Food Service Customer
Resume:
JAMES A. KEYES
**** * *** ***** ***** Apt #**** Tucson, Arizona 85704 520-***-**** ********@**.*** Entrepreneurial spirit and approach have enabled the pioneering of multiple ISB bakery, grocery CPG brands, private label, and co-packed programs into new marketing areas, broadening product distribution and resulting in profitable growth. Established a career track of proven positive results – diverse CPG and wholesale bakery manufacturing experience in the ISB and commercial baking category, along with creative and visionary team leadership abilities, strong broker management skills and industry knowledge. A strong reputation among customer base and peers has facilitated a challenging yet fulfilling career of sales and distribution growth, utilizing core market drivers, KPIs, focused goals, and personnel development. EXPERIENCE
ABBY’S DELICIOUS BAKING, Scranton, PA
9/2024-1/2025
VP Sales
• Recruit, Manage and direct broker sales network for Grocery and Food Service trade in US.
• Manage and direct all sales efforts through broker network and manage direct sales for house accounts. Increased distribution in top 400 + Key Foods Stores in NY
• Onboard new product authorizations at Kehe and UNFI for national distribution programs- 25 key items authorized for national distribution at Kehe and 11 items at UNFI
• Oversee customer service department sales admin for execution of all collateral materials and sales reports
• Develop core product portfolio sales playbook and go to market strategy, sales plan for execution with broker network and direct sales accounts to open new distribution
• Manage and negotiate programs for all RFP, RFQ processes for all customers to secure bid opportunities
• Manage all related business points with Costco, Kroger, Safeway, Albertsons, HEB, Shaws, Wakefern, Ahold, C&S, Whole Foods, Sprouts, Stater Bros., UNFI, KeHe Foods, 7-11, DOT Foods, McLane, Core-Mark and other major national and regional retailers and wholesalers.
• Assist with product development and onboarding process for new business
• Advise and consult with ownership on all sales, marketing and distribution related activities SUNDAY NIGHT FOODS, Des Moines, IA
1/2022-8/2024
National Sales Director
• Recruit, Manage and direct broker sales network for Grocery and Food Service trade in US.
• Manage and direct all sales efforts through broker network and manage direct sales for house accounts, secured new distribution on 3 items into 1200 new stores to include a national program at Sprouts which generated 750K in sales
• Recruit and hire/onboard direct reports.
• Oversee customer service department sales admin for execution of all collateral materials and sales reports
• Develop core product portfolio sales playbook and go to market strategy, sales plan for execution with broker network and direct sales accounts to open new distribution into 11 Kehe warehouses and 6 UNFI warehouses.
• Manage and negotiate programs in all RFP, RFQ processes for all customers to secure bid opportunities
• Manage all related business points with Costco, Kroger, Safeway, Albertsons, HEB, Shaws, Wakefern, Ahold, C&S, DPI, Whole Foods, Sprouts, Stater Bros., UNFI, KeHe Foods, 7-11, DOT Foods, McLane, Core-Mark and other major national and regional retailers and wholesalers.
• Assist with product development and onboarding process for new business- collaborated to create new Vegan item for Natural customers
• Advise and consult with ownership on all sales, marketing and distribution related activities SWEET SAMS BAKING COMPANY, Bronx, NY
7/2020-5/2021
VP of Sales
• Manage and administrate all national and regional accts in all channels of trade in US, secured program to place all 65 core items into national distribution through DOT Foods to secure 1.1 million in year one
• Manage existing broker network and recruit new brokers for in need areas for all channels of trade in the US.
• Recruit and hire/onboard direct reports.
• Oversee customer service department and route sales department direct reports for local NY/NJ DSD route business.
• Developing core ISB product portfolio and go to market strategy, sales plan and marketing collateral materials.
• Evaluate, improve and fine tune current sales and distribution strategy using merchandising skill, marketing guidance and promotional programs for sales and budget growth.
• Managed all related business points with Costco, Kroger, Safeway, Albertsons, HEB, Shaws, SuperValu, C&S, DPI, Whole Foods, UNFI, KeHe Foods, 7-11, DOT Foods, McLane, Stater Bros, Core-Mark and other major national and regional retailers and wholesalers.
• Developing, implementing and executing plans for all customers to include new item development, formulation customization. Ideate and execute ISB new item roll out strategy, margin requirements and product merchandising.
SINBAD FOODS, Madera, CA
2/2019-12/2019
Director of Sales
• Manage and administrate all national accts in US and retail accounts in Western US.
• Manage existing broker network and recruit new brokers for in need areas of the US.
• Developed core product portfolio and go to market strategy, sales plan and marketing materials.
• Improved and fine-tuned current sales and distribution strategy using marketing and promotional programs for sales initiatives and budget growth. Sold 250 pallets of seasonal baklava to Costco in all divisions, generating 550K in seasonal business.
• Managed all related business points with Costco, Kroger, Safeway, Albertsons, HEB, Shaws, SuperValu, C&S, DPI, Whole Foods, UNFI, KeHe Foods, 7-11, DOT Foods, McLane, Stater Bros, Core-Mark and other major national and regional retailers and wholesalers.
• Developing, implementing and executing plans for all ISB customers to include new item formulation, development and roll out strategy.
BAKE ONE, Atlanta, GA
3/2017-12/2018
Director of Sales
• Managed and administrated all national accts and retail accounts in Western US.
• Added National PL program at 7-11 for all 7500 stores, added corporate program at Kroger and branded programs with many new grocery channel customers this year and increased sales by 4.5M.
• Developed core product portfolio and go to market strategy, sales plan and marketing collateral materials of cookies, bread products, laminated dough items, and batter based muffins, sheetcakes and brownies.
• Improved and fine-tuned current sales and distribution strategy using marketing and promotional programs for sales initiatives and budget growth.
• Recruited, managed, developed and maintained national broker network, which included both national and regional brokers.
• Managed all related business points with Costco, Kroger, Safeway, Albertsons, HEB, Shaws, SuperValu, Unified Grocers, C&S, DPI, Whole Foods, UNFI, KeHe Foods, 7-11, DOT Foods, McLane, Stater Bros, Core-Mark and other major national and regional retailers and wholesalers.
• Developed, implemented and executed plans for all customers to include new item development and roll out strategy.
GOLD STANDARD BAKING COMPANY, Chicago, IL
9/2014-11/2016
Director of Sales
• Managed and administrated all retail accounts in US.
• Added 3 new grocery channel customers in 2016 and increased sales by 7%.
• Lowered aged receivables by 16%.
• Improved and fine-tuned current sales and distribution strategy using marketing and promotional programs for sales initiatives and budget growth.
• Recruited, managed, developed and maintained national broker network, which included both national and regional brokers.
• Managed all related business points with Kroger, Safeway, Albertsons, HEB, Food Lion, Schnucks, Shaws, SuperValu, Ahold, Del Haize, Unified Grocers, C&S, DPI, UNFI, KeHe Foods, 7-11, DOT Foods, McLane, Stater Bros, Core-Mark and other major national and regional retailers and wholesalers.
• Developed, implemented, and executed plans for all customers to include new item development and roll out strategy.
SKINNER BAKING COMPANY, Omaha, NE
3/2010-8/2014
Director of Sales Western USA
• Increased Sales by 13.6% in first year.
• Reduced and eliminated bad sales initiatives, and increased profitability of marketing areas by 16%.
• Consolidated broker network to lower total broker payout by 11%, and increased continuity throughout marketing areas.
• Managed and maintained national and regional broker network.
• HQ and regional contact for Kroger, Safeway, Albertsons, Unified Grocers, UNFI, DPI Int’l, KeHe Foods, 7-11, DOT Foods, McLane, Core-Mark, Bashas, Winco, Raleys, SSI, Tony’s Fine Foods and other regional customers.
• Designed and executed sales and distribution initiatives and created new sales and promotional tactics.
• Member of new item development committee to formulate and implement sales and launch strategy of all new items.
• Executed national launch of new national program in all Kroger Banners.
• Developed and executed launch of off shore business in Mexico through Starbucks, Sam’s Club, HEB and regional retailers.
FLOWERS SPECIALTY SALES INC., Thomasville, GA
7/2005-3/2010
Director of Eastern Region Sales
• Job Transfer assignment to develop Eastern Region Sales Program.
• Increased region annualized sales to 7.3M from 1.8M
• Called on all retailers, (i.e. 7-11, Hess, WaWa, Sheetz, TA Centers, etc.) wholesalers and distributors in region.
• Recruited, directed and managed all broker personnel in region.
• Developed and executed all aspects of sales development program for all customers in region.
• Developed and managed all related budgets in region. SKILLS
• Advanced expertise in customer service and relationship development.
• Focused expertise in baking category to include laminated dough items, Danish, croissants, cupcakes, batter cakes, muffins and donuts in ISB, commercial grocery, C store and mass retail channels.
• Proficient in all Microsoft Office applications, IRI, Nielsen, SDW and CRM reporting and many other types of computer and technological areas.
• Proven staff training and development history.
• Broker and direct report management expertise in recruitment, development and mentoring.
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