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Patsy J. Mellott retired from Kraft in 2006 after a productive 36 year career in the food industry. She started with a BS in Foods & Nutrition in Business from Purdue and an MBA in Food Marketing from Michigan State and created a career of corporate food marketing and marketing service management in the business-to-business channel with emphasis on problem solving, communications, project and event management, and marketing application of technology in the context of corporate business goals.
Patsy spent five years at Campbell Soup Company before moving to Kraft Foods, Inc. in 1975, where she established her career for over 30 years. Hired as a Marketing Manager in 1975, she added Brand Manager of New Products to her portfolio in 1982. In that position she managed all aspects of test marketing a new concept in consumer packaged foods and bringing it to market. While in this position, Women in Management named her Corporate Woman of the Year.
From 1985-1995 she served as Director of Trade Marketing and Communications. Responsible for strategy development and management of internal and external marketing, she strengthened the corporate relationship with the American Culinary Federation through support of culinary apprenticeships and sponsorship of the U.S. Culinary Olympic Team. She developed award-winning and innovative marketing and sales development tools. Among many other responsibilities, she was responsible for multi-product promotions and repeat purchase accomplishment that resulted in a significant brand shift; she directed a national launch of advertising that repositioned Kraft Foodservice. During this period she was a member of the Kraft sponsorship steering committees for both the Women’s Tennis Association and the Culinary Olympics Team. She was awarded the American Culinary Federation Educational Foundation Award and she was chosen as a Distinguished Alumni of the College of Consumer and Family Sciences.
Promoted to Manager of Integrated Marketing Communications in 1995, where Patsy provided eCommunications and Direct Services support for the $2 billion + foodservice division of Kraft. She led the application of technology to facilitate marketing communications to employees and customers-internet site, www.kraftfoodservice.com, division intranet and the successful development of a web-based tool to produce just-in-time printed materials. The Chicago Minority Business Council “Outstanding Buyer” Award was presented to her in 1999 and Kraft presented her with the Kraft Superior Achievement Award in 2000.
Her non-profit contributions have been many. In 1985, she was a charter committee member for the American Cancer Society “Taste of Elegance” event. She has been a volunteer consultant for the Executive Service Corps of Chicago and has serves a current term on the Consumer and Family Science Alumni Advisory Board, as Vice President. She is also on the Purdue University President’s Council Leadership Board.
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