Baking & Snack - February 2024 - 28

BAKING HALL OF FAME
Erin Sharp led the way to transform commercial baking for the better.
by Lucas Cuni-Mertz
L
Leader. Mentor. Role model. Trailblazer. These words
and more have been used to describe Erin Sharp and her
impact on commercial baking. Throughout her career,
Ms. Sharp has embodied these traits to reshape how the
industry looks and operates. She's skillfully overseen numerous
baking operations, pioneering a new style of leadership
and serving as an invaluable mentor for many, all
while paving the way for women in the baking industry.
Ms. Sharp began her career at Frito-Lay, holding a variety
of positions in operations and finance,
and later at Dreyer's, SuperValu and
Albertsons. She then joined
Sara Lee as vice president
of manufacturing for its
US Fresh Bakery division,
Central Region in 2007,
where she oversaw 12 manufacturing
and distribution
facilities. In 2011, Ms. Sharp
became Kroger's vice president
of operations, and in 2013
was promoted to group vice
president of manufacturing.
Described as a charismatic
and driven leader, Ms. Sharp
redefined how bakery leaders
and teams operated, said Robb
MacKie, chief executive officer
of Forti Global Strategies
and former president and
CEO of the American Bakers
Association. At Kroger, she
introduced the concepts
of " High Performance
Work Systems " and
" One Team, No
Borders, " which emphasized
that everyone
28 Baking & Snack February 2024 / www.bakingbusiness.com
can contribute to an organization's success if given the opportunity
to participate and learn.
" If there were one single individual who helped prepare
me for this moment in my career, that would be Erin
Sharp, " said Akeem Babatunde, who rose from site leader
at Kroger's bakery in Columbus, Ohio, to senior regional
supply chain director. " Erin took personal interest in the
development of her direct reports as well as the hourly associates
in our sites. "
Mr. Babatunde is just one of many bakery professionals
who credit their development in part to Ms. Sharp's mentorship.
She had a natural connection with employees, regardless
of their status in the bakery, and was champion
of their success.
" It was Erin who had the leadership, intuition and
emotional intelligence to see beyond my resume, " said
Julia Benitez, who Ms. Sharp brought into Kroger's fasttrack
general manager program. " Her positive attitude,
love for people and enthusiasm for the commercial baking
industry were contagious. Not just for me, but for everyone
around her. It is not an overstatement to say that
Erin Sharp changed my life. "
Ms. Sharp also led the way for women in the baking
industry, who have long been underrepresented. She was
Kroger's first female group vice president of manufacturing,
and the first woman to be ABA chair in the association's
120-year history.
" She has been a tireless ambassador for the baking
and manufacturing industry, especially supporting rising
women leaders, " Mr. MacKie said. " While not shying
away from her historic role, she wanted to be known as a
successful chair who happened to be a woman. It was very
important for her to successfully unite the industry during
challenging times. "
Ms. Sharp retired from Kroger in 2021 but continues
to support the industry at large. Her indelible impact on
commercial baking has earned her induction into the
Baking Hall of Fame.
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