John McGuckin: CEO, Clio Snacks

John McGuckin joins Jennifer and Risa on the latest episode of CPG Scoop!

John McGuckin is the CEO of Clio Snacks, the first and only grab-and-go Greek yogurt bar, quickly becoming the fastest-growing brand within the refrigerated snacking category. McGuckin brings more than 25 years of experience to the food and beverage industry and is a highly strategic and passionate leader. McGuckin has served on numerous advisory boards including Kellogg’s, Con Agra, Kraft and Chabaso. He also serves on the Franciscan University Business School Advisory Board.

Prior to joining Clio in 2021, McGuckin led the Mediterranean brand Sabra to unprecedented category dominance over the course of seven years as the EVP of North American sales. He played a significant role in facilitating the highly successful cultural integration of the joint venture between PepsiCo and Strauss. Recognized for his focus on strategy, customer development, business integration, and team building, McGuckin has partnered with some of America’s leading entrepreneurs including Bob Rich, Murray Lender, Gerry Schreiber, Yehuda Pearl, and Sergey Konchakovskiy helping to bring their vision to the masses.

A U.S. Army veteran, McGuckin attended Rutgers University and completed the Harvard Business School’s Finance for Senior Executives program. Due to McGuckin’s unrivaled expertise in the CPG space, Clio continues to outpace its category and has made a major impact across nationwide retailers under his leadership.

Our favorite takeaways from this episode with John:

• The refrigerated snacking category is underrepresented in retail, but the category is growing rapidly. John talks about how they're navigating that and better creating that destination for consumers on the shelf.
• Team dynamics and culture are crucial for success. When you have the right team and the right product, everything works out. We totally agree.
• Consumers are increasingly conscious of ingredient authenticity. John thinks that the simpler your ingredient statement is for consumers, the better.