Dawn Foods, Jackson, Mich., opened its first-ever Digital Innovation Hub, located in Boston. Under the leadership of Bob Howland, chief digital officer, the Innovation Hub will play an instrumental role in developing digital solutions for Dawn’s bakery customers. The hub will bring on an additional 10 employees by year-end.

“Dawn Foods has a rich heritage and a bright future ahead. By opening our Digital Innovation Hub in Boston, and investing in an area with rich tech talent, I am confident we are putting the right infrastructure in place to develop the right digital solutions for both Dawn and our customers,” says Howland. “Additionally, these critical investments will drive added enhancements for the baking industry as a whole – from cost and time savings to access to a wider array of products, offerings and inspirational recipes.”

Digital enhancements will allow bakers to manage their inventory and shipments 24/7 – whenever and wherever they want. From online ordering to monthly market assessments, the tool will be a game-changer for the artisanal baking community.

Key new hires include:

• Kristin Pados as senior director of product management, charged with leading the day-to-day operations of Dawn’s digital sites, building a high-performing product team and instilling an Agile software development process.
• Gireesh Sahukar as senior director of digital technology, providing technology architecture expertise, guidance and governance to ensure platform stability, risk management and mitigation, adherence to standards and optimization.