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Articles & Insights.

Practical guidance for food, agriculture, and distribution executives on hiring, leadership, and building high-performance teams.

MJ Direct Placement Services rebrand announcement to RJ Executive Search

Company News July 30, 2026

Here We Grow Again: MJ Direct Placement Services Announces Rebrand to RJ Executive Search

MJ Direct Placement Services is now RJ Executive Search - the same personalized service and trusted relationships, with a name that reflects the firm's growth as a national executive search partner.

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Business leaders reviewing the financial and operational consequences of an unsuccessful executive hire

Leadership Hiring Jul 26, 2026

The True Cost of Hiring the Wrong Leader

A poor leadership hire can increase recruiting costs, turnover, lost productivity, safety risk, and missed business opportunities.

Distribution center leaders reviewing warehouse operations, inventory data, and employee performance inside a modern facility

Distribution Jul 21, 2026

The New Distribution Leader: Managing Turnover, Labor Costs, and Technology in 2026

Distribution leaders must balance rising labor costs, employee turnover, automation, inventory accuracy, customer expectations, and supply chain risk.

Meat and poultry processing leaders reviewing production, food safety, staffing, and equipment performance inside a processing facility

Animal and Poultry Processing Jul 16, 2026

Meat and Poultry Processing Leadership: Balancing Throughput, Staffing, Safety, and Compliance

Meat and poultry processors need leaders who can improve production while protecting food safety, employee wellbeing, equipment reliability, and regulatory compliance.

Food manufacturing executives reviewing financial and operational performance data inside a production facility

Industry Insights Jul 11, 2026

Growth Without Easy Margins: The Leadership Priorities Shaping Food Companies in 2026

Revenue is growing across much of the food industry, but inflation, tariffs, capital costs, and changing demand continue to pressure profitability.

Food manufacturing leaders reviewing automated production equipment and real-time operational data inside a modern processing facility

Food Manufacturing Jul 7, 2026

From Automation Investment to Operational Results: The New Food Manufacturing Leadership Profile

Food manufacturers are investing in automation, data, AI, and connected equipment, but realizing value requires leaders who can unite technology, operations, maintenance, and people.

Agricultural operations leaders reviewing crop production and workforce plans at a commercial farming operation

Agriculture Jul 4, 2026

Agriculture’s Workforce Transition: Labor Scarcity, Rising Costs, and Succession Planning

Agricultural employers face an aging workforce, rising labor costs, growing reliance on H-2A workers, and an urgent need to develop the next generation of operational leadership.

Food manufacturing executives and operations leaders reviewing production activity inside a modern processing facility

Executive Hiring Jul 1, 2026

2026 Food Manufacturing Executive Hiring Outlook: The Leadership Roles Companies Need Most

Current employment data reveals where food manufacturing is growing and which leadership capabilities companies will need through 2034.

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