Jeff Foster

Experience

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  Robin Hood Multifoods

  Jan 1987 - Jan 2002

  • Managed one direct report with responsibility for managing new product recommendations, trade communication documents and cost saving initiatives. • Worked closely with sales, R&D and technical support to launch relevant new products into the marketplace with key customers including Costco, A&P, National Grocers and Overwaitea Food Group. • Managed the new product development process from concept stage through to implementation for one Costco product that increased volume by 20% per year. Show less • Responsible for managing a team of eight retail sales reps in the Ontario market.• Managed all aspects of the relationship including performance reviews, training, hiring and discipline.• Coached account representatives on the development and execution of effective account plans.• Maintained all budgets related to direct accounts and individual territories.• Oversaw the management of all key independent distributors in the Ontario market including Lanzarotta Wholesale, Lumsden Brothers and Commisso Brothers. Show less • Executed several successful national in store promotions which lead to volume increases on key product categories.• Promotional elements included partner supported recipe books, National print advertising and retail POS display units.• Instituted and supervised a public relations campaign resulting in stronger brand awareness.• Developed and executed a television, radio and print campaigns for the South East Asian market resulting in double digit sales growth.• Effectively used third party research to execute targeted direct mail campaigns for the health conscious demographic. Show less

  • Group Marketing Manager

    Jan 2001 - Jan 2002

  • District Sales Manager

    Jan 1998 - Jan 2002

  • Brand Manager

    Jan 1991 - Jan 1998

  • Territory Manager

    Jan 1987 - Jan 1991
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  Smucker Foods of Canada (Formerly Robin Hood Multifoods)

  Jan 2002 - Jan 2007

  Group Business Manager

  • Overall responsibility for managing the two largest Food Service customers in Canada (Tim Horton and McDonalds). • Managed all aspects of the business including all Sales and Marketing related functions. • Most recent year over year increase of 6% versus year ago and 20% versus plan.• Formulated annual Sales and Marketing plans, prepared and presented quarterly business reviews and formulated monthly sales forecasts for production and finance.• Actively participated in regular business reviews to evaluate the success or failure of strategic initiatives.• Maintained full P&L responsibility including latest estimates for senior management, investigating and implementing cost saving initiatives and managing all National budgets related to the overall business.• Team lead on all projects related to new product initiatives, product reformulations, format changes and related cross functional activities.• Liaised with all levels of management at Tim Horton head office including senior management, purchasing, R&D, QA and Marketing.• Responsible for maintaining strong working relationships with all co packers related to the Tim Horton business. Worked directly with them to ensure that new product concepts were viable and successfully launched into the marketplace while facilitating growth on steady state business.• Primary responsibility for all sales activities related to the management of the Little Caesars Pizza and A&P accounts. Volume increases of 12% across both businesses for the latest calendar year.• Four direct reports responsible for commodity purchasing and regional key account sales. Show less

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  Dufflet Pastries

  Apr 2008 - Jul 2008

  Business Development Manager (Contract Position)

  • Developed and executed a comprehensive business plan for expanding the distribution and sales of a frozen line of products outside of Ontario.• Analyzed and validated the financial viability of expanding the current business into new markets.• Established distribution channels into Western Canada including negotiating shipping contracts and securing suitable distributor partners.• Negotiated listings with targeted retailers in Western Canada and worked with distributors to ensure product was in place.• Recommended changes to current cake line up to enhance the distributor product offering in Eastern Canada.• Initiated new product development to ensure viability of the business going forward. Show less

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  Hain Celestial Canada

  Jul 2008 - Apr 2010

  Senior Key Account Manager, Food Service and Alternate Channels

  • Delivered 46% growth year over year for Costco Eastern Canada business through effective program management including new product initiatives, couponing and in-store promotions.• Grew sales by 5% in the most recent year despite a declining foodservice market by securing new customers and gaining listings with existing customers.• Managed two brokers in Ontario and Western Canada including setting quarterly objectives, communicating key strategies and working with their individual teams to ensure our product lines received the necessary support.• Collaborated with cross-functional teams which lead to the development of comprehensive sales materials, successful new product initiatives and cost effective liquidation of excess inventories.• Successfully renegotiated multi-year contracts with Aramark, Compass and Sodexo resulting in the retention of over $300M in business and leading to product exclusivity for our brands in most cases.• Acted as sales lead for the Olympic sponsorship program which resulted in over $400M in incremental sales. Specific duties included negotiating with national and regional contract feeders, providing internal sales forecasts and working with members of VANOC to ensure products were properly represented on athlete, volunteer and spectator menus. • Secured the business at a National Food Service chain which will add an incremental $450M in business annually.• Directly managed all efforts around alternate retailers such as Dollarama, Liquidation World and Winners to ensure that inventory of excess or near overage stock was moved in a timely and cost effective manner, resulting in savings of over $500M in the most recent calendar year. Show less

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  APEX FoodSource

  Aug 2010 - Jun 2011

  Business Development & Key Account Manager - Eastern Canada

  • Responsible for maintaining and developing business with current customer base including Loblaws, Wal-Mart and Nandos.• Worked with Tim Horton, Little Caesars, Buffalo Wild Wing, Sysco, GFS, Sobeys, Metro, Costco and Gino's Pizza on developing new and innovative items in their respective segments.• Responsiblity for identifying and securing chain business within the pizza segment including dips, sauces, dressings and spices.

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  Dawn Foods Global

  Sept 2011 - now

  Overall responsibility for the commercial development, sales and customer satisfaction including the listing, sales and trade budget alignment for all Canada Customers and distributors supplying our retail (supermarket, club, drug, dollar, mass) customers. Plans, develops and achieves channel specific strategic sales plan (in line with the corporate strategic plan) to drive customer development and customer retention.Responsibility to deliver the required Channel sales and margins, including trade spend, to ensure the SBU’s volume and profit goals are met. Works with Customer Service, Marketing, NPD, Global Marketing, Operations leaders to ensure adequate commercial product and service stream to meet SBU’s sales and profit goals. Collaborates with the entire channel (Supermarket, Mas, Club, Convenience & Alternative) sales leadership to drive success, best practice sharing, and consistent go to market strategies. Show less Reporting to the Country Manager for Canada; Responsible for the planning and day to day management of a variety of our key businesses and categories.• Day to Day management of the National broker responsible for our retail branded businesses. Charged with setting broker objectives, monitoring results and assisting in the achievement of those results including joint head office presentations and the launching of new innovative items into the Canadian Marketplace.• Results in the latest Calendar year were 12% over plan and 15% strong than year ago.• Successfully launched and listed four new Weight Watcher Brownie products Nationally in the past two years resulting in listings with customers representing an ACV of 85%.• Currently involved in a full market evaluation which will lead to the launch of several new skus in underdeveloped categories in 2017.• Canadian Lead on In Store Bakery initiatives with a focus on developing and selling in premium added value breads and baked goods.• Responsible for the day to day management of our Food Service business Nationally including Sysco, GFS, Aramark, Compass and Sodexo. National key accounts include Cara Foods, Yum Brands, SIRCorp and Chairman’s Brand companies. Show less

  • Director of Sales - Supermarkets - Food Service - Canada

    Jul 2016 - now

  • Customer Business Development Manager

    Sept 2011 - Jul 2016