Full Name
Cathy Burns
Job Title
CEO
Company
International Fresh Produce Assocation
Speaker Bio
Cathy Burns is CEO of the International Fresh Produce Association(IFPA), the largest and most diverse international association serving the entire fresh produce and floral supply chain, and the only to seamlessly integrate world-facing advocacy and industry-facing support. The association’s purpose is to create a vibrant future for all with the members’ prosperity in mind.
With 30 years of leadership experience in the grocery industry, she led large teams and transformations across multiple retail banners. Most recently, she served as president of Food Lion, Harveys and Reid’s, and was a member of the Delhaize America Executive Committee. She spent 20 years at Hannaford serving in multiple leadership roles across disciplines.
Prior to her current role with IFPA, Burns was the CEO of Produce Marketing Association from 2013-2021. She was integral in bringing the PMA together with the United Fresh Produce Association. Under her leadership, IFPA was launched to serve the global fresh produce and floral industries.
Burns was named a 2007 Top Woman in Grocery by Progressive Grocer, was awarded The Packer’s 2008 Produce Marketer of the Year award, named one of Supermarket News’ Power 50 in 2009, was named one of Mass Market Retailer’s Most Influential Women in Mass Market Retailing in 2010, and was recognized as one of the top 25 leaders in the produce and floral industries by The Packer in 2018.
Burns inspires audiences with topics such as leadership, consumer trends, company strategy transformations, mergers and acquisitions, and organizational change efforts.
Burns holds bachelor’s degrees in management and marketing from the University of Maine and completed coursework in strategic retail management at the College of William and Mary.
With 30 years of leadership experience in the grocery industry, she led large teams and transformations across multiple retail banners. Most recently, she served as president of Food Lion, Harveys and Reid’s, and was a member of the Delhaize America Executive Committee. She spent 20 years at Hannaford serving in multiple leadership roles across disciplines.
Prior to her current role with IFPA, Burns was the CEO of Produce Marketing Association from 2013-2021. She was integral in bringing the PMA together with the United Fresh Produce Association. Under her leadership, IFPA was launched to serve the global fresh produce and floral industries.
Burns was named a 2007 Top Woman in Grocery by Progressive Grocer, was awarded The Packer’s 2008 Produce Marketer of the Year award, named one of Supermarket News’ Power 50 in 2009, was named one of Mass Market Retailer’s Most Influential Women in Mass Market Retailing in 2010, and was recognized as one of the top 25 leaders in the produce and floral industries by The Packer in 2018.
Burns inspires audiences with topics such as leadership, consumer trends, company strategy transformations, mergers and acquisitions, and organizational change efforts.
Burns holds bachelor’s degrees in management and marketing from the University of Maine and completed coursework in strategic retail management at the College of William and Mary.
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