Overview
Work History
Summary
Education
Skills
Certification
Accomplishments
Work Availability
Affiliations
Work Preference
Quote
Timeline
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David J. Horvath

David J. Horvath

Sales
Chicago,IL

Overview

23
23
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education

Work History

Executive VP Sales- Chief Customer Officer – Retail/ Executive Leadership Team Member

Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods, Inc.
03.2012 - 07.2022
  • Full responsibility of all sales channels stepping into a leading plant-based, meatless alternative and kosher branded Company after the namesake and Founder passed away and filling the void of senior leadership and new direction of the Company working with remaining family leadership
  • Versatile and very experienced senior sales executive who designed and led the sales initiatives for Dr
  • Praeger’s which generated $100 million in DPSF Revenues for overall Grocery Retail Sales in US, Caribbean/Mexico & Canada
  • Strategic leadership, coaching and development of team of 8 direct reports and 4 indirect reports in 4 Channels – Grocery Retail, Club/Mass, Food Service and Private Label
  • Joined the Company/Brand was doing $20 million in Retail revenue
  • Over 10yrs., surpassed $130 million in retail sales revenues despite severe economic headwinds and the onset of many competitive brands owned by Fortune 500 giants as well as many veggie-based smaller Health & Wellness brands in the Nat/OG/Specialty areas
  • Company Revenues - $250M(4 Channels – Retail, Club/Mass/Food Service/Private Label)
  • Top Line Responsibility – Grocery Retail - $100M..basically – Grocery Retail drove the Organization & comprised 60% of Company Volume & Profit
  • Built out and developed Professional Sales DPSF & Broker Teams to unlock next level growth by tripling the size of the Sales & Marketing organization
  • Consolidated and Developed National Broker Representation - Scaled back numerous brokers on a National scale while also maintaining key select market representation with Market Specific Brokers Nationally for all Retail Sales Channel
  • Drove category growth across all Dr
  • Praeger’s platforms/categories and all channels and customers by leading the design and implementation of the right growth strategy for each channel/customer
  • 9 straight years of an average +35% growth YOY(year over year) – unheard of in the Industry with an existing brand which began in 1995
  • TDP’s(new total distribution points) (2013 – present) increase well over 200K+ in 9yrs years
  • Created strategic retail partnerships and joint business planning with top Club, Mass, Grocery, Natural and eCom retailers including Costco, Walmart, Kroger, Target, Albertson’s, Amazon Fresh, Fresh Direct, Instacart, Whole Foods Market, Publix, Meijer/Fresh Thymes, HEB, Wegman’s, Stop & Shop, Wakefern, Harris Teeter and Sprouts and many more
  • Creating Strategic Retail & Distributor network partnerships resulted in significant growth acceleration across all retailers and major distribution gains (existing products + innovation), velocity acceleration and high-quality merchandising across the store
  • Performed cross functional leadership to build out solutions and processes to unlock market and customer needs
  • As Chief Customer Officer partnered strategically with Marketing/R&D/Finance/Operations from conception all the way through execution to over deliver revenue and profitability
  • Managed and built strong relationships and trust with DPSF and ultimately, Vestar Board of Directors and investors by sharing ongoing updates on business strategy, performance and education
  • Quarterly Board Mtgs and Monthly RoundTable Update Discussions
  • Gained new National Rollout Authorization of Seafood items Whole Foods, Target Corp and all UNFI Divisions
  • Gained National Authorization at Super Target and P Fresh format stores on 12 New Meatless items & 15 items in Seafood
  • Developed 2 - 5yr Sales Plans and EBITDA Planning targeted Goals
  • Developed 30/60/90 guidelines and planning goals/objectives for Sales and Broker Teams
  • Created Roadshow Training Program and hit the road the first 2yrs with the Company visiting Retailers, Distributors and Broker Sales organizations
  • Sold in to Fresh Thymes in 80 stores Full Door Section sets and was appointed Category Captains
  • Won Vendor of the year awards – Earth Fare and Fresh Thymes, Fairway(NYC)
  • Gained #1 Ranking Meatless Alternative Brand as measured by SPINS and #2 behind Kellogg’s (Morningstar) in Conventional in 2019, 2020 and 2021
  • After 10yrs of amazing success and growth, we went thru many rounds of Suitors and eventually sold to Vestar Capital Group in December 2020 and I stayed on for Sales Dept
  • Transition year end 2022 & lean in for Consulting purposes

VP Central US, Grocery Retail

Zevia, LLC
Los Angeles, CA
01.2010 - 03.2012
  • Dual responsibility, hybrid position managing Midwest based accounts and developing the Retail Development criteria all Channels for existing OG/Natural and emerging Direct Conventional Trade & Broker Management
  • Start-up Stevia-based Soda/Beverage Company in early stages of development and entrepreneurial focus entering the CPG Conventional Market Industry
  • Joined in a Consultant/Advisor role with a 2yr
  • Contract
  • Managed over $5MM in sales managing Broker Management Team within the Midwest Region(last Region to have the expansion rolloutnew Region in 2011)
  • Secured new revenue through Channels gaining new item distribution at targeted key flagship national accounts
  • I.e., Super Valu, Kroger, HEB, Roundy's
  • Publix, AHOLD, Albertsons, Safeway and more
  • Developed new revenue through Branded new item distribution at existing accounts & expanded distribution with newly targeted Grocery/Mass & Drug Channels
  • (Target, Walgreen's, Meijer, Hy Vee, Jewel, United, Brookshire's and more
  • Developed & Created new Distributor Programs criteria for KeHE Foods, UNFI, Lomar and other local Distributors
  • Developed & Created in conduction with Broker Sales Agent input, 30/60/90 Retail Goals & Objectives & Measurement Tools thru the use of Outside Sourced Analytics & Broker In-House Reporting Data
  • Created Retail Policy & Procedures Manual

SVP Sales & Marketing

Blue Horizon Organic Seafood
Aptos, CA
11.2008 - 01.2010
  • Reported to the Founder/CEO, President
  • Responsible for developing the Sales & Marketing plan for all Channels for OG/Natural and Sustainable Foods PL and Branded Company
  • Start-up Company in early stages of development and entrepreneurial focus entering the CPG Industry
  • Co-Owner & we sold the Company to Ian’s/Elevation Brands
  • Managed over $12MM in sales with team of (2) Direct sales and Broker Sales Agent partners covering the United States
  • Secured new revenue through Channels gaining new item distribution at targeted key flagship national accounts
  • Developed new revenue through Branded new item distribution at existing accounts with expanded distribution
  • Gained new National Rollout Authorization of Seafood items Whole Foods and all UNFI Divisions
  • Gained National Authorization of All Natural Skillet Meals at Aldi
  • Gained National Authorization at Super Target and P Fresh format stores on 12 New items
  • Refined 5yr Sales Plan and EBITDA Plan
  • Developed 30/60/90 guidelines and planning goals/objectives for Sales and Broker Teams
  • Participant in all Quarterly of the Board of Director Meetings
  • Created Roadshow Training Program for all Sales and Broker teams to train, educate and further present to all Trade partners

Vice President Sales – Grocery/Mass/Club

Applegate Farms
Bridgewater, NJ
07.2007 - 11.2008
  • Contract Employee - Report to the Founder/CEO, President
  • Responsible for delivering the P&L as well as providing leadership in the day-to-day operations related to Field Sales execution, Broker management, financial management and new Channel development
  • Joined in a Consultant/Advisory role to create a Frozen Foods platform and consolidate Broker and Direct organizations leading to eventual sale to Hormel Foods, Inc
  • Managed over $70MM in sales with team of (7) Direct sales and Broker Sales Agent partners covering the United States
  • Secured over $5MM of new revenue through Grocery Channel new item distribution at targeted key flagship national accounts
  • Developed $1MM of new revenue through Branded new item distribution at existing accounts
  • Improved P&L results by $500K in year 1 for the Grocery/Mass Channel
  • Developed National Broker representation launch – Acosta Fresh & NS Sales

Sales Director – Central US

The Hain-Celestial Group
Melville, NY
08.2006 - 07.2007
  • Responsible for re-development of the Central US as well as the day-to-day sales execution, financial management, brand development and market growth for all HCG Frozen brands and products
  • Joined in a Consultant/Advisory role to assist in reorg of Frozen Foods Division reporting to John Carrol – President
  • Realigned all Broker Operations – Natural & Conventional
  • Secured new distribution on Rosetto Pasta, Ethnic Gourmet and Earth’s Best at void WF divisions and Conventional National Accounts resulting in a 58% increase over year prior volume and 50% increase in operating margin
  • Managed “Top to Top” relationships for Broker & Trade Senior Management

National Business Development Manager

Dean Foods/White Wave Foods Corporation
Boulder, CO
01.2002 - 01.2006
  • Reported to the VP of Sales
  • Responsible for developing the entrepreneurial effort well as providing leadership in the day-to-day operations related to sales execution, financial collections and market development for SILK Soymilk and Horizon Organic product lines
  • Sold to Dean’s/Suiza Brands and was a part of the original team under Steve Demos – Founder/CEO leadership team
  • Managed over $70MM in sales with team of Broker partners covering 18 states and several key retailers including Target Corp., Super Valu, HEB, Kroger, Albertsons and others
  • Enhanced distribution from 30% ACV to avg
  • 90%ACV in I year
  • Grew cases/dollars in 3 years – 191.2%/200.2% respectively
  • Led the US in National Rollout of SILK New Item expansion, opened Target/Super Target as a National Account and created new product concept partner with Meijer Foods Stores

Sales Director/Client Services

Acosta Sales & Marketing
Chicago, IL
01.2000 - 01.2002
  • Reported to the President of Acosta Sales & Marketing
  • Responsible for delivering the P&L as well as providing leadership in the day-to-day operations related to Broker/Client sales execution, financial collections and market development
  • Developed the Acosta “Fresh” Team Department to develop a new Division start-up for the largest National Broker Organization
  • Managed over $10MM in sales with (7) Department direct sales and admin along with National Client responsibility for Dean Foods, Welch’s and Heinz Frozen Foods
  • Delivered Corporate revenue goals for 2001
  • Developed Corporate Culture Team and appointed to Executive Leadership Culture Team
  • Managed key customer relationships and programs by providing business solutions to Trade and Client partners with Top-To-Top relationship development

Summary

Please see Detailed Resume.

Education

Bachelor of Science - Marketing/Personnel Management

University of Evansville,IN
Evansville, IN
08.1974 - 05.1978

Skills

  • Financial controls implementation
  • Strategic planning and execution
  • Leadership training
  • Creativity
  • Budget forecasting
  • Revenue generation
  • Procedure establishment
  • Executive decision-making
  • Logical thinking capability
  • Performance analysis
  • Capital spending
  • Workforce planning
  • Corporate communications
  • Investor relations
  • Executive coaching
  • Innovation management
  • Process improvements
  • Board relations
  • Outstanding management skills
  • Complex problem-solving mastery
  • Leadership experience
  • Account management
  • Data-driven decision making
  • Product rebranding
  • Customer care
  • Strategic partnerships
  • Business plan development
  • Talent acquisition
  • Staff guidance
  • Innovative

Certification

  • Certified Sales Executive (CSE) - Sales and Marketing Executives International.
  • Professional Certified Marketer (PCM) - American Marketing Association.
  • Customer Service and Sales Certification – National Retail Federation.
  • Executive Coaching Certification

Accomplishments

  • Processed new accounts and suggested additional products and services, increasing purchases by $250,000 on average per account.
  • Program Management: - please see Resume for detail by Employer.
  • Business Development: - Involved in Participation & sales acquisition of companies. Established and managed Trade, Sales Agency, Distributiors partner relationships on a daily basis. Developed new sales & marketing strategies which increased customer base by 70%.
  • Mentored new sales & customer service representatives in face-to-face & in telephone etiquette and problem solving skills, improving their overall confidence and enabling them to begin interaction & taking calls within days of hire.
  • Received "National Vendor of the Year" awards for outstanding client engagement with New & Existing Customers over my Career.
  • Developed research skills which helped alleviate customer issues quickly and effectively, saving relationships.
  • Fiscal Management - Managed all financial activities for program operations. Accountable for all Sales Dept. P&L Reduced department TS expenditures by 20% over a 10-year period.
  • Achieved ACV Distro, KPII Growth/Success through effectively helping with .
  • Supervised team of 10 Sales staff members. Headed all development of Sales Btoker(Agencies) & Distributor Partners.

Work Availability

monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Affiliations

  • To Be Discussed.

Work Preference

Work Type

Full TimePart TimeContract Work

Location Preference

RemoteHybrid

Important To Me

Work-life balanceCompany CulturePersonal development programsHealthcare benefitsWork from home optionTeam Building / Company RetreatsPaid sick leave401k matchStock Options / Equity / Profit SharingPaid time offFlexible work hours

Quote

It's fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.
Bill Gates

Timeline

Executive VP Sales- Chief Customer Officer – Retail/ Executive Leadership Team Member

Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods, Inc.
03.2012 - 07.2022

VP Central US, Grocery Retail

Zevia, LLC
01.2010 - 03.2012

SVP Sales & Marketing

Blue Horizon Organic Seafood
11.2008 - 01.2010

Vice President Sales – Grocery/Mass/Club

Applegate Farms
07.2007 - 11.2008

Sales Director – Central US

The Hain-Celestial Group
08.2006 - 07.2007

National Business Development Manager

Dean Foods/White Wave Foods Corporation
01.2002 - 01.2006

Sales Director/Client Services

Acosta Sales & Marketing
01.2000 - 01.2002

Bachelor of Science - Marketing/Personnel Management

University of Evansville,IN
08.1974 - 05.1978

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