Testimonials. Humbling endorsements that inspire more good work:
Specialty Food Association
-Bill Lynch, President, Specialty Food Association | Fancy Food Shows
“I had the pleasure to work alongside Greg during his impactful tenure on the Specialty Food Association's Board of Directors. Greg's strategic foresight and big-picture thinking were instrumental to navigate the association through pivotal changes, particularly to broaden retailer representation on the Board. His expertise in marketing significantly elevated our initiatives, leaving a lasting impression on our organization.
Greg's efforts to amend bylaws for greater inclusivity underscored his commitment to effective leadership and industry advancement. Recognized by his peers for his effectiveness, Greg's contributions were perceived by many as not just valuable but transformative.
As Greg launches GRO(W) ideas, his strategic approach and deep understanding of the food and beverage sector will undoubtedly be an asset to his clients. His visionary outlook and proven track record of success position him as a leading advisor in the industry.
Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery
-Leslie Cooperband, co-founder, Prairie Fruits Farm & Creamery
My husband / business partner and I have known Greg O'Neill for nearly twenty years. Not long after he opened Chicago's premier artisan cheese shop, Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine, we opened Illinois' first farmstead creamery in Champaign, Illinois. Pastoral was the first cheese shop to buy our cheeses. Greg has been a supporter of our small farmstead and artisan creamery ever since then. We hired him to help us develop a strategic plan for expanding our farmstead cheese marketing and sales in early February 2020. When the pandemic hit, and we lost nearly 80% of our cheese sales overnight, Greg helped us pivot quickly from long-range visioning to "boots on the ground" cheese sales survival mode. His connections with local food retail businesses in Chicago, coupled with his networks in the national cheese community, were instrumental in helping keep our business afloat during the darkest days of the pandemic. He helped give our business a national spotlight through the ‘Victory Cheese’ initiative; a national effort to support sales for small-scale artisan cheesemakers.
Greg provided us with tangible tools to assess both wholesale and direct retail customer needs and interests as we moved toward building brand awareness around our commitment to environmental sustainability, climate change mitigation and high animal welfare. He helped us develop a clear marketing plan to leverage these business assets. Greg’s ability to work at both high altitude and on the ground level, simultaneously, is one of the reasons he’s such a strong consultant and advisor. His insights and recommendations were both helpful and practical. We’d hire Greg again in a heartbeat.”
Dom’s Kitchen & Market
-Don Fitzgerald, former CEO, Dom’s Kitchen & Market | co-founded by Bob Mariano—work completed prior to Outfox Hospitality merger
"Working with Greg during the development of Dom's Kitchen & Market was invaluable: from big picture strategic advisory to serving as a content expert, assisting our merchants around the 'specialty foods' strategy across multiple categories. Greg helped to hone several areas at the inaugural store, then expanded and scaled these learnings to store two. Efforts included assisting with design of planograms, sourcing differentiated products, experiential activations, visual layout / merchandising of the space, plus pricing and product portfolio synergy. Greg's efforts in Dom’s cheese and charcuterie program resulted in the tripling of weekly sales, in less than four months. The redesign of the catering program and menu was another highlight from our engagement. Lastly, Greg brought a new level of culinary and hospitality competence to our merchants and operators alike who grew from his presence.”
Crafian Artisanal Toffee
-Shawn Johnson, founder and owner, Crafian Artisanal Toffee
“Greg has been indispensable as a business coach and counselor, supporting my overall business growth and development as a specialty, small batch food producer. Greg invigorates entrepreneurs and teams: he tackles business challenges with thoughtful questions to his clients, and provides perspective and resources that empower clients to independently uncover new insights about their business. Greg is a specialty food and beverage content expert—his advice helped me identify and harness laser focus on my target audience, refine messaging and strengthen my go-to-market plan.
Most notably, Greg is steady and thoughtful in the face of challenges. He has helped me navigate inevitable business obstacles with renewed confidence and grace, plus he’s helped me to streamline resources, and stay focused.
Greg is remarkably generous with both his expertise and his network, opening doors that would have taken far longer on my own. I recommend Greg for his strategic mindset, his coaching approach that fuses empathy with accountability, and a level of expertise that’s rooted in his own industry experiences as an executive, board leader and entrepreneur in the food & beverage space.”
Keep It Savory Salt Company
-Johanna Thompson, founder and owner, Keep It Savory Salt Company
“Greg's business coaching has been a game changer for Keep It Savory Salt Company. His advice has helped us navigate how and where to invest resources, plus hone our revenue channel strategies. Greg understands our business landscape as a micro-producer, curating his knowledge of the specialty food space to help us build a valuable network of wholesale and retail customers alike who shop our online store. Since the initial session with Greg, our retail presence has more than quadrupled and we continue to grow in sustainable ways that resonate with our business model, our team and our mission.”
American Cheese Society
-Nora Weiser, Executive Director Emeritus, American Cheese Society
“As President of the American Cheese Society (ACS), Greg led the organization through a time of tremendous growth. Under his guidance, ACS embarked on ambitious initiatives, expanding its reach, impact, and influence within the cheese industry. He guided ACS with a strong strategic vision to launch innovative programs to advance food safety and professionalize industry standards through certification. With diplomacy and professionalism, he facilitated a positive and mutually beneficial working relationship between ACS and regulatory bodies, supporting the work of producers and elevating the association's standing. Greg's legacy of transformative leadership continues to leave a lasting impact on ACS and the cheese community.”
