Christopher Wolf

Current

Marketing Columnist at QSR Magazine
Director Strategic Innovation at The Turover Straus Group

Past

Adjunct Professor at Missouri State University
Lead Adjunct Professor at Drury University
VP, Kinetica Consulting at Noble & Associates

VP - Interactive Content / Product Development at Noble
Editor / Publisher at The Food Channel

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2 more...

Education

Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management
Westminster College
Durham University

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Recommended

12 people have recommended Christopher

Connections

239 connections

Industry

Food & Beverages

Websites

Christopher Wolf’s Summary

Food industry executive with more than fifteen years experience in food innovation consulting. Adept at developing long-range, consensus-based new product plans for teams and filling the pipeline with new products. Specialty in consumer trend tracking, brainstorming / ideation, prototype development and high-energy group process facilitation.

Dynamic professional speaker, experienced journalist, and leading food / consumer trends expert who has consulted with dozens of leading food companies and restaurants.

Christopher Wolf’s Specialties:

Trend presentations, brainstorming facilitator / moderator, innovation consulting, food industry expert, media source, speaker, new product development, consumer trends, restaurant trends, futurist, journalist, food executive, foodservice, grocery

Christopher Wolf’s Experience

Marketing Columnist

QSR Magazine

(Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Publishing industry)

November 2008 — Present (1 year 1 month)

Freelance reporter/journalist for QSR Magazine's marketing-related features on the quickservice restaurant industry.
Director Strategic Innovation

The Turover Straus Group

(Food & Beverages industry)

January 2006 — Present (3 years 11 months)

My work focuses on Culinary Strategy and Innovation Consulting for the CPG and restaurant segments of the food industry. I travel the country and tap into multiple research sources to develop strategic insights for manufacturers and restaurant chains, and work with chefs and food scientists on culinary prototyping projects for companies including Pepsi, Frito-Lay, Starbucks, Checker's, Tyson Foods, and Interstate Bakeries.

I also design and facilitate high-energy strategic and product-oriented brainstorming processes for these clients. Several times a year I am invited to speak at food industry conferences on consumer and culinary trends.
Adjunct Professor

Missouri State University

(Educational Institution; Higher Education industry)

August 2007 — May 2009 (1 year 10 months)

Research projects and undergraduate teaching on consumer behavior and marketing
Lead Adjunct Professor

Drury University

(Educational Institution; 201-500 employees; Higher Education industry)

August 2006 — May 2008 (1 year 10 months)

Taught undergraduate and graduate MBA-level marketing courses at a private liberal arts university, including Consumer Behavior and Marketing 624.
VP, Kinetica Consulting

Noble & Associates

(Privately Held; Marketing and Advertising industry)

April 2002 — November 2005 (3 years 8 months)

Co-authored the start up and success of a new consulting division for Noble, working with the culinary division and the agency to providing cutting edge consumer, culture, food and trend insights for dozens of leading food and beverage industry clients. Trained and managed a team of researchers and trendwatchers, developed new trend models, and facilitated large and small groups through strategic and brainstorming processes.
VP - Interactive Content / Product Development

Noble

(Privately Held; 201-500 employees; Marketing and Advertising industry)

December 1993 — April 2002 (8 years 5 months)
Editor / Publisher

The Food Channel

(Publishing industry)

July 1988 — December 1993 (5 years 6 months)

Christopher Wolf’s Education

Northwestern University - Kellogg School of Management

1990 — 1993
Westminster College

B.A. , English, French , 1984 — 1988

Activities and Societies:

Beta Theta Pi, Churchill Scholar, Cranshaw Scholar, Alpha Chi Honor Society
Durham University

English, French, Chinese Civilization 1986 — 1987

Additional Information

Christopher Wolf’s Websites:

Christopher Wolf’s Interests:

Cooking, food, travel

Christopher Wolf’s Groups:

International Association of Culinary Professionals, International Food Futurists, Research Chefs Association

Innovation People Expert Innovators Creative Network
MyPowerFoodGroup - MPFG
Front End of Innovation
Speakers and Panelists
Beta Theta Pi Fraternity
Consumer Insights Interest Group
Kellogg School of Management
Kellogg School of Management - Class of 1993
Center for Creative Leadership
The High Powered Food & Beverage Forum - Foodservice & Retail Executive Management Networking
Food - Product Development