It started with a vision to create the next generation of organic soils and nutrients. Bringing it to fruition touched every facet of the organization.
Create a new way to grow
The challenge was big: To develop the next generation of nutrients and soils that would perform on par with—or better—than conventional products. The need for a high-performing organic solution was great. The 21st century consumer is demanding new ways to grow plants.
To address the need, we set out to develop Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics™, a groundbreaking initiative that represented our largest product launch of 2019 and one of the biggest ever for the Miracle-Gro® brand.
“The challenge with organics in general is they traditionally have not performed as well as synthetic plant foods and fertilizers,” says Sara Gordon, VP, Gardens. “With Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics™, we broke through this barrier and developed a solution that far outperforms any organic garden products on the market. We are well positioned to give consumers an organic alternative that truly raises the bar when it comes to performance and results.”
Hundreds of associates step up
The development, production and launch of this solution involved people across the entire organization. While everyone had a unique role, success lay in the ability of all to work together toward common objectives, to move in the same direction, to push beyond the status quo and strive for something greater.
“It’s one thing to be a go-getter. It’s another thing to be a go-getter who can inspire and collaborate with others,” Sara says. “No one can do it alone. It takes a village.”
Here is a sampling of the cross-functional teams:
- R&D
- Packaging
- Regulatory
- Legal
- Procurement
- Production Planning
- Supply Chain
- Marketing
- Consumer Services
- Finance
- Human Resources
- Sales
New approaches and processes
The heavy lifting started with R&D, which conducted three years of research and testing to develop next generation compost and nutrients. Supply Chain and Legal worked to create new processes to ensure consistent production of organic materials and products. Regulatory secured government approval, and Sales teams locked down retail floor space and displays. The Brand and Marketing teams created new media and marketing plans. The work by individual departments goes on and on.
“Everyone had strengths in their particular areas of expertise,” says Mike Ceddia, VP, R&D and Quality. “The real magic happened when we all came together. We leveraged those strengths into one powerhouse team. The ultimate beneficiaries are consumers and gardeners.”
