Dayton Carroll
Des Moines
Summary
VERSATILE, PASSIONATE AND DATA DRIVEN PROFESSIONAL WITH 20+ YEARS BUILDING SUCCESSFUL SYSTEMS AND MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR SALES GROWTH ACROSS A VARIETY OF RETAIL, RESTAURANT AND FOOD PRODUCTION FACILITIES.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
National Account Management
La Quercia/Vande Rose/Charcuterie Artisans
Norwalk, IA
06.2022 - 05.2026
- Manage $750k annual sales with Hy-Vee – Delivered results at: C-Suite, Subsidiaries, Distribution, Brokers and Stores
- Charcuterie Subscription Partnership – $150k sales in first year, with forecast growth to $500k in year 2
- Fresh Pork Grind– landed emerging brand – 20k#/mo. with forecasted scale to 20k#/wk. by year end
- Maintained relationships and reopened distribution with partners throughout the sale and rebuild of La Quercia
- Art direction of photoshoots for LQ & VRF websites
- Flavored prosciutto R&D
- Chef & Influence Partnerships
Culinary Specialist/Operating Partner
Café Zupas
Minneapolis, MN
01.2021 - 06.2022
- Hired as food service professional to open, operate and mentor leaders for new locations
- Built back 5 million in restaurant sales per unit within 1 year coming out of Covid
Director of Production
Taher Inc.
Minneapolis, MN
06.2020 - 01.2021
- High volume facility produced grab and go food for Maverick, Holiday and Kwik Trip gas stations as well as corporate and institutional dining
- Company wide revenue of +$100 million per year in chef driven food service
- Hired as a production and food safety expert to help the facility through an FDA recall and Covid safety protocols
- In the year here, we improved all systems in the facility: morale, cleanliness, efficiency and profitability
Food Service Director – Executive Chef
Hy-Vee
Minneapolis, MN
06.2013 - 06.2020
- Opened 10 Stores across the Twin Cities Market
- FMI Supermarket Chef Showdown Finalist 2015
- Hired, trained and led teams of Perishables and Food Service Departments to $100 million in sales per year
- Expert in building displays and merchandising
- Customer Service
- Inventory Management
- P&L fluency
Expeditor
Bellecour
Wayzata, MN
02.2019 - 06.2019
- Opening team for Gavin Kaysen’s Restaurant and Bakery – Expedited opening service alongside the Chef
- Doors opened and taken seriously in the celebrity chef world and highest levels of hospitality
Specialty Food Sales and Production
Bos Food GMBH
Meerbusch, Germany
09.2009 - 02.2013
- Specialty food distributor with 40 million Euros in sales per year
- Sold to the starred restaurants of Europe
- Learned specialty products of cured meat, truffles, caviar, spices, oils, vinegars, chocolate, wine and spirits intimately
- Trade shows and hospitality events
- Warehouse & Food Production Systems
- Purchasing and Product Development
Education
Bachelor of Liberal Arts - Communications, Fine Arts
University of Iowa
05.2005
Bachelor of Science - Theatre Arts
Northwestern University
07.1999
Skills
- Proficient in Excel, NetSuite, Salesforce, ZOHO, marketing, photography and graphic design
Timeline
National Account Management
La Quercia/Vande Rose/Charcuterie Artisans
06.2022 - 05.2026
Culinary Specialist/Operating Partner
Café Zupas
01.2021 - 06.2022
Director of Production
Taher Inc.
06.2020 - 01.2021
Expeditor
Bellecour
02.2019 - 06.2019
Food Service Director – Executive Chef
Hy-Vee
06.2013 - 06.2020
Specialty Food Sales and Production
Bos Food GMBH
09.2009 - 02.2013
Bachelor of Liberal Arts - Communications, Fine Arts
University of Iowa
Bachelor of Science - Theatre Arts
Northwestern University