Mars moves Dave Dusangh to North American role
Mars has tapped Dave Dusangh—a familiar face with more than a decade of experience at the company—as the new regional president for its Food & Nutrition business in North America.
Dusangh joined the consumer packaged goods giant in 2011 with Mars Pet Nutrition Canada and went on to lead Mars Food & Nutrition in this market in 2016. In 2018, he also became general manager of Tasty Bite North America, which offers a range of easy-to-prepare Indian and Asian meals.
Before his new appointment, Dusangh was the regional general manager for Mars Food & Nutrition Europe, a position now filled by Hans Bakker, a 20-year veteran of the company. In a press release, the company said the appointments “are intended to build on the company’s strong momentum and drive ongoing growth and innovation in the vibrant food and nutrition business.”
In his new role, Dusangh will oversee brands such as Ben’s Original, Seeds of Change and Tasty Bite. While his most recent role was in Europe, Dusangh tells Canadian Grocer in an email interview, “I am Canadian and started and grew my career in the [Canadian] market. For five years, I led our Mars Food & Nutrition Business Canada business, and during that time, I was a key member of the North America leadership team, so this role is a natural fit and feels like coming home.”
As Dusangh takes the helm, his first priority is “to immerse further into the North America regional business by getting out to meet and listen to our associates, customers and consumers,” he says. “My learnings will ultimately shape any area that we may need to improve.”
Innovation on the table
To lead the next phase of growth in North America, Dusangh will continue to focus on the “nutritious, delicious and convenient brands” today’s consumers seek.
“Innovation is central to our strategy—we’re always exploring ways to expand our portfolio and meet evolving consumer needs,” he says. “Whether through in-house product development or strategic acquisitions like Kevin’s Natural Foods, we’re focused on offering quick, nutritious meals without compromising taste or convenience.”
Following the success of Ben’s Original Street Food—a new line of microwaveable food bowls that shifted the brand from a side dish to an entrée—Dusangh believes Mars Food & Nutrition is well-positioned to lead growth in the ready-meals category.
“Additionally, we see strong opportunities to partner with our customers to drive further category growth, delivering consumers convenient, healthy and flavourful meal solutions that fit their busy lifestyles.”
READ: Consumers seek balance between health and indulgence when it comes to food, report says
There’s also a commitment to meet the rising demand for global flavours. “We’re committed to continually innovating within our portfolio, making healthy, meal solutions inspired by global cuisines even more accessible to help consumers integrate nutritious eating into daily life,” says Dusangh. “The recent Canadian expansion of Tasty Bite further aligns with our strategy, bringing authentic, globally inspired flavors to even more consumers in convenient, ready-to-eat formats.”
Alongside product innovation, Dusangh notes that the company is driving community support through initiatives like its partnerships with Food Banks Canada and Caledon Community Services. “These programs extend our reach to help ensure food security and well-being for communities across Canada,” he says.
