ADM Specialty Ingredients Refocuses

DECATUR, Ill.--Archer Daniels Midland Co.'s (ADM) Specialty Ingredients division announced a restructuring of its sales and marketing organization to better serve customer needs. The division was previously structured with salespeople assigned to specific ingredients, whereas the new structure will have sales divisions representing the entire ADM ingredient line within specialty markets. A marketing manager will be appointed to head up each of the nine market segments: meats; nutrition; baking, cereals and snacks; beverages; confectionery; pharmaceutical; personal care; industrial; and food processing.

"We want to move from being recognized as a provider of ingredients to a provider of ideas, products and solutions for our customers," said Tony DeLio, corporate vice president of marketing and external relations. "For each [market segment], we're internally appointing a marketing manager who will become an expert--and will coordinate and set strategy and direction for each of the industries. ... By doing this, it will allow us to provide that expertise and bring [our customers] a whole portfolio of products they might not have known ADM made before."

ADM currently employs more than 22,000 employees, which has not been reduced as a result of the new market focus, according to DeLio. However, certain sales markets may eventually gain personnel. "This is not a consolidation at all, but a restructuring of the existing sales and marketing organization within our Specialty Ingredients division," DeLio said.

ADM Specialty Ingredient products include soy proteins, lecithin and monoglycerides, citric acid, xanthan gum, sorbitol, lactic acid, edible beans, emulsifiers and bakery mixes. ADM (www.admworld.com) is also a leader in soy meal and oil, ethanol, high fructose corn syrup.