The new dress code for snack execs: ditch the tie, bring the stretchy pants

livemint.com:

Corporate directors have hefty responsibilities at quarterly board meetings. They oversee strategy, governance, executive compensation—real serious stuff. But those elite few serving on food-company boards truly bite into their work.

In the name of due diligence, for instance, directors munch throughout the board meetings of J & J Snack Foods, the company behind the SuperPretzel, ICEE frozen treats and Dippin’ Dots. In any discussion, at least one director inevitably excuses themself from the long conference-room table to fetch more snacks, and no one takes offense, according to director Roy Jackson. “Somebody’s doing a presentation and it is like, you know, sorry.

I’ve got to have a pretzel bite or churro," he says. To attract inflation-weary diners, restaurants are relying on promotions such as limited-time dishes and expanded menus. Packaged food and snack brands are using new offerings to entice shoppers.

With quarterly meetings now under way, boards have lots of eating to do. The product sampling allows food-company directors—typically corporate executives or former ones—to give feedback on current fare as well as items not yet released. By the time the board does a tasting, a new snack or dish has typically undergone extensive vetting and consumer testing, making it potentially ready for market.

However, the directors’ input can sometimes lead to changes before the product launches. Regardless, it is no slim task to try all this food. At Gerhard Pleuhs’ first Panera Brands board meeting last November, directors feasted on many of the 21 new or revamped menu items—including four new sandwiches, salads galore and “Bacon Mac & Cheese." “It was a lot of food," he says.