Senior food retail and distribution executive with extensive marketing, merchandising, purchasing and operations experience. Experienced at marketing companies by capitalizing on their major points of differentiation. Highly effective in managing item selection to exceed business customers expectations. Extensive experience in developing and leading merchandising, purchasing and category management teams while driving operational efficiencies. Broad based experience in all aspects of management, including, but not limited to the following:
Marketing Natural /Organic Foods Category Management
Advertising Bulk Foods Procurement -International
Merchandising /Sales Strategic Planning Product Development
Specialty Foods /Ingredients Cost of Goods Management Food Service Purchasing
United Natural Foods, Inc. 2007 - 2012
United Natural Foods is the largest publicly traded Wholesale distributor to the Natural / Organic and Specialty foods industry. Carrying more than 40,000 products, the company supplies over 17,000 customers nationwide and services a wide variety of formats including food service, the natural chains, independent natural retailers and supermarkets.
Vice President Supplier relationship management, Category Management & Purchasing, Rocklin, CA.
Managed three teams totaling 51 buyers, assistant buyers, pricers and analysts in Rocklin, CA Seattle, WA and Denver CO to supply six distribution centers across the Western United States.
Managed a team of 31 category managers, supplier relationship managers, pricers and analysts in Rocklin, CA and Denver, CO for the same six distribution centers in the western United States.
Executed both a Brand and a SKU rationalization process to eliminate duplication, increase buying efficiencies and decrease overall inventory investment. Results were a 20% reduction in inventory with a 3% improvement in total service level.
Increased marketing income: 2008 + 5.3%, 2009 -1.2%, 2010 +6.9%, 2011 +10.7%
Increased gross profit dollars four successive years: 2008+16.7%, 2009 +5.3%, 2010 +6.9%, 2011+16.5%
Managed the complete introduction of food service, gourmet and specialty foods products into the item mix in six western distribution centers
PetSmart, Phoenix, AZ 2004-2006
A $4 Billion chain of 900+ pet specialty retail stores operating in the U.S. and Canada. Self-importer of products from Asia for sale in the U.S. and Canada.
Vice President Merchandising and Category Management: Responsible for people development, sales, margin, supplier relationship management, inventory, strategic planning, item selection, sourcing, new product development, corporate brand product and manufacturer selection, pricing, promotion, and planograms.
Staffed and directed a team of over 30 highly talented and specialized Category Managers, Presentation Managers, Pricing Analyst and support staff to achieving 13.4% Sales growth for 2005
Implemented a Direct Import program from China to source our private label hard goods from Chinese manufacturing facilities which led to significantly reduced COGS. Initiated quality Control auditing of their manufacturing facilities and eliminating unnecessary third party brokers and representatives.
Increased comparable store sales 8% to 25% depending on category, by introducing upscale product lines. The resulting incremental sales grew overall PetSmart sales at a faster rate than any other Pet Specialty retailer.
Implemented Khimetrics price elasticity modeling and testing to improve competitive pricing while simultaneously increasing gross margin dollars.
ALBERTSONS, Boise, ID (Florida Division) 2002–2004
Based in Boise, Idaho Albertsons was one of the world’s largest food and drug retailers, with annual revenues of $36 Billion. The Florida Division of Albertsons operated 122 supermarkets and generated revenue of approximately $2 billion at the time.
Vice President Marketing, Merchandising, and Category Management: Responsible for all sales, coop dollars, gross margin, vendor management, SG&A expense, advertising and marketing for 122 Florida stores and divisional headquarters. Managed a team of 30 category managers, buyers, pricers, and the advertising department.
Improved gross profit margin dollars by $14.6 Million in 2003 over 2002 through shifting the sales mix; adding more fresh foods and specialty items.
Reduced Advertising expense by $2.2 Million thru the use of local marketing versus mass media. Combined with the increased gross profit, the division realized a 16.6 million dollar net earnings improvement in 2003 over 2002.
Created aggressive promotional program for the FL Division. This program was adopted for use in all divisions of Albertsons and subsequently copied by most Food / Drug retailers as a highly successful promotional sales program.
Shop’n SAVE WAREHOUSE Foods Inc. (Supervalu Co.), Kirkwood, MO 2000–2001
$850 million, thirty-three store chain of supermarkets. With a network of stores in the St. Louis area, Shop’n Save is a model of efficiency and low price leadership.
Senior Vice President, Operations: Full responsibility for store operations. Managed four Regional Vice Presidents.
Roche Bros. Supermarkets, Wellesley Hills, MA 1996–2000
Privately owned $378 million chain of thirteen supermarkets. Very successful as a result of differentiated stores with upscale perishable departments, freshly prepared foods, catering departments, and full service.
Executive Vice President and General Manager: Full P&L responsibility including marketing, advertising, store operations, new store construction, merchandising, and vendor management.
Achieved double digit increases in company operating profit for three successive years: 17.3% the first year, 15.8% the second year and 11.3% the third year. This was accomplished by expanding the fresh and gourmet specialty foods item selection at the store level presentation while marketing the gourmet image.
Initiated a strategic planning process and development of a five-year financial plan supported by action plans.
Established capital allocation review process to prioritize capital expenditures based on internal rate of return.
Developed succession plan for all key management positions.
Kings Supermarkets, Parsippany, NJ 1992–1996
$350 million chain of twenty-one very upscale supermarkets. Strong reputation for gourmet foods, stellar perishable departments, freshly prepared meals, in-store cooking schools and outstanding service.
Vice President of Marketing, Merchandising and Non-Perishables: Responsible for people development, advertising and marketing. Also responsible for non-perishable departmental sales, margin, vendor management, strategic planning, item selection, sourcing, pricing, promotion, planograms, department layout, and corporate brand.
Managed a team of 20 category managers, store merchandising managers, analysts and the advertising department.
Introduced and integrated the “Kings Naturally” program of organic and natural specialty foods into all Kings stores.
Replaced the house brand program with a more upscale, higher quality program, exclusive within the market area.
Jewel FOODS, Melrose Park, IL 1985–1992
$3.5 billion chain of two hundred supermarkets with approximately a 40% share of the Chicago market.
Merchandising Manager, (1989-1992)
Category Manager, (1985-1989)
Education
MBA, Marketing Loyola University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business, Chicago IL
BS, Illinois Benedictine College, Lisle IL |
