Matthew McEwan took on the position of regional sales manager, Canada, for Bolthouse Farms in September 2013, and he’s enjoyed getting to know the Bolthouse team and the national retail landscape in Canada.

His last six months have flown by. “There’s been a ton to learn, which is what I was excited about, and it’s what I was hoping it would be,” said McEwan.

Innovation is a key concept for the company. Bolthouse will have several new products to showcase at this year’s CPMA convention in Vancouver. According to McEwan, the company’s goal is to introduce new products every six months for its three categories: carrots, beverages and dressings.

“One thing that’s coming up is a new line of Greek yogurt dressings this fall, with four different flavors,” said McEwan.

“It’s a traditional Greek yogurt, in line with the Bolthouse platform, which is always about health first. One of the things that will be highlighted at CPMA will be those Greek dressings,” he continued.

McEwan noted the company will also showcase this spring’s line of traditional yogurt dressings, as well as some new beverage and carrot products. “For carrots, there will be Premiums and Organic Premiums,” he said, with selections like Organic Chips and Organic Juicing Carrots.

McEwan came to Bolthouse from Ippolito, and one of the challenges he’s appreciated is the change in focus from regional to national.

“Now I’m right in all four major regions. It’s a completely different landscape than just one — different prices, different competitors, different retail environment over all,” said McEwan. He also values his exposure to all the major Canadian retailers.

His priority taking over the job was to maintain Bolthouse’s category leadership in beverages and carrots. “Besides that, the other big opportunity is to take advantage of the opportunity to grow our current dressings business in Canada,” said McEwan.

He is also keeping a close eye on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s regulations for beverages. Canada and the United States have different regulations for areas like vitamin packs and formula requirements.

“There has been talk of perhaps the CFIA streamlining some of those regulations. If they did, it would obviously be beneficial for us. We wouldn’t have to be doing separate runs for very similar products,” McEwan noted, adding the company would be able to expand the Canadian product line with additional U.S. SKUs.

Events like the Produce Marketing Association convention in New Orleans and visits to the company’s facilities in California have allowed McEwan to get to know his new sales and marketing team members. He’s appreciated the opportunity to learn more about the consumer package goods world.

“It’s a different skill set just in the way you’re planning those items as opposed to the carrots, which I’m obviously more familiar with, coming from a produce background. It’s been really nice getting to learn both sides.”

Summing up the last six months, McEwan said he’s been given an exciting opportunity to work with a good team. He will continue to drive for leadership position in Canada, and he knows what his key strategy will be. “It’s all about innovation,” said McEwan.