Sales Manager

GARY FIGAS

Parkland, FL ***** 954-***-****

adbvyf@r.postjobfree.com www.linkedin.com/in/garyfigas

SALES AND MARKETING MANAGER

Highly accomplished, top-performing sales and marketing manager with broad based background and extensive experiences in food and beverage, retail, and grocery industries. Unique abilities include account management, the study of Nielsen and IRI data to identify consumer trends and needs, ensured strong sales for products in assigned territory and developed strategic initiatives to build brand development and improve brand performance. Experienced in working in fast-paced environments that required strong interpersonal skills and ability to communicate, negotiate, and build partnerships with key contacts in assigned territory at all levels of rank and status from management to floor associates.

Core Competencies

Budgeting Annual Operating Planning Merchandising Sales Training

Food Service Consumer Packaged Goods Retail IRI Data Customer Service

Broker and Program Management Microsoft Office Suite Incident and Problem Management

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Pero Family Farms, Delray FL 2019 – Present

Pero Family Farms Food Company, formerly Pero Vegetable Company is a Sales, Marketing and Distribution group and a part of an American-based agricultural corporation headquartered in Delray Beach, Florida.

Client Service Manager

Held accountable for the necessary functions requested to provide support to both Retail and Food Service customers. This includes achievement of the full spectrum of customer service and account management duties delegated by potential customers, as directed by the Directors of Client service, Executive VP of Sales, and Chief Sales Officer. Responsible duties including data entry and coordinating necessary communication to assure all orders are followed through from planning the planting of seeds, placement of order, shipment, trouble shooting, and invoicing, both at retail and Food Service customers.

Increased case volume with all customers in 4th quarter of 2019

Received award for largest increase on the retail segment of the business in 4th quarter of 2019

THE KRAFT HEINZ COMPANY, Chicago, IL 2016 – 2019

American food company formed by the merger of Kraft Foods and Heinz based in Chicago, Illinois and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Customer Retail Manager

Sales territory included the Southeast United States, supporting the Customer Business leaders in retail for multiple grocery chains Publix/ Southeast Grocers and distributors Piggly Wiggly/MDI/Mitchell’s.

Increased net sales up by 12% at Piggly Wiggly/MDI/Mitchell’s for 2017 to 2018 through fact-based selling and executing merchandising.

Improved communication support with merchandising and distribution efforts at store level through the Director of Merchandising, Regional Managers and District Managers of Publix and Winn Dixie.

Delivered increases three continuous years in both dollar sales and market share for the entire Kraft Heinz portfolio by evaluating and reporting performance of shelving/merchandising programs and recommended course-correction actions.

Ensured customer agreements were executed and upheld.

Leveraged distribution and market share growth through shelving, new item, and void closure and reset activity to meet customer's goals; delivered and exceeded sales and profit objectives in assigned territories.

Achieved revenue targets goals by utilizing fact-based selling tools and market information to secure new product distribution; sell-in of major seasonal promotions; presented cross-merchandising ideas and identified other opportunities for new sales growth.

Managed and actively forged business relationships, at store level, through the direct Kraft Heinz employed retail team and broker teams of Acosta and Cross Mark.

ACOSTA SALES AND MARKETING, Jacksonville, FL 2010 – 2015

Outsourced headquarter sales, retail services, marketing services, strategic insights and business process solutions for consumer product manufacturers.

Distributor Account Manager (2014 - 2015)

Solidified strategic partnerships with over 27 Food Service manufactures at distributors of Sysco Foods and US Foods; fostered new partnerships in order to grow the book of business throughout the region of South Florida.

Collaborated with sales team, distributor’s supply chain and product managers to ensure a smooth process from warehouse to the end user.

Coordinated and provided all sales and technical training for Sysco Foods and US Foods sales representatives.

Performed analysis for profit on geographic coverage, internally and to distributor partners.

Business Manager (2010 - 2014)

Managed 19 national food companies; responsible for achieving client’s goals by over delivering annual earnings by staying in client’s financial guard rails.

Increased dollars sales by 20% for Tyson Foods over two consecutive years.

Gained over 72 voids and innovations items for Pinnacle Foods in 2012 and 2013.

Provided continuous leadership for clients and provided day-to-day support activities, acting as a single point of connect with principals/clients and customer.

Prepared annual operating plans utilizing software planning systems; Account Review, Seibel, MEI and Adesso.

BLUE BELL CREAMERIES, Brenham, TX 2009 – 2010

American food company that manufactures ice cream. It was founded in 1907 in Brenham, Texas.

Territory Manager

Held accountable for selling a mix of ice cream products within a territory to achieve budget revenue and grow the territory’s volume while providing excellent service to all customers.

Overseeing and instructing three Route Supervision and twelve DSD drivers to achieve all company goals and policies.

Gained over 33% more space at Publix & Winn Dixie grocery chains over a year period.

Added additional 3 routes/trucks due to increase in volume.

Awarded #1 Territory Manager in 2009; identified innovative possibilities for drivers to improve retention, garnered respect of colleagues, pursued new sales opportunities and effectively established strong business relationships with current and future clients.

PEPSICO BEVERAGES NORTH AMERICA, Purchase, NY 2000 – 2009

American multinational food, snack, and beverage corporation headquartered in Harrison, New York, in the hamlet of Purchase, NY.

Account Manager

Created and executed annual operating business plans for Quaker, Tropicana and Gatorade based upon customer, category and competitive insights aligned with strategic role of customer, with focus on driving profitable growth.

Finished #2 Account Manager, Independent Wholesaler in 2008 for QTG sales.

Increased dollars volume by 24% over three-year period by delivering volume and profit plans for Associated Grocers of Florida.

Ensured 100% compliance of promotion and trade agreement with Strategic Role of Trade specificities, and worked with Retail Sales Leaders and Territory Sales Manager to ensure effectively communicated and executed programs at retail level.

EDUCATION

Bachelors of Science, Administration, Marketing Major

Robert Morris University, Pittsburgh, PA

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