Multi-National, Multi-Division TPM Partnership with Nestlé

Nestlé is the 2020 recipient of our

Strategic Partnership customer award. 

Typically, we celebrate customer awards during our annual Smoke Jumpers event. Because the event was postponed this year, we jumped on a virtual call with Nestlé to talk about the company’s history with Blacksmith and our remarkable decade long partnership. 

The Timeline 

“Our relationship with Nestlé goes back a decade,” says Robert Grimsley, Professional Services at Blacksmith Applications. “Today, with Blacksmith’s trade software, Nestlé has produced more than 14,000 trade programs and over 2.6 million billback transactions.” 

2010: Nestlé evaluates and demos trade promotion solutions on the market and decides on Blacksmith TPM 

2012 – 2013: Nestlé Professional Vitality Nestlé Beverage business implements Blacksmith TPM in US Canada 

2015: Nestlé onboards Blacksmith TPM to Nestlé Canada Culinary  

2016: Nestlé implements Blacksmith TPM to US Culinary business 

2017: Nestlé wins Blacksmith’s customer award for expansion of TPM capabilities 

2019: We partner again – to integrate Starbucks business into the existing Blacksmith TPM environments for both US and Canada 

“It’s a really great partnership,” says Paul Wietecha, Blacksmith CEO & President. “Nestlé is a best-in-class company that continues to innovate. We’re thrilled to implement our software with the Starbucks business in the last year and look forward to future opportunities with such a premier company and team.” 

Collaboration & Team Input 

“We recognize that the structured teams at Nestlé have really provided a solid groundwork for success,” says Grimsley. There is a great forum for cooperation. 

Bryan Lewis, Commercial Planning at Nestlé IT agrees that collaboration is key. He says, “There’s always a willingness to work together and adjust to our ever-changing complexities.”

This is a big kudos to the business teams:

• TFS
• Solutions Lab
• NP (Nestle Professional)
• Starbucks
• IT
• Blacksmith Applications

Nestlé’s Director of Sales and Trade Finance, Ann Belding says it’s been quite a journey with integrating Blacksmith; always appreciative. “Robert, specifically, is always a true partner. He understands the complexities of our business.”

The Future 

 There’s a great partnership between Blacksmith and Nestlé, Grimsley continues.

Nestlé really is a best-in-class organization that’s committed to a healthier future – for individuals, families and communities. Nestlé is transforming its product portfolio – from pet care, bottled water, frozen meals and infant nutrition – to meet changing consumer needs by focusing on high-growth food, beverage and consumer health categories with brands consumers love.

A great partnership drives business effectiveness, and “I’m sure there’s many more collaborative efforts to come,” Belding adds.