My professional journey began at age 15, sparked by the transformative book Diet for a New America by John Robbins. As the heir to the Baskin-Robbins fortune, Robbins made the bold choice to walk away from his family’s legacy to advocate for a plant-based lifestyle. His powerful message about the impact of our food choices on health, the environment, and animal welfare resonated deeply with me.
Through his critique of factory farming, the link between diet and chronic disease, and the environmental cost of industrial agriculture, I was inspired to adopt a more ethical, sustainable, and health-conscious way of living. That moment marked the beginning of my commitment to a purpose-driven life and career. I knew then that the natural products industry was where I could make a meaningful impact—and I’ve followed that inspired path ever since.
My Professional Expertise:
For over 30 years, I’ve remained passionate about helping others discover the benefits of healthy eating and mindful living. My mission is to support manufacturers, brands, brokers, distributors, and retailers that share these values and deliver products with genuine purpose and integrity.
• Expertise in natural, organic, nutritional, premium, and specialty food categories within the CPG sector.
• Proven success managing head office and in-store purchase orders, with a focus on new product placements, line extensions, volume buys, and promotional programming—ensuring alignment between distributors, retailers, and brokers.
• Hands-on experience in the field, implementing high-impact merchandising strategies that drive consumer engagement—ranging from retail activations and store resets to tailored POS initiatives that support brand visibility and sales growth.
• KPI-focused strategist with a strong track record in customer acquisition, market expansion, product launches, promotional planning and execution.
• Recognized for building trusted customer relationships and consistently surpassing performance benchmarks.
Promotional Strategy and Planning Outline
by Hartley Berg
(PDF document)
My Professional Philosophy
With decades of experience in sales and brand development, I’ve had the privilege of advancing innovative food and wellness brands in dynamic retail environments.
My strategic approach combines analytical rigor with a nuanced understanding of consumer behavior and market trends. I work to deliver tailored sales and marketing strategies that align with each retail channel’s unique demands.
I’ve collaborated extensively with Canada’s major national, regional and independent retailers, leveraging partnerships with top distributors to increase brand visibility and drive sustainable growth.
Above all, I’m passionate about building ethical, collaborative relationships—with clients and consumers alike. I believe that success in this industry comes from more than hitting targets—it’s about delivering real value, making informed decisions, and staying true to the purpose behind the products.
When personal values align with professional purpose, integrity becomes effortless and success becomes meaningful.