My Year in Review

When I think about 2023, there’s one word that sums it up: TRANSFORMATION. Transformation – or change – is the only constant in life, and this rings true of the last 12 months here at 亨氏 . Together, we continued to transform into a company ready to lead the future of food.

None of this could’ve been possible without the amazing people I’ve had the honour of working with throughout my entire Kraft Heinz career – every one of my almost 3,500 days (!).

To my teams, past and present, THANK YOU for everything we’ve accomplished together and everything you’ve taught me along the way.

So, with that, here’s my proudest moments of 2023, which for me, sum up the transformation we’ve been on as a team and as a company:

1. Creativity was our differentiator. We cut through culture with award-winning brand campaigns that sparked conversation AND fuelled business growth – not to mention the 21 Cannes Lions we won in the process (and 83 shortlists ??).
2. Culture became our currency. As the world of work continued to evolve, we doubled down on our unique company culture to become a global employer of choice - earning ‘Great Place to Work’ status in 16 countries within our international business.
3. Problem solving brought us closer. Our supply chain teams continued to face tough external headwinds and pressures, but navigated these complex challenges together, demonstrating agility, resilience and perseverance in finding the best solutions.
4. Curiosity sparked innovation. This year we introduced the world to NEW brands including Tingly Ted’s, a hot sauce brand we dreamt up alongside Ed Sheeran, and Las Chicas, a brand delivering authentic Mexican flavours. We also used our size to scale new products around the world, like Pickle Ketchup and Just Spices.
5. Our good ideas travelled further and faster. Working cross functionally and collaboratively, we tailored our Agile@Scale and Go to Market models to expand our footprint and accelerate growth in emerging markets and foodservice.
6. Our people took centre stage. Literally! In 2023, I took more than 200 #RafaSelfies with our teams around the world. Nothing energises me more than showcasing our brilliant teams. Long live the selfie!
7. We were never alone. It takes a village to run a business and I want to extend a huge thanks to our customers, consumers, suppliers and partners, whose trust, collaboration and loyalty has never been more valuable.
8. We continued to invest in manufacturing. From refurbishing our world class factory in Karawang, Indonesia, to opening our state-of-the-art Ketchup line in Turkey – our manufacturing expertise never fails to impress.
9. Our commitments fuelled important action. We continued to progress towards our ESG goals, including (but not limited to) world hunger relief, DEI&B representation, regenerative agriculture and more sustainable packaging. Critical work that the future of food relies on.
10. Results made our business stronger. We saw consistent double-digit growth in emerging markets, outpaced the market in foodservice and grew faster than we thought possible in e-commerce (+100% in our key markets!).

If you’re still reading this far, I want to end by extending my best wishes to you and your loved ones over this well-deserved break. Happy holidays!