JEFFREY LUDWIN
Washington,DC
Summary
Seasoned sourcing, procurement and supply chain leader with extensive experience working for innovative, high growth businesses. A natural change agent with an ability to drive sales, profitability and lead strategic cross-functional growth initiatives. Results driven with a strong analytical aptitude, financial acumen, and strategic mindset. Highly specialized perishable food and global supply chains.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Vice President of Procurement & Manufacturing (Pet Food)
OPEN FARM PET
05.2022 - 09.2023
- Developed and executed the company’s long-term sourcing, procurement and manufacturing strategies.
- Altogether responsible for supplier selection, vendor management, cost optimization and contracts.
- Expanded raw material vendor base from 10 to 17, adding supply redundancy across all categories.
- Led cost saving initiatives to drive $8M in annualized savings and 360 bps in GM on $115M spend.
- Transitioned 3 strategic contract manufacturers to new partners to optimize product quality and cogs.
- Oversaw production of 200 SKUs, procurement of 80 raw materials, and management of 12 co-mans.
Head of Supply Chain (Fresh Grocery)
PICADELI
04.2021 - 05.2022
- Fully responsible for building and developing the company’s assortment and supply chain operations.
- Owned the selection, onboarding, and management of food vendors, warehousing, and logistics partners.
- Built the company’s foundational supply chain in the US, enabling a successful Pilot program launch.
- Leveraged analytics to refine assortment, reducing food costs by 15% and customer shrink by 30%.
- Negotiated pricing contracts with key partners to provide line-of-sight to breakeven and profitability.
- Developed a framework for onboarding new vendors (24) and new products (65).
Global Sourcing Director (Electronic Cigarettes)
JUUL LABS
06.2018 - 12.2020
- Developed and managed the global sourcing and procurement strategy for the liquid category.
- Own product expansion, supplier selection, vendor management, cost negotiations, and supply agreements.
- Diversified assortment, vendors, and built direct relationships with key raw material suppliers, to minimize supply risk and transition to higher quality pharmaceutical-grade contract manufacturing.
- Realized cost reductions of $20M, on $85M in spend, in 2019 through negotiations, direct sourcing, vendor expansion, and requests for proposals.
- Implemented open costing models with strategic vendors, projecting cost savings of $25M in 2020.
- Negotiated exit from contracted purchase agreement, realizing an $8M cost benefit after settlement.
Global Supply Chain Director (E-commerce Food)
BLUE APRON
02.2017 - 10.2017
- Built and led strategy to source a best-in-class sustainable seafood program and supply chain.
- Identified and partnered with strategic vendors to diversify the offering, improve quality and lower costs.
- Doubled the product offering, while lowering projected 2018 program costs by 10%.
- Redesigned program to an 80% vertically integrated, directly sourced, premium quality supply chain.
- Negotiated supply agreements and pricing across vendors, over $70M in annual sourcing contracts.
- Stood up supply chains in Denmark, Norway, Latvia, Thailand, Vietnam, Alaska and across the US.
Vice President of Merchandising & Procurement (E-commerce Food)
DOOR TO DOOR ORGANICS
01.2015 - 02.2017
- Structured, directed, and managed Merchandising and Procurement for the company.
- Responsible for the offering, pricing strategy and cost of goods, while driving product innovation and customer retention.
- Increased average customer purchases more than 20%, resulting in top line revenue growth of $8M, through an optimized assortment, pricing and promotional strategy.
- Redesigned inventory management and buying tools, reducing shrink by 40%, more than $30K/week.
- Restructured inbound logistics, working with a local vendor to centralize receiving, improve quality control, reduce headcount, and lower freight rates.
- Integrated procurement and merchandising processes, systems, and teams, managing a group of 20.
Senior Merchandising Director (E-commerce Food)
FRESH DIRECT
03.2007 - 12.2014
- Managed and directed category assortment and sourcing of all meat and seafood for the company.
- Led merchandising and procurement strategies through innovative e-commerce promotions, sourcing new business opportunities, and effective category management.
- Grew department sales from $14M in 2007 to $55M in 2014
- Doubled offering through diversifying the vendor base and expanding to a global supply chain, actively managing 50 vendors.
- Launched new innovative product lines including organic, local, heritage, grass-fed and sustainable categories to drive customer trial and grow department sales.
- Designed and implemented systemic buying processes, reducing on-hand inventory more than 35%.
Education
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Business and Economics
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS
Skills
- Strategic Sourcing
- Procurement
- Vendor Partnerships
- Category Management
- Contract Manufacturing
- E-commerce Food
- Supply Agreements
- Team Leadership
- P&L Ownership
- Business Analytics
- Builder’s Mentality
- Startups
Timeline
Vice President of Procurement & Manufacturing (Pet Food)
OPEN FARM PET
05.2022 - 09.2023
Head of Supply Chain (Fresh Grocery)
PICADELI
04.2021 - 05.2022
Global Sourcing Director (Electronic Cigarettes)
JUUL LABS
06.2018 - 12.2020
Global Supply Chain Director (E-commerce Food)
BLUE APRON
02.2017 - 10.2017
Vice President of Merchandising & Procurement (E-commerce Food)
DOOR TO DOOR ORGANICS
01.2015 - 02.2017
Senior Merchandising Director (E-commerce Food)
FRESH DIRECT
03.2007 - 12.2014
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Business and Economics
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS