of candidates. She understood our brief as we were looking for candidates and helped to weed through those who were not a good fit for the role. 

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Thomas Frisch

Chief People Officer at IJW Whiskey

Beer, Wine & Spirits
Beer, Wine & Spirits

“The team worked quickly and efficiently to find a unique position.”

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Kim Nguyen

VP of Supply Chain at Lallemand

Beer, Wine & Spirits
Beer, Wine & Spirits

Everyone involved was extremely helpful - Gary, Michael, Ben - thank you!! The team didn't only search for candidates based on the job description, but also the qualities that I look for in candidates. 

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Shashank Gaur

VP of Product Technology & Innovation

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Non-Alcoholic Beverages

The interview process was smooth and extremely professional. Ben and team represented me as much as they represented the company. 

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Jeremy Schulman

Regional Business Manager - Foodservice

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Food & Snacks

Consistent communication, updates, and detailed knowledge of the client. The whole experience was top notch!

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Blake T. Bermingham

Supply Chain Manager

Beer, Wine, & Spirits
Beer, Wine, & Spirits

Very simplistic process finding the right role for the right candidate...keep up the great work! 

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Don Stohrer Jr.

CEO, Arla Foods USA

Food & Snacks
Food & Snacks

“We’ve been a Protis Global client for eight years, and during this time have always appreciated the thoroughness of the recruitment process, as the candidates brought to us have been well-vetted, not only from a competency perspective, but more importantly from a [cultural] fit dynamic. Mike and the team have always been highly engaged to ensure they bring us candidates that match our culture. That’s been critical to the success of the candidates that have landed here by way of our relationship with Protis.”

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