JERRY GABBERT
Tomball, Texas 77377
www.linkedin.com/in/jerrygabbert
832-***-**** ********@*****.***
SUMMARY
Entrepreneurial, results driven business leader with proven success in building business from the
ground up. Background includes launching profitable food brokerage and e-commerce web portals
and directing and leading team of reps in start-up distribution warehouse. Expertly designed and
developed sales and margin enhancement tools for sales force of 50 reps. Increased sales and
profits utilizing technology integration to simplify the sales process with both large and small
organizations. Accomplished public speaker within the packaged food and technology industries.
Expertise includes
• C Level Sales • S.P.I.N./S.N.A.P Selling Techniques
• Large Ticket Contract Negotiations Manufacturer/Dealer Business Development
• Public Speaking/Client Training Legacy Business Conversions
• Microsoft Office Suite Applications Adobe Pro and PhotoShop
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
SELL GOURMET, LLC Houston, TX 2006 – PRESENT
Co-Owner
Built web-based sales portal from the ground up, dedicated to the gourmet food industry. Comprises
of two websites (wholesale and retail) where industry buyers shop wholesale and consumers
purchase retail food items. Wholesale site works in conjunction with Uptown Gourmet brokerage
with 130 vendors and 4,000 products for sale on both websites. 20,000 unique monthly visitors with
traffic and sales increases at 100% per year since inception. Resigned as operating manager to
pursue career opportunities while maintaining an advisory role with the company.
• First year sales of $85,000 with 15% gross profit.
• Current sales $297,000 with 18% gross profit.
• Produced sales and marketing plans for over 100 vendors
• Consulted for and oversaw development of 6 vendors brands to market
• Hired and manage three brokers reps for Texas
• Day to day operations handled by business partner
GREAT CANDY COMPANY, LLC Houston, TX 2009 – 2010
Managing Partner
Launched master distributorship with investors to distribute candy bars imported from Kraft Foods
Global in Poland for sale in the vending and retail channels. Handle all aspects of sales and
marketing, website, broker/distributor relations.
• Managed team of 8 vending broker companies covering entire United States
• Negotiated agreements for fulfillment and distribution with 19 distributors covering 32 states
• Grew revenues from zero to $500,000 in 10 months
• Maintained 40% gross profit margin and 20% net margin
• Sold interest in company October 2010 to focus on gourmet business
JERRY GABBERT PAGE TWO
GOURMET FOOD MALL.COM, INC New Orleans, LA 2004 – 2006
E-commerce Business Consultant
Responsible for creating and managing online sales strategies for client base of food vendors whose
products were listed on the website for retail sale. Handled customer base of 50 vendors to design
and implement marketing and sales strategies to increase their online retail sales and compliment
their overall business sales.
• Managed meta tags, keywords, copyright and product photo integration and built e-commerce
web stores to promote both retail and wholesale business
• Oversaw website advertising program for 300 vendors focusing on seasonal needs with
appropriate products for maximum revenue generation
• Worked six months in Houston after Hurricane Katrina flooded our home in New Orleans and
made Houston our permanent address leaving Gourmet Food Mall
PERFORMANCE FOOD GROUP Houma, LA 2003 – 2004
Director of Contract Sales
Managed Multi Unit sales department with responsibility for several national account restaurant
chains throughout the southeastern United States including Wendy’s, Popeye’s and Subway.
• Directed the sales of $150 million in annual contract business
• Improved 99.4% fill rate across 750 weekly deliveries
• Increased profit from 5.8% to 7.9% with cost-cutting measures and streamlined systems
improvements
• Celebrated the birth of our daughter and wanted to work closer to home in New Orleans so I
resigned my position on good terms
US FOODSERVICE Houston, TX 2002 – 2003
Director of Contract Sales
Promoted to start up a new warehouse and manage four national account restaurant chains in the
midscale dining segment class: Chili’s, Sonic, Brinker International, Randall’s Deli’s
• Managed $120 million in annual contract business
• Maintained 99.7% fill rate at 16% gross profit margin
• Trained and supervised three account managers, eight customer service reps for 550 customer
locations throughout Texas and Louisiana
• Implemented service level tracking systems and refill delivery program to improve service level
to critical accounts
Healthcare Account Manager (Alliant Foodservice is acquired by US Foodservice) 2001 - 2002
Promoted to Healthcare Account Manager with responsibility for 25 acute care hospitals in southeast
Texas region with existing revenues of $5.25 million.
• Exceeded sales plan by 27% to $6.67 million in one year
• Earned 110% of fourth quarter 2001 bonus for sales and profit performance leading all division
reps
• Earned Healthcare Account Manager of the Month for December 2001
JERRY GABBERT PAGE THREE
ALLIANT FOODSERVICE (Kraft Foodservice is acquired by Alliant Foodservice)
E-commerce Specialist 1993 – 2001
Managed sales migration from hand written and PC platforms to e-commerce web based system for
400+ customers with revenues of $50 million in annual sales
• Developed training and incentive programs for both customers and sales reps to encourage
ongoing education and use of new web based ordering system
• Organized third party software integration of 7 major hospitals in Texas Medical Center to
automate ordering systems which reduced order times and customer service department
responsibilities
• Saved the company $130,000 by implementing a local computer hardware purchasing program
with Texas vendors
• Developed a Margin Management program to track profit margins of sales reps, then trained
district sales managers to use program to train their reps on how to sell more profitable items
and increase overall profit for company and commissions
KRAFT FOODSERVICE
Territory Manager 1991 – 1993
Called on restaurant street accounts in South Louisiana as a street rep in Lake Charles and
Lafayette.
• Grew territory by opening new accounts and profitably grow business by 30%
• Was promoted to Houston office as Margin Manager to train new reps on how to organize their
territories and sell profitably
• Took on the challenge to roll out new software programs for reps to increase productivity.
AWARDS
2001 District – Healthcare Account Manager Award
2000 National – Alliant Link Best Demonstrated Practices Award
2000 National – Alliant FoodLink Best In Class Award
1996 District – Kraft Pro Customer Selling Skills Workshop
1994 National – Kraft Link Advisory/Enhancement Counsel
OTHER RELATED EXPERIENCE
BIRRAPORETTI’S ITALIAN RESTAURANTS / General Manager, Houston, TX
EDUCATION
Business Software Development, University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA
History/Economics Major, McNeese State University, Lake Charles, LA
More related information available online: www.linkin.com/in/jerrygabbert