Milo Da Costa

Experience

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  Honda Philippines, Inc.

  Jan 2001 - Dec 2003

  • Management Trainee

    Jul 2002 - Dec 2003

  • Regional Sales Supervisor

    Jan 2001 - Jun 2002
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  Honda R&D Americas, Inc.

  Jan 2004 - Oct 2005

  Project parts coordinator
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  Honda Cars Philippines, Inc.

  Mar 2007 - Apr 2008

  Dealer Development Manager

  This was my last assignment before I brought my family to Australia, a lucky victim of circumstances perhaps.It was during this time when I had to go back to the Philippines to file for migration to Australia when race gear merchandise was getting popular. Honda with its brilliance, found a use for me. They gave me the mandate to fuel that trend as another cash generating avenue for dealerships. Since I have worked with most of these dealers before I was assigned to the States, reconnecting was as easy as pie. So I took it by the horns and created the space then pushed the products in! TADA! I successfully rolled everything out timely into all nominated dealerships just before I left to live in Australia permanently. Japanese training in the works! #justintime Show less

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  EliteBuilt Pty Ltd (Dexion Commercial)

  Jul 2008 - Aug 2008

  Process worker
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  George Weston Foods

  Aug 2008 - Oct 2008

  Process Worker
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  Australia Post

  Nov 2008 - Feb 2009

  Mail Sorter
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  PepsiCo

  Mar 2009 - Oct 2012

  Route Sales Representative

  Smith’s Crinkle Cut Chips – Smiths’ Thinly Cut Chips - Red Rock Deli – Grainwaves – Nobby’s …. come on, best savoury snacks ever! The Smith’s Snackfood Company, was the organisation that jump started my FMCG journey. Relatively new to the country at this stage, with no Australian sales experience this organisation went to bat for me. I hope I did them proud.Life as a Route Sales Representative was tough but simple, early starts, big rig, and lots and lots of manual labour. Upside for me was I got to get back into the game I know and love, the wheeling and dealing, learned to drive around my new homeland, got to know the people, and got paid.I was tasked to sell into and manage identified petrol and convenience shops in my designated route, with a few vending operators, food distributors, on-premise licensed accounts, and drive through bottle shops, clearance accounts and also meagre sized independent retailers along the way. I set forth with a monthly budget to hit and a few job lots or activations in forms of POS, POP and PPUs as directed. Then there is stocktake which occurs once a month. Happy to share that I always had the best stocktake results (minimal $ discrepancy) and had the best looking cash van planogram. #borderlineocdTiming perhaps was impeccable, it was after the horrible black Saturday bush fires when I was hired and was assigned that area to service. I couldn’t have asked for a better territory to learn the trade, toughen up and be creative. With very little expectation due to the devastation the area went thru I was left with significant challenge but also a great opportunity to challenge myself and think out of the box. I could not even believe I found growth in that first assignment by simply utilising the correct product mix. Tradie’s came to rebuild and boy did they love their Smith’s Chips, so I simply minimised the small bags and increased the family sized bags. Cashing ….. uptick in $ and kg! Job done! #brilliant Show less

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  Blueprint Group Australia

  Nov 2012 - Nov 2013

  Territory Manager

  Hired by CCS Sales and Merchandising (better known as Blueprint Group) initially as a Territory Manager. But eventually found myself functioning more as a key account manager. Basically I was tasked to function as a compliance person auditing the specifics outlined in terms agreements (i.e. planograms, share of shelf, etc.) and the activation/execution of sales and marketing initiatives at store level in the defined territory. Perhaps my line manager saw my potential and with his mentoring I eventually assumed a more critical role as an account manager to banner groups operating in the state of Victoria. I also had business management responsibilities, having 3 direct reports who functioned as merchandisers in major chain and independent stores.I was given the opportunity to up skill significantly in this organisation by learning from experience. Graham my line manager encouraged me to challenge myself. Perhaps recognising my sweet negotiation skills and trooper like hardworking nature; he created a safe environment for me to take risks, learn from them, while being challenged to do more. This opportunity gave me much learning, which to this day are learnings I am grateful to have. #lifelearnings Show less

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  Soulfresh

  Dec 2013 - Jul 2015

  Territory Manager

  I learned a lot from Soul Fresh for its revolutionary vision about food and food products. The organisation challenged the status quo, and was at the forefront of the health and wellbeing category in food service and retail.Over here my objective was to grow their brands in the independents channel at store and group level. Coming from a more HORECA focused business, their entry into retail was in its early stages and where new business development was essential about a 50/50 split between account management and business development. The brands carried and its origins and categories was very diverse, but the collective message was clear they were all better made with great benefits to consumer, which most independents chewed on, establishing their unique offers against the majors. The challenge of the sell in was marginal, where it was significant was in business retention. During a time when the acceptance and understanding of this category was very young and volatile, it was fair to say forecasting was very tricky. But what I believe is when a person finds themselves in really difficult challenges, it creates something. I took from this a reinforced resilience. Made me be quick witted, adaptable and constantly challenged to get out of my comfort zone. Efforts I took enabled myself and resulted to deliver top class service and be rewarded thru providing significant health benefits to consumers.All up it was a very gratifying opportunity and it was pleasing for me to know that I have done good and right! #sustainability Show less

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  Mondelēz International

  Aug 2015 - Jun 2017

  State Account Executive

  One of the best places to work! The culture was vibrant! Here my focus was in retail, particularly around the independent customers and Metcash state. Also had the opportunity to share leadership of the state sales team, and collaborated with them at store level activations across banner groups in the state. In line with being part of the independents team, I was further put charge to author the monthly Field Execution Deck (FEDs) and the Customer Activation Deck (CADs) for a time being. These field sales tools are made to provide the field team all the necessary information they need to create the perfect store. These decks contain planograms, NPDs, promotions and other relevant information. Additionally, I was given exclusive responsibilities around national activations. It focused around the management of all external storage facilities and the stocks within (point of sale and point of purchase materials), and the replenishment and distribution thereof. This was overarching across major chains and independent retail channels. Including asset management of all refrigeration units leased into stores nationally. I was also made part of the project team that manages stocks at risk. I was directly managing the clearance customers and poverty alleviation effort thru donations. Further, I additionally carried out lead responsibilities around OH&S focused on the state field team and I am also a certified first aider.Looking back I could proudly say that I have consistently helped my accounts deliver numbers ahead of Metcash, which signifies I was doing it right! #gifted Show less

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  Bega Cheese Limited

  Jul 2017 - Apr 2020

  I felt it was time to make a change and continue growing my experiences by stepping out of my comfort zone. Fortunately, Bega is such a dynamic and forward thinking organisation that genuinely supports personal and professional development of their human resource, an inside first mindset and the value of being agile, that presented me this opportunity to challenge myself and pursue diversity of experience for my professional development. Happy to also find a very supportive and grounded bunch of people to work with in my new team!My mandate is simple I just need to make sure that manufacturing is not wanting of any materials; to ascertain it continuously pushes out finished goods. This primary function is supported by suppliers who are my external customers. As for my internal customers they are various manufacturing lines of the plant/site, QA teams, product development and marketing teams. Looking forward to learning new things, create great GMP habits and thrive in the operations side of the business! Confucius wrote “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” This new role for me is moving forward and growing my experiences! #thankful Show less My main responsibility is to manage all food service distributor accounts operating within VIC and bordering NSW, from national account branches, to buying group members and independent operators. Additionally I am exclusively tasked with the management of the Hampers accounts and Foodbank involvement. #efficientMy daily grind would involve ensuring that assigned accounts are serviced with gold standards and are in a steady uptick trend. This objective is achieved by delivering effective and carefully measured product mix portfolio, DIFOT, regular catch ups with the field teams, purchasing teams and operations teams, in addition I’ve got trade show participation and all other sales and marketing activities all these hopefully makes my customer and my customer's customer feel the love. There is also what they call NPDs. In recent time introduction of new lines particularly around the chilled category has become a way of life in Bega Foods-foodservice. The hype and excitement is contagious, in so doing the transference to trade is just an awesome feel. Imagine rolling out a collective of 7 winning new lines from the start of 2018 financial year and much more coming soon, has been challenging but very satisfying at the same time.Internal to the organisation, there is that constant need to collaborate with key departments and functions a simple fact required to deliver with excellence. Part of which is to work closely with customer service and logistics to ascertain excellent service levels (DIFOT) are met and give the customer, peace of mind. Creative collaboration with trade marketing to produce best in class EDMs and handbill promotional materials to win necessary attention. There is more unfortunately not enough space to mention it all. Oh, not to forget all the other 2 minute jobs that needs to be ticked off, with the rest of the members of the organisation from time to time.In a nut shell, never a dull moment @ Bega Foodservice!! Show less

  • Materials Planner

    Jul 2019 - Apr 2020

  • State Development Manager

    Jul 2017 - Jun 2019
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  Kagome Australia

  Apr 2020 - now

  Account Manager

  This new journey is about loving life from my head tomatoes! (Got it?) 😁Will share more later as this new adventure unfolds. Thrilled to be with a group of people who I feel are absolutely awesome. #excitedmuch