Webinars

Eric Le Blanc is the SVP of Marketing at Category Partners, LLC; a retail sector, business insights company founded in 2008, which specializes in driving growth by executing consumer and market research, data analytics and technology solutions.

Prior to joining Category Partners in 2023, Eric worked for nearly 20 years leading Tyson Foods’ marketing efforts in the Deli channel, with responsibilities spanning from consumer and shopper marketing, trade marketing, customer planning and development, and business strategy. In this capacity he pioneered the use of data and insights in the Deli channel at Tyson Foods, including original and innovative studies and methodologies that led to new and sometimes surprising insights into consumer behaviors and attitudes in this section of the store. He served 5 years on the IDDBA Board of Directors and has been recognized as an industry thought leader.

Eric is a native New Englander and a current resident of Western New York, where he lives with his wife of 36 years and fluctuating portions of their four grown children. When no one is looking, Eric is a writer, musician, and hobby farmer.

Tom Barnes is the chief executive officer of Category Partners, LLC; a retail sector, business insights company founded in 2008, which specializes in driving growth by executing consumer and market research, data analytics and technology solutions.

Tom has successfully led Category Partners by developing strategic partnerships, proprietary data reporting tools and adding primary consumer research capabilities to Category Partners services. Since taking the reins at the end of 2016, Category Partners has more than doubled its annual revenue.

Prior to joining Category Partners in 2013, Tom held a senior position at Wada Farms Marketing Group leading a major retailer account group for more than 9 of his 13 years with the company.

Tom got his career start in the IT field. His IT background, coupled with his subsequent experience in perishables industry sales and marketing, has afforded him a unique and valuable perspective on the relationship between data management, business insights and success in the retail perishables arena.

He was raised in Pocatello, Idaho, and is a proud Idaho State University Bengal. Tom currently hails from Idaho Falls, Idaho where he and his wife are doing their best to raise their five beautiful children. Tom loves to run, coach sports of every kind, and simply be with his kids every chance he gets.