2008-05-27 23:41:18 -

- Product Evaluations, Inc. today announced changes in the structure and leadership of its research & consulting practice, effective immediately. Rich Tucker, VP Marketing & Sales, has been promoted to President. Jane Wood, President, will assume the role of CEO. Additionally, Andrea Bilotti has joined the firm as Director of Strategic Initiatives.

Ms. Wood acquired and has led Product

Evaluations since 1991. Through her vision and leadership, she has grown and expanded the firm, from its roots in consumer packaged goods research, into a leading strategic marketing & research firm specializing in new and existing products for the food-away-from-home industry.

In her new role as CEO, Ms. Wood will focus on leveraging emerging technology to enhance client offerings. Specifically, she will be charged with building the Success MetriX(TM) line of online innovation tools. Furthermore, Ms. Wood will be leading the development of a series of product innovation webinar/workshops aimed at bringing cutting edge product innovation information to the foodservice manufacturing community.

As president of Product Evaluations, Inc., Mr. Tucker will be responsible for directing the firm and all of its custom foodservice research and consulting engagements. Since joining the firm in 1998, Mr. Tucker has made significant contributions in supporting the company's efforts with food-away-from-home suppliers and trade association groups. He envisioned and created Product Evaluation's Sophisticated Research Partners, a forum that brings leading foodservice marketing professionals together to discuss critical issues affecting the industry.

Mr. Tucker has invested over 20 years in the foodservice industry. Prior to joining Product Evaluations, Inc., he worked in sales and marketing roles with top foodservice manufacturing companies such as the Keebler Company and the Pillsbury Company.

Andrea Bilotti has spent her 16-year foodservice career honing her skills at leading foodservice organizations, such as The Coca-Cola Company, National Cattlemen's Beef Association and Technomic, Inc. Her diverse experience spans multiple disciplines, including market research, public relations, national account partnership development, brand positioning/strategy and new product evaluations and concept testing. In addition to research engagements, Ms. Bilotti will be working with the leadership team on emerging technology initiatives and a series of product innovation webinars for the foodservice industry.

Product Evaluations, Inc. is a leading strategic marketing research firm that specializes in new and existing products for the foodservice industry. Since 1971, Product Evaluations has been helping food-away-from-home partners successfully build their businesses through opportunity identification, new product development and improved product/brand performance.

Product Evaluations, Inc.
Andrea Bilotti
abilotti@productevaluations.com
708-482-7750, Ext. 319