Mastering the Art of Attracting Top CPG Talent

Cristina Sacco

In the ever-evolving landscape of Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), success hinges on a company’s ability to consistently attract top-tier talent.

As an executive recruiting firm deeply rooted in the CPG space, we understand the challenges that organizations face in securing the best minds amidst fierce competition. In today’s competitive job market, where demand for skilled professionals is high and supply seems limited, the art of attracting top talent requires a strategic approach and an understanding of the evolving dynamics.

Understanding the Dynamics of the Competitive CPG Job Market

The CPG sector is witnessing a remarkable shift, driven by rapidly changing consumer preferences, technological advancements, and sustainability imperatives. As a result, the demand for agile, innovative, and adaptable talent has surged. With companies battling for the same pool of skilled individuals, the competition to secure top talent has become intense.

Strategies to Attract High-Caliber CPG Talent

Many of the top CPG brands employ these strategies to attract candidates that can drive their business forward:

  1. Craft Compelling Employer Branding

An organization’s employer brand is its identity in the job market. In a competitive landscape, a compelling employer brand sets a company apart. Highlighting the company’s culture, values, career growth opportunities, and commitment to innovation helps in attracting talent aligned with the company’s ethos.

  1. Embrace Technology for Talent Acquisition

Leveraging technology in the recruitment process streamlines candidate sourcing, assessment, and engagement. Incorporating AI-driven tools for candidate screening not only saves time but also ensures a more objective evaluation, enhancing the quality of hires.

  1. Offer Competitive Compensation and Benefits

A competitive compensation package remains a crucial factor in attracting top talent. Beyond salary, benefits such as flexible work arrangements, professional development opportunities, and wellness programs can significantly sway a candidate’s decision.

  1. Prioritize Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

Top talent seeks workplaces that foster diversity, equity, and inclusion. Demonstrating a commitment to DEI initiatives not only attracts diverse talent but also enhances innovation and productivity within the organization.

  1. Cultivate a Positive Candidate Experience

A seamless and positive candidate experience leaves a lasting impression. From initial contact to onboarding, ensuring a smooth and respectful process contributes to the overall perception of the company as an employer of choice.

  1. Leverage Employee Referral Programs

Employees can be powerful brand ambassadors. Encouraging and incentivizing employee referrals taps into existing networks and often brings in candidates who are a cultural fit.

top-cpg-talent

Navigating Challenges in Attracting Top CPG Talent

As the CPG landscape continues to evolve, so too must recruitment strategies. The ability to adapt and innovate in attracting top talent will remain a key differentiator for companies aiming to thrive in this competitive environment. Staying abreast of market trends, refining recruitment methodologies, and fostering a dynamic employer brand will be instrumental in securing the best talent. Here are some common challenges and how to address them:

Talent Scarcity in Specialized Roles

Certain roles, especially those requiring niche skills or specialized expertise, face a scarcity of qualified candidates. To address this, proactive talent pipelining and fostering relationships within industry networks become crucial.

Remote Work Expectations

The rise of remote work has altered candidate expectations. Companies offering flexible work arrangements gain a competitive edge in attracting top talent, necessitating a reevaluation of traditional work models.

Speed in Recruitment Processes

In a competitive market, delays in the recruitment process can lead to losing exceptional candidates. Streamlining processes and decision-making while maintaining thorough evaluations is essential to secure top talent swiftly.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the quest to attract top CPG talent in a competitive job market demands a holistic approach. By nurturing a strong employer brand, embracing technology, prioritizing diversity and inclusion, and fostering a positive candidate experience, organizations can position themselves as magnets for top-tier talent, propelling their growth and innovation in the dynamic CPG space.

At Protis Global, we recognize the significance of staying ahead in the race for top talent. Our commitment to understanding the nuances of the CPG industry, coupled with our tailored recruitment strategies, ensures that our clients acquire the best talent to drive their success.

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.

Frame 1000004239-May-16-2024-12-16-32-9170-PM

9,395

First Round Interviews

Frame 1000004239-May-16-2024-12-17-23-0672-PM

3,000+

Total Placements

Frame 1000004239-May-16-2024-12-18-06-3937-PM

47%

Diversity Placements

Frame 1000004239-May-16-2024-12-18-38-1485-PM

$700M

Economic Impact

zz-logo

Brent Albertson

CEO, Zing Zang LLC

Non-Alcoholic Beverages
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. ”

mark-anthony-brewing-1-1

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.”

Glass_House_Brands_Inc__Glass_House_Brands_Reports_Record_Second

Hilal Tabsh

Chief Revenue Officer, Glass House Brands

Cannabis
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.”

bespoke-logo

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.”

Zevia new logo

Soley Van Lokeren

SVP, People

Non-Alcoholic Beverages
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!”

vitamin_logo-4

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.”

poppi-testimonial

Chris Hall

CEO, poppi

Non-Alcoholic Beverages
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.”

spindrift-logo

Chad Palma

President of Sales, Spindrift

Non-Alcoholic Beverages
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.”

mark-anthony-brewing-1-1

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.”

arla-testimonial

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. 

ijw-testimonial

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.”

lallemand-testimonial

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. 

poppi-testimonial

Shashank Gaur

VP of Product Technology & Innovation

Non-Alcoholic Beverages
Non-Alcoholic Beverages

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

arla-testimonial

Jeremy Schulman

Regional Business Manager - Foodservice

Food & Snacks
Food & Snacks

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

coppali-testimonail

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! 

arla-logo

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.”

Need Top CPG Talent?

Whether you're hiring or job-seeking, we've got you covered.