Jay Whitmer was a founding partner at Cleveland Research that formed in 2006. After writing research for institutional investors for 15 years, Mr. Whitmer served as the President of Market Research at CRC that provided insights and services across multiple industries including retail, foodservice, industrial, technology, and healthcare.
Since launching the new business in 2013, CRC formally partnered with over 250 companies and hosted 50+ events attended by 7,500 executives and senior leaders across the retail and foodservice sectors. Mr. Whitmer has also consulted with 25 C-Suite teams over the last five years through requested advisory projects and presentations.
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Onsite executive engagements include Fortune 500 companies such as PepsiCo, The Hershey Company, General Mills, Colgate-Palmolive, Mars Petcare, NBC Universal, Campbell Soup Company, Williamson-Dickie Mfg. Co., Cargill, Nestle Purina, Gordon Food Service, Rich Products, ShurTech Brands, Mission Foods, and Wayne Farms.
Based on the firm’s unique research reports and insights, Mr. Whitmer has been invited to speak at numerous industry events including conferences hosted by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), Grocery Manufacturers’ Association (GMA), International Foodservice Manufacturers’ Association (IFMA), International Foodservice Distributors’ Association (IFDA), Foodservice Sales & Marketing Association (FSMA), Distribution Market Advantage (DMA), Technomic, World Alliance for Retail Excellence & Standards, Manufacturers’ Agents for the Food Service Industry (MAFSI), and Consumer Goods Technology (CGT).
Prior to the formation of CRC, Mr. Whitmer was voted to the Independent/Regional All American Research Analyst list by Institutional Investor Magazine for three years in a row and was recognized by The Wall Street Journal in its annual Best on the Street survey as the second ranked analyst in the supermarkets and drugstores industry (2004).
Mr. Whitmer joined the original Midwest Research in 2000 as a Research Associate following the Food/Agribusiness sector and transitioned to Food Retail beginning in 2002 as a Senior Research Analyst. Mr. Whitmer expanded coverage to food distribution as well as restaurants in 2003 and published on +20 companies over 15 years as an equity research analyst.
