More About Jill
Founder & Principal Consultant
Jill Dearing is a distinguished executive with over 30 years of experience in the retail, grocery, and wholesale sectors. As the Founder and Principal Consultant of Dearing & Company, she has dedicated her career to driving innovation and enhancing customer experiences. Jill holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Environmental Sciences from the University of Missouri-Columbia, equipping her with a deep understanding of consumer and market dynamics.
Jill has held leadership roles at C&S Wholesale Grocers and Save-A-Lot Food Stores, where she directed significant growth initiatives and revolutionized customer experiences. Her strategic vision and operational excellence have consistently resulted in year-over-year growth, outperforming market trends, and earning her numerous accolades, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from Top Women in Store Brands (2020) and recognition as one of Progressive Grocer’s Top Women in Grocery (2015).
Jill is known for her dynamic leadership style, team empowerment, and commitment to sustainable business practices. Her ability to align operational goals with long-term corporate strategies has propelled businesses to achieve transformative growth. As an active member and former Co-Chair of The Food Industry Association (FMI), she continues to influence the industry with her strategic insights and practical execution.
Organizations seeking a leader who merges strategic vision with practical execution in the challenging landscape of grocery and retail will find Jill Dearing to be an invaluable asset.
Achievements & Associations
- Lifetime Achievement Award, Top Women in Store Brands (2020)
- Who's Who2 in Marketing, Path to Purchase Institute's (2016)
- Progressive Grocer – Top Women in Grocery (2015)
- Salute to Excellence Award for Product Innovation, PLMA (2015, 2014 & 2013)
- Former Co-Chair, The Food Industry Association (FMI) Private Brand Executive Committee (2019-2023)