Director of Sales

Top Management

As the Director of Sales at Readywise I am responsible for leading the retail channel in conventional grocery, outdoors retail and e-commerce retail space. I lead sales appointments in all major retailers nationally such as Walmart, Sams, Costco, Kroger, Safeway, Albertsons, Whole Foods, and Academy Sports. Retail implementation, Retailer Strategy, promotional plans, supply chain management and forecasting are among other responsibilities in my role as Director of Sales. As the leading brand in emergency preparedness, survival products and snacks, meals, I continue to push the limits by fixing the mix with core items to execute and build further grow based on trends and sales. As Director, I also managed multiple channels in the retail business, Conventional grocery, Sporting goods, and General Merchandise across all brands.
Additionally, I manage the National broker relationship between the Readywise/Simple Kitchen and broker partners, all communications, special projects, and objectives for execution.
*	Managing two other direct reports for the Retail Channel sales support.
*	Launching Simple Kitchen Soups in 2020 and gaining national distribution in 4 Albertsons/Safeway Divisions in 2 months.
*	Gaining new distribution in Food, Drug, Mass retailers such as Rite Aid, Walgreens, Kroger, Gelson's, Raley's, Sprouts, Natural Grocers, Albertson's/Safeway.
*	Managing E-Commerce Channel - Account such as Swansons Health/Vitacost with growth over 64% combined.
*	Launching new products -SKUS for the Natural/Specialty channel and FDM channel to compete with Private Label brands and continue growth.
*	Increasing Sales and growth in the Conventional channel at Walmart by 189% in 2020
*	Securing National distribution in distributors such as Kehe, UNFI, and other specialty distributors.
Implementing National communications protocol with National broker partners and managing retail teams to execute priorities and objectives.

At Aura Cacia, I lead sales appointments in all major retailers nationally such as Kroger, Safeway, Albertsons, Whole Foods and Amazon. Retail implementation, supply chain management and forecasting are among other responsibilities in my role as Director of Sales. As the #1 Specialty bath and Aromatherapy brand I continue to push the limits by fixing the mix with core items to execute and build further grow based on trends and sales.
Additionally, I manage the National broker relationship between the Aura Cacia and broker partners, all communications, projects and objectives for execution.
*	Gaining new distribution in Food, Drug, Mass retailers such as Rite Aid, Walgreens, Kroger, Gelson's, Raley's, Sprouts, Natural Grocers, Albertson's/Safeway.
*	Managing E-Commerce Channel - Account such as Amazon/Vitacost with growth over 52% combined.
*	Launching new products -SKUS for the Natural/Specialty channel and FDM channel to compete with Private Label brands and continue growth.
*	Increasing Sales and growth in the Conventional channel by 45% in 2017
*	Securing National distribution in distributors such as Kehe, UNFI, Market Centre in HBC customers.
Implementing National communications protocol with National broker partners and managing retail teams to execute priorities and objectives.

At Ricky's Lucky Nuts as National Sales Manager, I have been instrumental of rebranding this product on a national scale. As National Sales Manager I lead sales appointments in all major retailers nationally such as Kroger, Safeway, Albertsons, Walmart, Costco, Whole Foods, Sprouts, Publix, and Target. Managing all aspects of the business from product development, operations, packaging, supply chain, to high level executive reporting and CRM tools. While managing sales and marketing, I have developed the brand strategy and launching the sales and marketing platforms nationwide has given Ricky's Lucky Nuts leverage in the snack category to target specific channels such as Convenience, Produce, Grocery and Natural/Specialty and Mass. Utilizing brokers and sales and marketing agencies Ricky's Lucky Nuts is now recognized as a National healthy on-the-go snack brand.
*	Gaining Placement of items in Deli/Bakery for snacking - "on-the-go" convenience sections
*	Gaining distribution in #1 convenience store in the country - WaWA, HESS (550) stores and 7Eleven in CO, TX and NYC.
*	Launching new products - 5 oz SKUS for the Natural/Specialty to compete with Shale brand
*	Increasing Ricky's Lucky Nuts from $120,000 to $2.3 million in less than 12 months.
*	Securing National distribution in distributors such as Kehe, UNFI, Market Centre and McLane.
*	Implementing co-branding opportunities with National brands for healthy snack options for the following retailers   WAWA, Race Track, Publix, Kroger, Lowes Foods, Ingles and 7Eleven.

Owner National Sales Manager

As the Director of Sales for Bare Fruit I was responsible over-seeing sales for the entire country, in the Produce class of trade, grocery, Natural/Specialty, convenience and food service in accounts such as
Whole Foods, Sprouts, and Vitamin Cottage. As the Director of Sales for Bare Fruit my duties included managing the broker network from east coast to west coast and hiring new brokers to help build the Bare Snack business in order to grow the top line. I also worked closely with the marketing department on new item development, and sales and marketing strategies. Also responsible for forecasting product based on sales due to the availability of the all-natural and organic apple harvest. Utilizing sales strategies, pricing models and marketing strategies I have been able to increase sales for the brand in the snack category and produce category to grow the Bare Fruit across the country and reposition the brand to gain exposure in major retailers such as Safeway, Kroger, Publix, Delhaize, Walmart and Costco.
*	Penetrating the Deli/Bakery/Produce Departments with Snacking items.
*	Growing the Bare Fruit brand in Super Target from 226 stores to over 876 stores.
*	Increasing their declining Produce distributor business from a -21%, to plus 10% in just under 5 months.
*	Instrumental in increasing the declining Bare brand in all Natural and Specialty distributors across the country which includes UNFI, Kehe Foods, Unified/Market Centre, DPI, and Nature's Best.

Director of Sales Consultant

As National Sales Manager - I am responsible for the total US, growth and brand management in grocery, specialty, natural and club. Main responsibilities are broker management, planning, budgeting, forecasting, logistics, pricing strategies, product development and developing marketing strategies to supports retailer programs and distributors. My objectives were to call on retail accounts in ALL classes of trade; Natural and Specialty foods, grocery, produce departments and distributors to build the Stoneridge Orchards dried fruit brand and produce results.
*	Working with Specialty Cheese manufactures to pair cheese and wines with our dried fruit in Demo programs and cross-promotions at the retailer level.
*	In 2 ½ years, growing the brand to $11 Million in Sales Nationwide, expanding rapidly both on the direct side and distributor accounts with new distribution into accounts such as Publix, Delhaize, Kroger, Harris Teeter, Costco, Whole Foods and the Military Channel.
*	Strategic in building a social media campaign with gorilla marketing and grass roots to gain brand awareness.
*	Successful new item launches such as Dried Peaches, and the first company to ever dry pomegranate arils (seeds).

National Sales Manager

(Health/DSD/Natural Foods)
As Regional Manager - territory is the US (East - West). In this position I have had the opportunity to grow Hatch's current business and expand into new markets across the nation, taking a 6 million dollar company to a 16 million dollar company. Calling on customers such as; Wal-Mart, Costco, Sam's Club, Kroger, Safeway, Albertson's and Dollar Stores presented results for new distribution, speed to shelf on new items and rapid growth for Hatch. The opportunity of expansion resulted in learning market trends, competition trends and the knowledge of other brands to compete.
*	Growing the Hatch brand to over $25 Million in sales
*	Launching Hatch Chile on the Food Network with a cooking show "Taste of the Southwest" airing on 37 networks across the US. Local and regional cooking shows on NBC/CBS/WB Channel 2)
*	Instrumental in marketing/co-branding with Coca-Cola for tie-in promotions at King Soopers and City Market divisions.
*	Double digit growth consecutive quarters in the Natural/Specialty accounts such as Whole Foods, Sprouts, Vitamin Cottage, Kroger, Safeway and Walmart.
*	National Sales Manager (Health/DSD/Natural Foods)
Actively managing both rolls of the grocery trade and Natural/DSD trade provided a vast knowledge of competitor strategies, promotional activity and pricing structures across the US. I have headed the growth of Hatch's DSD and Natural foods business from $300,000 total to over 1 million dollars in a year's time. While calling on retailers, such as Wild Oats and Whole Foods, Hatch has now reached national status with these retailers and continues to lead the Hispanic category. Hatch's DSD (Specialty) business across the Midwest and East is growing rapidly by actively communicating with distributors such as Kehe, Nature's Best, Associated Buyers, UNFI, AWG and Military distributors. This has put Hatch in the driver's seat for leading the Mexican food industry. As the company Spokesperson, I have been spearheading the introduction of new items and innovative products to the market as well. I continually practice public relations such as cooking demos and trade shows, Hatch has been recognized on the Food Network and local TV stations as the "World Famous" chile brand.

Regional Sales Manager/National Sales Manager

I was in charge of the research of brands at a retail level, new item implementation, pricing, and category management. At this level I managed over 300 different SKUS in multiple categories such as Ethnic foods (Asian and Hispanic) and Communicating to sales managers and store personnel on upcoming manufacture events such as promotions, FSI's, launches and special events.
*	Marketing Analyst- I had the opportunity to conduct detailed research on brands Advantage represented as clients. These studies are based on sales, dollar share, category development and overall market share. Data was analyzed to measure performance in pricing and promotional activity by customers in the Colorado market. My other rolls included analyzing the market trends, product placement for merchandising with retailers, creation of client presentations, and category and product growth.
*	Kroger District Manager - As district manager I communicated with manufactures and retailers on trends in the Colorado market place and competition trends. My district manager roll was to be the liaison between retailer and manufacture and manufacturer to retail support. Other duties included handheld computer reporting analysis, category management and development with major retailers; such as Kroger. In all categories, such as HBC, grocery, meat, deli and bakery while managing a team of reps calling on stores to maintain over 300 SKUS.
Social Skills/Career Skills/Trade Skills:
*	Specialty Meat consulting for meat and seafood suppliers to small and large format retailers, restaurant's and Specialty food shops, and recipe development.
*	Prairie Monarch Bison Ranch in Wyoming - Sales consulting and recipe development
*	Diamond Tail Ranch in Northern Colorado - Private Chef, recipe development.
*	Butchery background, from Culinary School, Meat, seafood and poultry.

*	I am proficient in social media sites, such as Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn, Twitter, and understand how valuable they are in today's business model. Building Social Media campaigns on all platforms.
*	I am versatile in the following CPG categories, Produce, grocery, Natural Specialty, Club, Mass, Military, and Food and Beverage.
*	Self-Motivating in all settings.
*	I work well on my own or in a one on one setting or group setting - I am very much a Team Player.
*	Communicate well with others.
*	I am proficient in Excel, Power Point, Page Maker, Photoshop, Quark Express, Apollo and Spaceman, Category and Space management tools. I am proficient in MAC and PC programs. I am also proficient in CRM tools such as Gold Mine and Sales Force.
*	I am very knowledgeable in data analyzing software such as IRI, Nielson, Velocity and Spins.
*	I have a working understanding of computer programs and IT utility systems.
*	I have an eye for product placement and category management assessment, where products are appealing to consumers shopping habits.

Territory Manager

Find out detailed information about Matthew Tezak, Director of Sales in grand junction , Colorado

Matthew Tezak: Director of Sales in grand junction , Colorado

Matthew Tezak

Culinary School of the Rockies

Mesa State College

Mesa State College