Speaker · Panelist · Moderator
Michael Yeater, PhD
Founder & Principal, The Protein Group. Where plant and market realities meet the retail P&L.
Michael is a PhD meat scientist who spent 10+ years inside Kraft Heinz, Walmart and Albertsons, on the buyer’s side of the table. He has led category strategy across billions in annual fresh meat sales, run national multi-supplier sourcing RFPs, built commodity-index cost models, and taken protein SKUs from R&D to shelf. Today he helps meat and protein companies find and fix margin leaks. He serves on a National Pork Board pork innovation committee.
$4B+ in annual category sales managed | $50M+ in cost savings delivered | 60+ products developed for Walmart private brands | 10+ years at Kraft Heinz, Walmart and Albertsons
Talks
Yield Is an Input, Not an Output
Your landed cost isn’t your cost. Your yielded cost is. How to pressure-test your yield numbers and use them to run the plant and make the buy.
Missing Smaller
Market intelligence isn’t a crystal ball. It’s how protein buyers miss smaller and bring leadership along.
The Hidden Cost of Lowest Cost
The lowest bid isn’t the best cost. Know which categories need a true partner, and build contracts that make it real.
You Can’t Price Your Way Out
For independent grocers: higher prices slow units and grow shrink. Fix the leaks, anchor with a great price, and let shoppers trade up.
Formats & Audiences
Formats: Keynote or breakout (20–30 min), panelist, or moderator.
Best for: Meat & poultry processors, protein brands, retail and foodservice buyers, and industry associations.
To book Michael for your event, email michael@theproteingroupllc.com.
