Tom Stephens
Brand Strategy Consultants, Founded in 1994
Founded in 1994 by Tom, BSC is retained by clients in retail, manufacture of private label and branded products, food brokerage, television production, advertising, store and package design, executive recruitment and governments. It has conducted business in Canada, The United States, Italy, Britain, Holland, The Caribbean, Australia, South Africa and South Korea on behalf of a wide network of clients. Tom has been a frequent guest speaker at conferences throughout North America. In June 2002, Tom developed a series of classes in Private Label Marketing for St. Joseph’s University, Philadelphia and in November, 2002 was Moderator of a major industry seminar investigating the “Re-Design of the Centre Store” in Chicago. He now teaches Private Label Marketing at St. Joseph’s University and has become a permanent member of the Private Label Executive Programme Teaching Faculty and has also joined the faculty for a similar programme at Nyenrode University in Holland, now in its 4th year. This year, this programme also extends to Bocconi University in Milan. Tom also writes a monthly column “Inside the Box” for PL Magazine, North AmericaÕs leading industry publication, as well as conducting interviews with high level executives for the same magazine.
Brand Strategy Consultants has a number of highly specialised consultants in its team and has an extensive roster of additional consultants available for projects all over the world.
The Epicurean Odyssey Corporation, 1997 to 2002
Tom maintained his Consulting Practice but at the same time was one of three founding partners of this company which specialised in multi media/interactive television production. His specialty in the team was new series development and the marketing of new projects. The company completed over 100 episodes of its first series, Taste of Life, which has now been seen in over 15 countries around the world. As Executive Producer of a major new series produced by the company for The Outdoor Life Network in Canada, Tom completed production of 15 episodes of Drifters, The Water Wars, an original Canadian reality television series. The filming involved a crew of 28 with a cast of 18 and filming was completed in June 2001. This unique production commenced airing in September 2001.
Tom was actively involved in the development of all new projects until the partners decided to sell the Company in March, 2002.
Loblaw Companies, 1988 to 1994
Seven years as Executive Vice President of President’s Choice International, a division of Loblaw Brands Limited, Tom was responsible for the development of the President’s Choice program in the United States and Bermuda. He introduced President’s Choice in 16 retail chains with over 2000 stores in 36 states. The products and programs established under his leadership are recognized throughout the industry as the most significant achievement in the arena of “upscale premium private label” in the US.
Woolworths South Africa, 1969 to 1988
Nineteen years with Woolworths (Pty) Ltd in South Africa, a chain modeled on Europe’s leading food and clothing chain, Marks and Spencer. Holding increasingly senior executive positions, Tom’s achievements were initially in the field of fashion clothing procurement and then moved to the food arena, where he was involved from the outset in marketing, designing and implementing the transition of a 100% national brand supermarket division to 100% corporate (store) brand in two years. The highly perishable food business necessitated designing and building an “in house” national distribution network for perishable and frozen foods, which was Tom’s responsibility, drawing on his extensive travel to the UK with Marks and Spencer and its suppliers. He was instrumental in changing the entire standard trawling and fresh catch handling practices for the fishing industry in South Africa. During Tom’s last two years with the business, prior to emigrating to Canada he was responsible for developing the strategy and infrastructure for a company wide computerization of store operating systems, order placement and inventory management.
Other “Downtime” Interests
Tom is a keen sailor/racer and is an active member of The National Yacht Club in Toronto, both as sailor and as Chair of the Education Committee. He is a dedicated “foodie”, enthusiastic cook and international traveler.