Kent Heckman – Integrity July 30, 2020 Meet Kent Heckman – KNG Pricing Manager Figuring out the best price to charge for quality products can be a tricky business. Kent Heckman calls it “a balancing act” that can make or break a company’s bottom line just as easily as it can attract or alienate valued customers. Heckman is well-aware of this. As pricing manager for Kent Nutrition Group, he collects input from many internal constituents – weighing marketing and sales goals against overall corporate objectives. His team also pays close attention to competitive pricing within the Kent and Blue Seal sales regions. “Everybody wants premium quality at a discount price,” says Heckman, who grew up feeding Kent on his family’s farm in Southeast Iowa. “But when it really comes down to pricing, if you don’t add value it is generally a race to the bottom on price.” That’s the part that makes Heckman’s job a bit easier. Because Kent and Blue Seal feeds offer premium proprietary products while also delivering value that other companies simply don’t (or won’t). “Whether it’s management tips, direct access to nutritionists, expertise in market projections and operations . . . we are serving customers in ways that go far beyond feed,” Heckman says. “At KNG, our goal is to produce quality feed. And that, coupled with the added services, often sets us apart.” Heckman celebrates his 28th anniversary with KNG this year. He respects the company’s Midwestern values, and he’s proud of the team atmosphere throughout the organization. “The minute I walked through the doors all those years ago, I could just tell it was a different kind of company,” he says. “No one is just a number here. When you walk out of the office with (CEO) Gage Kent, and are able to carry on a conversation, that says something about a company. Our kids went to school together, he knows my name. That’s just really rare for large companies these days.” Kent lives in Muscatine, Iowa. He enjoys taking motorcycle trips with his wife, Mary, working on the farm, pheasant hunting with his dog, Rylee, and spending time with his two grown sons. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Print Email Related Posts New Research from Kent® Nutrition Group Could Mean Cost Savings on Eggs Cost Savings and Increased Egg Production with Home Fresh Extra Egg Layer Feed MUSCATINE, Iowa (March 27, 2025) – Whether you’re a seasoned backyard chicken owner or considering starting your… Read More Equine Network Partners with Absorbine® and Sentinel® to Launch My New Horse In partnership with Absorbine® and Sentinel®, Equine Network has announced the launch of My New Horse, a new brand that provides equestrians just getting into horse ownership or riding with… Read More National Pork Month: A product for every producer Kent Nutrition Group is committed to the success of pork producers — and we have research-driven products for all types of operations. Here’s a look at how we use different… Read More