Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic

Keira Renton

New York,NY

Summary

Talented business leader with excellent customer service, organization and creative thinking skills with more than 20 years of experience in food related businesses. Highly effective and comfortable working with people at all levels in organization. Self-motivated professional successful in seizing viable opportunities for expansion and innovation in business. Background in increasing profits, reducing costs, and transforming customer service standards. Experienced in leading and supervising operational and sales teams.

Overview

14
14
years of professional experience

Work History

Owner

SimpleFreshDelish, LLC
01.2018 - Current
  • Yummi Sushi - Gained general knowledge of retail sushi business and Yummi differentiating factors in order to research and identify potential customers.
  • Researched and created menu for dumpling project to be launched as delivery service.
  • Developed protein and vegetable dumpling fillings, sauce recipes and various dough recipes including spinach, carrot and beet.
  • Created manual with recipes and plans for utilization of large production dumpling machine.
  • Albertsons - Received training on Reciprofity food service costing program in order to implement program in stores to provide consistency in recipes, costing and product across stores.
  • Collaborated with store and corporate prepared foods team to gather information so as to standardize products, recipes and methods for hundreds of recipes.
  • Input thousands of products using various order guides and finalized recipes and costs for each.
  • Delallo Italian Specialty Foods -Created multiple foodservice concepts in their flagship location, both for internal use and to sell to retail customer base.
  • Designed multiple product lines utilizing Delallo core ingredients: Green Salad Program, Cold and Hot Sandwich Program, Salad Dressings, Pizza Program, Italian Soup Program and Entrees and Catering to Go.
  • Worked with store designers to illustrate kitchen layout and customer flow for expansion based on menu plan.
  • Created manuals and training documents to utilize in training of store personnel.

Product Development Chef

Giant Eagle Inc., Fresh Foods Manufacturing
08.2016 - 01.2018
  • Responsibility for ideation and development of menu and products for Bexley Market District Express Table Restaurant.
  • Created seasonal recipe changes for Table restaurant and implemented successfully into store operations.
  • Organized and created job aides, cost structures and training to implement menus.
  • Utilized success of Bexley Restaurant to bring all Market District Restaurants into common menus and cyclical changes.
  • Co-developed meal kits (Fresh in 30) utilizing basis of Chopping Block concept to support pilot program in 30 locations.
  • Developed Bar specific menus and led collaboration between in-store chefs for seasonal menu development.
  • Responsible for weekly sales reports on all MD restaurant concepts and comparatives to overall Prepared Foods performance.
  • Collaborated with operations and production teams for new product market research and product surveys.
  • Designed and planned product testing from bench top testing to commercialization.
  • Created product line extensions and iterative new products in addition to brand new items.
  • Distributed new product specifications to sales, QA and purchasing departments.
  • Planned, developed and formulated new products based on market trends, customer input and personal experience.
  • Provided guidance on improved quality control measures to increase customer satisfaction.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of industry best practices regarding labeling and packaging.
  • Facilitated cost reduction through product improvements.
  • Communicated and negotiated with ingredient suppliers and vendors to integrate new ingredients.

Merchandising Manager

Giant Eagle, Inc
03.2014 - 07.2016
  • Created Pick 5 Program for Prepared Foods resulting in incremental revenue gain of $6M annually.
  • Cross-utilized products from gourmet case to increase grab and go sales.
  • Collaborated with marketing for development of Plan-O-Grams, stickers and sales materials for in store roll-out and training program.
  • Responsible for Gourmet category management.
  • Worked with supplier partners, GE manufacturing and additional vendors to solve for seasonal menus in behind glass service case concept.
  • Increased STS sales by 8% year over year.
  • Coordinated with cross-functional teams: own brands, food safety and labeling and store operations for successful implementations for seasonal plug and play concepts focused on specific holidays.
  • Generated creative meal deal concepts as active team member to help customers solve what’s for dinner tonight.
  • Meal Deal Concept is generating over $12M in annual sales.

Restaurant General Leader

Giant Eagle Inc., Market District Express
10.2013 - 03.2014
  • Led team of prep cooks and servers in launch of new concept restaurant/café.
  • Developed and maintain work assignment sheets to continuously improve efficiency within operation and manage inventory.
  • Introduced to and coached Team Members on work design for continuous improvement.
  • Trained new team members on equipment use and menu items to ensure highest quality, consistent product for customers.
  • Worked with systems team to monitor Micros system and adjust to fit needs of business.
  • Controlled department costs by monitoring known loss, purchases and transfers.
  • Monitored customer feedback daily and demonstrated unparalleled customer service while teaching and encouraging Team Members to provide same.
  • Encouraged Team Members to understand financial goals and objectives by sharing information and requesting input.
  • Provided collaborative environment where all Team Members know that their role is vital to overall success of business.
  • Actively supported company safety guidelines regarding food and personal safety of Team members and customers.
  • Demonstrated respect, friendliness and willingness to help wherever needed.
  • Monitored food preparation, production and plating for quality control.
  • Disciplined and motivated staff to achieve challenging objectives in fast-paced culinary environment.

Demo Station and Cooking School Manager

Giant Eagle Inc., Market District
10.2010 - 10.2013
  • Researched and developed classes for cooking school based on market trends, customer feedback and competition.
  • Organized class schedule and wrote descriptions in order to collaborate with copywriter to develop cooking school brochure quarterly.
  • Generated new ideas for attracting customers to classes and new business to cooking school by utilizing existing customer data and outreach.
  • Utilized existing customer data to sell out unfilled classes.
  • Monitor customer feedback daily and react as needed.
  • Planned private events and developed menus for birthday parties, team building events and other private classes.
  • Prepared and organized events for executive leadership meetings within store.
  • Collaborated with Innovation Director to design, create and implement best practices to launch Chopping Block concept in flagship store.
  • Implemented Work Design to continuously improve in each area - Demo Station, Chopping Block and Cooking School.
  • Coordinated sales events with department managers across all fresh and grocery to create sampling menus based on advertised products or other featured items.
  • Demonstrated unparalleled customer service and suggestive selling techniques while teaching and encouraging Team Members to provide same.
  • Hired, directed and developed team of Food Marketing Assistants.
  • Actively supported company safety guidelines regarding food and personal safety of Team members and customers.
  • Coordinated in-store food events with other department Managers and corporate marketing department to actively support cross merchandising and to use products in recipes to promote store sales.

General Merchandise Team Leader

Giant Eagle Inc., Market District
11.2009 - 10.2010
  • Interfaced with other departments to increase sales and cross-merchandise product to build eye catching displays.
  • Demonstrated understanding of food and convey passion for food for customers and Team Members.
  • Demonstrate and practice suggestive selling techniques and encourage Team Members to utilize those techniques.
  • Encouraged understanding between general merchandising, food and ability to increase sales.
  • Scheduled, maintained and kept records concerning inventories and work flow to calculate monthly department profit.
  • Managed and implemented all weekly product tags, new items, and discontinued items in order to maintain inventory and control in-stock conditions.
  • Delighted customers daily with outstanding customer service resulting in sales and profit.
  • Monitored known loss, transfers and store usage of general merchandise products.
  • Promoted development of Team Members.
  • Inspected merchandise for quality and arranged proper display location on floor.
  • Removed damaged, out-of-code, not-in-set and discontinued items from displays.
  • Answered customer questions regarding store merchandise, department information and pricing.

Food Marketing Manager

Giant Eagle Inc., Market District
07.2009 - 11.2009
  • Coordinated with department managers to plan menus based on advertised products or other featured items.
  • Provided leadership that promotes and exemplifies passion for food.
  • Demonstrated unparalleled customer service while teaching and encouraging Team Members to provide same.
  • Developed sampling menus for daily use and for advertising materials.
  • Directed and developed Food Marketing Assistants.
  • Demonstrated suggestive selling techniques.
  • Actively supported company safety guidelines regarding food and personal safety of Team members and customers.
  • Built relationships with customers to encourage loyalty
  • Help customers plan menus and choose food items throughout store.
  • Cross merchandised products used in recipes at demo station to promote store sales.
  • Developed Product Information Forms for featured items and demonstrated their uses for Managers and Team Members quarterly.
  • Served as store resource for all cooking and food related inquiries.
  • Coordinated in-store food events with other Managers and corporate marketing department.
  • Developed recipe cards to encourage customers to purchase items that were sampled in recipes.

Associate/Shift Coordinator

Williams-Sonoma
Pittsburgh, PA
05.2008 - 05.2009
  • Increased average order size and units per transaction through positive customer interaction and sales strategy.
  • Encouraged employees to practice company guidelines for exceptional service, and enforce company policies
  • Encouraged employees to practice company guidelines for exceptional service, and enforce company policies.
  • Developed relationships with customers to encourage repeat business.
  • Planned and executed daily demonstrations and tastings and weekly technique classes as needed.
  • Promoted to management position.
  • Delegated tasks to team members and assessed compliance.
  • Set challenging goals and helped team work together to accomplish all objectives.
  • Resolved customer complaints and issues and offered thoughtful solutions to maintain customer satisfaction.

Education

Bachelor of Arts - English Literature

University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
12.1997

Associate of Science - Culinary Arts

The Culinary Institute of America
Poughkeepsie, NY
11.1996

Skills

  • Customer Service Management
  • Team Leadership
  • Decision Making
  • Originality and Creativity
  • Verbal and Written Communication
  • Sales Tracking
  • Problem Anticipation and Resolution
  • Multitasking and Prioritization

Timeline

Owner

SimpleFreshDelish, LLC
01.2018 - Current

Product Development Chef

Giant Eagle Inc., Fresh Foods Manufacturing
08.2016 - 01.2018

Merchandising Manager

Giant Eagle, Inc
03.2014 - 07.2016

Restaurant General Leader

Giant Eagle Inc., Market District Express
10.2013 - 03.2014

Demo Station and Cooking School Manager

Giant Eagle Inc., Market District
10.2010 - 10.2013

General Merchandise Team Leader

Giant Eagle Inc., Market District
11.2009 - 10.2010

Food Marketing Manager

Giant Eagle Inc., Market District
07.2009 - 11.2009

Associate/Shift Coordinator

Williams-Sonoma
05.2008 - 05.2009

Bachelor of Arts - English Literature

University of Pittsburgh

Associate of Science - Culinary Arts

The Culinary Institute of America

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Keira Renton