Mizkan’s Megan Frank on Modernizing 100-Year-Old Brands Without Losing Their Soul

In this episode of Brave Commerce, Rachel Tipograph and Sarah Hofstetter sit down with Megan Frank, SVP of marketing and R&D at Mizkan, the 221-year-old, family-owned food company behind iconic brands like Ragu, Bertolli, Nakano, and the newly acquired Zing Zang.

With a portfolio of legacy brands that have stood the test of time, Megan shares how she keeps them relevant to today’s consumer while staying true to their roots.

She discusses the importance of preserving core brand assets, creating a culture of empowerment, and leveraging frameworks like OGSM to connect long-term vision to short-term action.

Megan also explains how her team drives speed and agility within a family-owned structure, how retail partnerships are managed through data-backed joint business planning, and why consolidating media and shopper marketing under one team has unlocked more seamless consumer journeys.

Key takeaways:

Legacy brands can move fast. Clear vision and accountability empower teams to act with speed across functions.

Relevance requires evolution. Megan shares how timeless assets and modern activations work together to engage new consumers.

Data drives accountability. A custom measurement model helps Mizkan shift retailer conversations toward results-based planning.