ALLAN ACOSTA

**** * ****** **. ********, AZ. ****8

Mobile: 480-***-**** ? Email: acbylm@r.postjobfree.com ? LinkedIn:

http://www.linkedin.com/in/allanacosta

STRATEGIC SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT EXECUTIVE

Fresh Food Manufacturing ? Global Supply Chain ? Agricultural Operations

Strategic Procurement and Sourcing ? Cold Chain Management

A food manufacturing leader with proven expertise in agricultural operations, strategic sourcing and

procurement throughout North, Central and South America. Over thirteen years of operations experience enable

a deep understanding of food production; export, import, food safety, quality assurance and internal inventory

management at one of the largest fresh cut produce processors in the United States. Strategic leader of supplier-

to-plant supply chain optimization initiatives that resulted in long-term reductions of COGS and quality

improvements. Ability to travel extensively and communicate effectively across functions and global cultures.

Languages include English, Spanish and Portuguese.

OTHER AREAS OF EXPERTISE

? Food Industry Supply Chain ? Inventory Management ? Raw Cost Reduction

? Quality Assurance ? Food Manufacturing Ops. ? Risk Management

? Contract Negotiations ? Food Safety ? Import / Export

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

READY PAC PRODUCE, INC., Irwindale, CA. March, 2006 -

Present

One of the largest national manufacturers and marketers of high-quality fresh foods including fresh cut, washed,

packed and ready to eat fresh produce. With multiple facilities across the United States, Ready Pac sells pre-cut

vegetables, pre-cut fruits and a combination of products under the nationally-recognized brand name Ready Pac

and through premium private labels.

Supply Chain Manager / Senior Crop Manager ? Fruit Division (May, 2009 ? Present)

Establish and maintain effective long-term relations with suppliers throughout North, Central and South

America, utilizing strategic and tactic sourcing activities. Developed, directed and executed the strategic global

fruit sourcing process to meet inventory, cost savings, risk management, cash flow, raw quality and customer

service objectives. Managed up to $35-million in annual budget and negotiate contracts of fruit commodities

(cantaloupes, honey dews, watermelons, pineapples and grapes).

? Contributed to mitigate a $1.5-million per year increase in the price of pineapples by persuading

stakeholders to adopt a new six-sigma based quality inspection protocol at the field level in Costa Rica. The

new methodology reduced the rejection rate of inbound loads by 80% and the rejection of finished goods by

90%.

? Accomplished a mutually beneficial process change that resulted in a $635,000 reduction in the cost of

raw mangoes over a one year period by implementing changes in the logistics of deliveries and upgrading

the inspection protocol. This change also generated higher operational effectiveness during the sorting and

ripening processes and yielded a 30%-reduction in supplier?s losses.

? Reduced the total cost of raw fruit commodities by $960,000 versus budget for FY 2013.

? Implemented and directed the ?Pineapples Direct Import Program which reduced the cost of pineapples

by $250,000 in 2013.

? Established partnership relationships with key suppliers to validate new packaging protocols on melons,

which resulted in process optimization at the packing facility and a cost reduction of $270,000 in FY 2011.

? Formed strategic relationships with Chilean grape growers, which yielded a $295,000-cost reduction in

2010, $200,000/year in 2011 and 2012, and $130,000 in 2013.

ALLAN ACOSTA Page 2

READY PAC PRODUCE, INC. ? continued.

? Initiated the Mexican Fall Cantaloupe Program, which significantly improved the supply and quality of

cantaloupes during the toughest time of the year for that commodity. Quality was maintained and cantaloupe

order fill rate increased from 83% in 2009 to 100% in 2010 and beyond.

Field Representative (March, 2006 ? April, 2009)

Responsible for ensuring quality and safety on fruit commodities shipped to the processing facilities and

managing a $75,000-annual-budget in travel expenses.

? Coordinated the production of wide spectrum of fruit-based materials to ensure the continuous and

timely availability of raw commodities within the required quality specifications.

? Led a cross-functional team (Procurement, QA, R&D and Operations) to evaluate new seed varieties of

cantaloupes, honeydews, watermelons, pineapples, grapes and mangoes to determine potential advantages for

the fresh cut industry. A total of 15 new varieties of melons and watermelons, and 2 new varieties of grapes

were approved for finished goods production.

? Performed Food Safety and Social Responsibility Audits to growing operations (crop fields, harvest

crews, packing plants and cooling facilities) in the United States and in 10 countries throughout Latin

America. Approved 30+ growing/packing operations to be suppliers of Ready Pac; assessed three as non-

compliant.

? Oversaw the implementation of HACCP (Hazard Analysis of Critical Control Points), GMPs (Good

Manufacturing Practices) at the packing and cooling facilities, and GAPs (Good Agricultural Practices) at

the fields. Five suppliers became HACCP certified.

USDA / APHIS / MEDFLY PROGRAM. Guatemala City, Guatemala. February, 2001 ?

March, 2006

Program designed to breed and release sterile pest insects (fruit flies) to reduce the pest?s population.

Production Manager

? Managed the largest department, which accounted for $550,000 per year in labor costs.

? Oversaw a budget of $80,000 per year in non-labor production costs.

? Conducted performance reviews, hiring, firing, disciplining and promoting employees.

CENTRAL AMERICAN PRODUCE, INC. Zacapa, Guatemala. Aug. ? Dec., 1998 and January ?

December, 2000

Melon, watermelon and asparagus growing operation on a 2,600-acre farm.

Production Manager Assistant

? Managed soil preparation, planting schedules, fertilization and irrigations, integrated pest management and

cultural practices.

? Implemented GMPs and HACCP (at the packing sheds); and GAPs at the field level.

EDUCATION

MBA in Global Management (Executive Program)

Thunderbird School of Global Management, Glendale, AZ. Expected Graduation Date: 05/9/14. Acc. GPA =

3.792

Bachelor in Agricultural Sciences

EARTH University, Costa Rica. Graduated in 1999. GPA = 3.56

HONORS AND MEMBERSHIPS

AGEARTH ? Association of EARTH University?s Alumni

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