Bland Farms Names Cyndi Rogers Director of Marketing

GLENNVILLE, Ga.— Bland Farms has named Cyndi Rogers Director of Marketing, bringing more than 20 years of experience in marketing leadership, customer experience and experiential marketing to the nation’s leading grower, packer and shipper of Vidalia® Sweet Onions.

In her new role, Rogers will lead overall marketing planning and execution across Bland Farms, Vidalia Brands, and Sand Candy Produce. Her responsibilities include customer and retailer marketing programs, trade shows and events, marketing budget management, agency and vendor relationships, and close alignment between the company’s sales and marketing teams.

“Cyndi has known our family and this community for years, so she understands there is a lot behind the Bland Farms name that you can’t learn from a brand book,” said Troy Bland, CEO of Bland Farms. “She knows the people, she understands how important our customer relationships are, and she also brings the outside experience to help us think differently about how we market the business. That combination made her a natural fit for where we’re headed.”

For Rogers, the opportunity starts with building on a company and family of brands that already have deep roots in the produce industry.

“One of the first things I saw was that there is already so much good here,” Rogers said. “Bland Farms has an incredible history, a well-respected name, great products and really good people. You’re not starting from scratch. You’re starting with a brand that already means something.”

A key focus for Rogers will be strengthening the connection between marketing, sales and the customers Bland Farms serves.

“I’ve always believed marketing and sales should work hand in hand,” Rogers said. “Great marketing should make it easier for our sales team to do their jobs, but it should also help our customers be more successful.”

That customer-first approach reflects Rogers’ extensive background in customer experience. She believes some of the strongest marketing opportunities begin with listening closely to what retail and foodservice partners need, where their challenges are and how Bland Farms can bring additional value to the relationship.

“Sometimes that may mean better sales tools or marketing support. Other times it may be helping create excitement around a product, sharing insights or finding a new way to help a customer connect with their consumer,” Rogers said. “I want our customers to see marketing as another way Bland Farms brings value to the relationship, not simply as a way for us to promote ourselves.”

Rogers will also help ensure consistency across customer-facing marketing and continue developing programs that support Bland Farms’ long-standing reputation in the marketplace.

“There are generations of knowledge and experience here, along with relationships that have been built over many years,” Rogers said. “There are also a lot of people working incredibly hard behind the scenes every day. I think there is an opportunity to show more of the people behind Bland Farms and help customers and consumers feel even more connected to the company.”

Prior to joining Bland Farms, Rogers served as Director, Customer Experience + Brand at Great Dane in Savannah, Georgia. There, she developed and led customer-experience programs including a Voice of Customer initiative and Customer Advisory Board, while also overseeing brand consistency and strategic trade show, conference and event programs.

During more than a decade with Great Dane, Rogers held additional senior roles in experiential marketing, marketing enablement, shared services, marketing communications and operations. Earlier in her career, she held marketing leadership positions with Dinex Emission and Alcoa Architectural Products.

Rogers earned an MBA from Georgia College & State University and a BBA in Economics and International Business from Georgia Southern University. She has also completed executive education programs through the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business and Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management. She is fluent in Spanish.

Looking ahead, Rogers says success will be measured by stronger partnerships inside and outside the organization.

“A year from now, I’d love to be able to say that we listened, learned and made meaningful progress,” Rogers said. “I’d want our sales team to feel like marketing is truly a partner, our customers to feel like we understand their needs and our marketing to be helping support the growth of the business while staying true to who Bland Farms is.”

About Bland Farms

Bland Farms is the largest grower, packer and shipper of sweet onions in the United States. Headquartered in Glennville, Georgia, the family-owned company has built its business around generations of growing expertise, long-standing customer relationships and a year-round sweet onion program serving retailers and consumers nationwide. Its portfolio includes Bland Farms, Vidalia Brands and Sand Candy Produce® Sweet Potatoes.