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What does it take to lead innovation for some of the world’s most beloved snack brands? And how do you balance creativity, technology, and sustainability to shape the future of food?
In this episode of Food for Thought Leadership, The Food Institute’s Rebecca Fryer sits down with Dr. Deepali Palta, vice president of Global R&D, Innovation, and Sustainability at Kellanova, for a deep dive into the science, strategy, and spirit driving the next generation of food innovation.
Dr. Palta shares how her leadership philosophy—rooted in curiosity, courage, and connection—guides her team to reimagine iconic brands like Cheez-It and Pringles for a global audience. She discusses Kellanova’s mission to unite innovation and sustainability, its “CBT” framework (Consumer, Business, and Technology), and how responsible use of digital tools and AI is transforming how food companies innovate. Additionally, the pair explores what it means to lead with purpose in a rapidly changing industry—balancing data with human insight, honoring brand legacies while embracing disruption, and building a more connected, sustainable future for food worldwide.
Transcript (Edited for Brevity/Clarity)
Dr. Deepali Palta’s Journey and Role at Kellanova
Dr. Deepali Palta:
Thanks for having me, Rebecca. I’ll start with a quick background. After earning my PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from Georgia Tech, I’ve spent about 17 years in food R&D with roles across the U.S., U.K., and Africa.
At Kellanova, I lead Global R&D, Innovation, and Sustainability from our Chicago office. My team accelerates growth and advances our sustainability agenda through science and technology—across ingredients, products, processes, and packaging.
For context, Kellanova was formerly the Kellogg Company. In late 2023, we spun off our North American cereal business, forming a global snacking company. Today, Kellanova’s brands include Pringles, Cheez-It, Pop-Tarts, and MorningStar Farms, among others.
Our mission is to drive top- and bottom-line growth while making progress toward sustainability goals. Think: reimagining Pringles, expanding core brands globally, and delivering on sustainable packaging commitments.
Why Food Innovation Matters
Rebecca Fryer:
You’ve been in CPG for nearly two decades. What keeps you inspired in this industry?
Dr. Deepali Palta:
Food is fundamental—it brings people joy and connection. Working in this space means seeing the direct impact of innovation on consumers’ lives. You get instant feedback, sometimes very personal! It’s both rewarding and motivating.
For me, the magic is taking science and technology and turning it into something delicious and sustainable. It gives my work purpose and meaning every day.
Defining Innovation: The CBT Framework
Rebecca Fryer:
Let’s dive into your approach to innovation. How do science and technology fit in?
Dr. Deepali Palta:
Innovation is ultimately about solving problems. To decide which opportunities to pursue, I use a framework called CBT—Consumer, Business, and Technology.
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C = Consumer:
Start with the consumer. What problem are we solving? Does this matter to them? Would they care? We use creative friction and devil’s advocacy in meetings to challenge ourselves from a consumer lens. -
B = Business:
How does this idea contribute to growth—top line, bottom line, or new categories? Even at an early stage, we ask teams to create “back-of-the-envelope” calculations to ensure the business case makes sense. -
T = Technology:
Technology gives us the right to succeed. Cool science excites me, but it must solve a real consumer and business problem. We don’t lead with tech—we integrate it where it delivers purpose.
At the intersection of Consumer, Business, and Technology, innovation becomes meaningful and scalable.
Example: Global Expansion of Cheez-It
Rebecca Fryer:
Can you share an example of how this framework drives results at Kellanova?
Dr. Deepali Palta:
A great example is Cheez-It, one of our flagship brands. When we looked to expand Cheez-It internationally, our first instinct was to take the classic cracker from North America and “lift and shift” it to Europe.
But consumer research showed that U.K. snackers were unfamiliar with flavored baked crackers. Instead, they preferred crispy, chip-like snacks. So we pivoted and launched Cheez-It Snap’d, which bridges a cracker and a chip—crispy, light, and made with real cheese.
We localized the flavor profile, ensured regulatory compliance, and worked closely with our European R&D team. The product launched successfully in the U.K. and is now expanding across Europe and into Asia.
Rebecca Fryer:
So the flavor is slightly different abroad?
Dr. Deepali Palta:
Yes—the core “real cheese” essence stays the same, but flavors are tailored to local preferences. Sometimes I don’t personally love the version—but that’s okay! What matters is that the target consumer loves it.
Building Global Collaboration
Rebecca Fryer:
You mentioned partnerships earlier. How do you align global teams to deliver innovation at scale?
Dr. Deepali Palta:
Large-scale innovation requires alignment across functions like R&D, supply chain, engineering, and procurement. To achieve that, we created a Unified Technology Governance Model.
This model unites all our technical partners under one shared agenda for big bets in science and technology. It ensures we assess economic viability and scalability from day one and break down silos that often slow progress.
Currently, one major initiative under this model is reimagining the design of Pringles—though that’s all I can reveal for now!
Challenges and the Power of Partnerships
Rebecca Fryer:
What challenges do you face when driving innovation across so many areas—ingredients, packaging, processes?
Dr. Deepali Palta:
Innovation never stops; the world keeps evolving. To stay ahead, we need strong partnerships—both internal and external.
Some of our current focus areas include:
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Maximizing ingredient versatility for today and tomorrow.
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Elevating taste and texture experiences.
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Developing next-gen processing technologies for flexibility and efficiency.
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Future-proofing packaging for sustainability and growth.
If anyone out there has creative solutions in these areas—let’s connect! Collaboration fuels progress.
Balancing Innovation and Brand Legacy
Rebecca Fryer
Do you have a “golden child” brand that gets the most attention?
Dr. Deepali Palta
They’re all our children! Each one deserves love.
AI and the Digital Transformation
Rebecca Fryer
Let’s talk about AI. How is Kellanova approaching digital transformation?
Dr. Deepali Palta
We’ve been on a digital journey for years, guided by our framework “Better Data, Bigger Possibilities.” It’s built on transparency, accountability, and collaboration.
AI helps us gain deeper insights into consumers’ evolving needs, optimize supply chains, and improve product quality. But human intuition remains key—AI is a tool, not a replacement.
Even in AI, our CBT framework applies:
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Consumer: Understand preferences and pain points.
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Business: Identify growth opportunities.
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Technology: Choose the right digital tools to deliver value.
We use AI for trend prediction, consumer sentiment analysis, and even employee productivity tools like Microsoft Copilot.
Responsible AI and Employee Training
Rebecca Fryer
How are you training teams to use AI responsibly?
Dr. Deepali Palta
Our IT team leads the charge. They focus on digital literacy and fluency, ensuring employees are confident before implementing AI.
We also established an AI Advisory Council—a cross-functional group that evaluates AI use cases for ethical and legal compliance. They ensure our work aligns with global data privacy standards and responsible AI principles.
It’s still the Wild West out there, but we’re committed to doing this the right way.
The Future of Food Innovation
Rebecca Fryer
Looking ahead five to ten years, what excites you most about the future of food innovation?
Dr. Deepali Palta
Three things:
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Digital and AI Advancements – Data-driven insights will revolutionize how we innovate, manufacture, and connect with consumers.
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Sustainability as a Driver – Innovation and sustainability are becoming inseparable. I hope one day my title shortens to simply “Global R&D,” because all innovation will be sustainable innovation.
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Collaboration and Connection – We can’t do this alone. Building the future of food requires shared purpose and open collaboration across industries.
Leadership Philosophy: The “Triple C” Values
Rebecca Fryer
On a personal note—how would you describe your leadership style?
Dr. Deepali Palta
My leadership is rooted in purpose and guided by three core values: Curiosity, Courage, and Connection—the Triple C.
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Curiosity drives me to ask bold (and sometimes silly) questions.
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Courage helps me act on those ideas and take risks.
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Connection reminds me that success is never solitary—it’s shared.
Early in my career, I often felt invisible. My background in materials science seemed far from food. Mentors helped me find confidence in my voice and perspective. Now, I focus on planting those same seeds of confidence in others.
Leadership isn’t just about results—it’s about creating space for ideas and lifting others up.
