Todd Kelly

Todd Kelly

General Manager, 1440 Foods Canada

General Manager, 1440 Foods Canada

THE SIT DOWN

THE SIT DOWN

THE SIT DOWN

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I want to be remembered for how I made people feel and the difference I made in their careers.
I want to be remembered for how I made people feel and the difference I made in their careers.
I want to be remembered for how I made people feel and the difference I made in their careers.

Todd Kelly

Todd Kelly

Todd Kelly is a seasoned consumer packaged goods executive who understands that a successful brand requires a flawless value proposition and exceptional human leadership. As the General Manager of 1440 Foods Canada, Todd leads the national strategy for a dynamic portfolio of protein brands, including Pure Protein and Fit Crunch. Capitalizing on the surging demand for protein, Todd navigates the highly competitive retail landscape with an entrepreneurial mindset. By maintaining end to end control over their own manufacturing plants, he ensures 1440 Foods remains nimble and highly responsive to market shifts.

Todd attributes much of his leadership philosophy to his time in the United States Marine Corps. Fulfilling a childhood dream, he joined the Marines at 19 and endured the rigorous crucible of boot camp. There, he learned the true meaning of servant leadership, observing that the most junior personnel always eat first while the generals eat last. This ingrained a lifelong belief that a leader’s primary job is to support the people at the tip of the spear. In the corporate world, this translates to empowering his teams, defining clear success metrics, and removing barriers rather than micromanaging their daily tasks.

Over his extensive career, Todd has built and scaled brands across massive organizations like Unilever and Molson Coors, as well as rapid growth environments like KIND, where he served as the first Canadian General Manager and helped quadruple the business. Whether he is advising startups on the importance of cash flow and a fundamentally healthy P and L, or mentoring young professionals, Todd operates with profound humility. He knows that the skills that initiate success are rarely the same ones needed to scale it. Ultimately, he measures his legacy not just by revenue generated, but by the positive, lasting impact he leaves on the people he works alongside.

DEFINING MOMENTS

19

The United States Marine Corps

Took time off from university to join the Marines, enduring intense physical and mental stress 24 hours a day. Lesson Learned: Servant leadership is paramount. If you give a small group of dedicated people a clear mission and remove their barriers, they can accomplish anything.

The Xerox Realization

Graduated during a recession and took a B to B sales job cold calling for Xerox. Lesson Learned: There is a distinct difference between a hunter and a farmer in business. Quick sales are fine, but true passion lies in cultivating deep relationships with customers over a long period of time.

Scaling KIND Bars

Stepped in as the first General Manager for KIND in Canada, helping grow the business from 10 million dollars to nearly 50 million dollars in four years. Lesson Learned: Rapid growth requires absolute humility. You must be willing to get your hands dirty and fix the office printer yourself rather than relying on corporate infrastructure.

Mastering the Retail Ecosystem

Spent decades learning the brutal financial realities of consumer packaged goods and understanding exactly what makes a retail buyer say yes to a new product. Lesson Learned: Top line growth adds no value if it is built on a fundamentally unhealthy P and L. A product will only survive if it offers a compelling value proposition to the consumer and profitable, incremental sales to the retailer.

19

The United States Marine Corps

Took time off from university to join the Marines, enduring intense physical and mental stress 24 hours a day. Lesson Learned: Servant leadership is paramount. If you give a small group of dedicated people a clear mission and remove their barriers, they can accomplish anything.

The Xerox Realization

Graduated during a recession and took a B to B sales job cold calling for Xerox. Lesson Learned: There is a distinct difference between a hunter and a farmer in business. Quick sales are fine, but true passion lies in cultivating deep relationships with customers over a long period of time.

Scaling KIND Bars

Stepped in as the first General Manager for KIND in Canada, helping grow the business from 10 million dollars to nearly 50 million dollars in four years. Lesson Learned: Rapid growth requires absolute humility. You must be willing to get your hands dirty and fix the office printer yourself rather than relying on corporate infrastructure.

Mastering the Retail Ecosystem

Spent decades learning the brutal financial realities of consumer packaged goods and understanding exactly what makes a retail buyer say yes to a new product. Lesson Learned: Top line growth adds no value if it is built on a fundamentally unhealthy P and L. A product will only survive if it offers a compelling value proposition to the consumer and profitable, incremental sales to the retailer.

19

The United States Marine Corps

Took time off from university to join the Marines, enduring intense physical and mental stress 24 hours a day. Lesson Learned: Servant leadership is paramount. If you give a small group of dedicated people a clear mission and remove their barriers, they can accomplish anything.

The Xerox Realization

Graduated during a recession and took a B to B sales job cold calling for Xerox. Lesson Learned: There is a distinct difference between a hunter and a farmer in business. Quick sales are fine, but true passion lies in cultivating deep relationships with customers over a long period of time.

Scaling KIND Bars

Stepped in as the first General Manager for KIND in Canada, helping grow the business from 10 million dollars to nearly 50 million dollars in four years. Lesson Learned: Rapid growth requires absolute humility. You must be willing to get your hands dirty and fix the office printer yourself rather than relying on corporate infrastructure.

Mastering the Retail Ecosystem

Spent decades learning the brutal financial realities of consumer packaged goods and understanding exactly what makes a retail buyer say yes to a new product. Lesson Learned: Top line growth adds no value if it is built on a fundamentally unhealthy P and L. A product will only survive if it offers a compelling value proposition to the consumer and profitable, incremental sales to the retailer.

Working At

Working At

1440 Foods

1440 Foods

“We are small, nimble, and agile. You are not just a faceless name on an org chart. Our culture is hard driving, but it is done from a place of caring and personal connection and everybody is willing to help each other succeed.”
“We are small, nimble, and agile. You are not just a faceless name on an org chart. Our culture is hard driving, but it is done from a place of caring and personal connection and everybody is willing to help each other succeed.”

— Todd Kelly

— Todd Kelly

Connect with Todd!

Connect with Todd!

Connect with Todd!

Todd Kelly

Todd Kelly

NEXT Leaders

NEXT Leaders