Positioning a leading food processor for the next era of AI innovation

Client background

A nationally recognized food processor specializing in poultry products, the client operates a large, multi-facility network serving retail, food service and manufacturing customers across the U.S. The organization is known for their disciplined approach to quality, operational efficiency and continuous improvement. With a sizeable workforce and complex supply chain, the company is consistently evaluating tools and strategies to strengthen performance, mitigate risk and position the business for long-term growth.

The business challenge

Recognizing the accelerating impact of artificial Intelligence (AI) on food industry operations, the client’s leadership sought to better understand how AI could advance efficiency, innovation and long-term competitiveness. At the same time, they were facing pressures driven by rapid technological change, evolving customer expectations and increased industry adoption of automation and data-driven decision-making. 

The organization’s primary challenge was aligning senior leadership around a unified AI vision and developing a clear, actionable strategy for responsible adoption. The client needed support identifying practical opportunities, assessing readiness, managing emerging risks and fostering an enterprise-wide culture that could embrace AI-enabled transformation. 

Strategy and solution

Baker Tilly facilitated a half-day onsite executive AI strategy session with the client’s senior leadership team. The engagement was tailored to the organization’s operating model, strategic initiatives and ongoing innovation efforts. Key components included: 

• Preparation and discovery: Reviewed strategic materials, operational priorities and current use cases to shape a session that reflected real-time challenges and growth opportunities. 
• Delivery of a structured workshop: Introduced a practical framework grounded in Baker Tilly’s five AI strategic pillars: innovation, data, infrastructure, risk and governance, and adoption. This model helped leaders evaluate where AI could drive value and what capabilities were needed to support implementation. 
• Interactive workbook exercises: Facilitated group discussions and targeted activities designed to capture insights, test assumptions and uncover near-term AI opportunities across operational, financial and customer-facing functions. 
• Draft AI vision and post-session deliverables: Developed a refined AI vision statement supported by a clear set of priorities and next steps. Provided summary materials, recommendations and a path forward to guide ongoing exploration and decision making. 

Impact

By the end of the engagement, the client had aligned its executive team around a shared AI direction and established a strong foundation for long-term transformation. Leadership walked away with: 

1. A clarified enterprise AI vision 
2. A structured understanding of where AI can provide operational and strategic value 
3. Prioritized opportunity areas for innovation and efficiency 
4. Visibility into risks, capability needs and governance considerations 
5. A roadmap for continued discovery, planning and enterprise adoption 

This alignment gave the organization the confidence and tools needed to advance its AI strategy and begin exploring solutions that support efficiency, growth and competitive advantage in the rapidly evolving food industry.