New Platform Development Intern

About the role

As a member of the New Platform Development team, the NPD Deli Intern will support the Deli Business Unit's growth objectives through hands-on experience with innovation strategy, opportunity identification, consumer and marketplace learning, emerging technologies, and executive-level recommendation development. The intern will lead two high-impact projects designed to strengthen future innovation capabilities, culminating in a final presentation of findings and recommendations to department leadership.

Responsibilities

• Support Deli Business Unit's growth objectives through hands-on experience with innovation strategy, opportunity identification, consumer and marketplace learning, emerging technologies, and executive-level recommendation development.
• Lead two high-impact projects designed to strengthen future innovation capabilities.
• Synthesize emerging trends across consumers, categories, competitors, retailers, and adjacent markets impacting the future of refrigerated deli dips.
• Leverage syndicated data, secondary research, trend reports, and internal business resources to assess market dynamics and future growth opportunities.
• Translate findings into strategic implications, identifying key opportunities, risks, and areas of whitespace for dips within the Deli Business Unit.
• Identify and prioritize future growth platforms based on consumer needs, market attractiveness, and strategic fit.
• Develop new platform recommendations, including target occasions, value propositions, and areas for innovation exploration.
• Present a prioritized Deli dips opportunity roadmap with supporting rationale and recommendations for future New Platform Development initiatives.
• Assess current innovation processes, tools, templates, research resources, and institutional knowledge utilized across the Deli Business Unit.
• Standardize and organize key innovation resources into a centralized, scalable knowledge hub that improves consistency, onboarding, and knowledge sharing.
• Recommend future governance and maintenance practices to ensure resources remain current, accessible, and effective.
• Research and benchmark best-in-class AI applications relevant to consumer packaged goods, innovation, and product development.
• Evaluate opportunities to enhance New Platform Development processes through AI-enabled tools, workflows, and best practices.
• Develop an AI prompt library and strategic recommendations to improve innovation effectiveness, speed, decision quality, and knowledge reuse.
• Partner with colleagues across New Platform Development, Insights, R&D, Project Management, Sales, Finance, and other functions as appropriate.
• Participate in innovation meetings, research reviews, ideation sessions, and project discussions.
• Gain exposure to Sargento's product development process, innovation tools, consumer research methodologies, and cross-functional ways of working.
• Demonstrate curiosity, initiative, accountability, and a growth mindset while contributing to team objectives.
• Deliver an executive recommendation presentation at the conclusion of the internship.

Requirements

• Currently pursuing a Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Marketing, Business, Consumer Insights, Innovation, Food Science, Data Analytics, AI, or a related field.
• Rising Senior or graduate student with strong academic performance.
• Demonstrated analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly PowerPoint and Excel.
• Valid driver’s license, vehicle insurance, and vehicle required (no mass/public transit system to/from corporate housing location to company locations).

Qualifications

• Interest in consumer packaged goods, food, innovation, product development, consumer insights, strategy, or emerging technologies.
• Experience conducting research, analyzing information