Zak Bennett Email & Phone Number

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

• Orchestrated the entire frozen dessert arm, overseeing ingredient sourcing, importation, supply chain management, forecasting, costings, and manufacturing, ensuring optimal operations and delivery timelines.• Led the successful expansion of product lines, diversifying the brand beyond ice cream and chocolate into multiple categories, amplifying market reach and revenue streams.• Accelerated new product development by collaborating closely with cross-functional teams, including sales, marketing, quality assurance, and supply chain, streamlining processes and achieving faster product launches than industry norms.• Fuelled strategic growth as a shareholder, strategically shaping the brand's trajectory through innovative product development initiatives, contributing significantly to the company's revenue surge from 5 million to 25 million during a 5-year tenure.• Led the creation of over 100 products across seven diverse categories, showcasing expertise in managing relationships with six contract manufacturers.• Demonstrated a forward-thinking approach to dairy-free product development, leveraging food science expertise to devise innovative solutions in recipe development and large-scale production, securing substantial R&D grants totalling nearly $500k.

Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

• Established Zebra Dream Coconut Ice Cream, emerging as a trailblazer in the Australian organic vegan ice cream industry, and scaling it to become one of the largest in its niche.• Steered all aspects of the business, utilising leadership and versatility to orchestrate product development, supply chain operations, manufacturing facility setup, staff recruitment, financial management, compliance, and marketing and sales strategies.• Drove the acquisition of Zebra Dream by Pana Organic in 2018, leveraging expertise and industry knowledge, leading to the integration of Zebra Dream products into Pana Organic's offerings while preserving your innovative recipes and ice cream expertise.• Crafted and executed robust product development strategies, contributing to the brand's success, with a focus on organic, vegan ice cream, positioning Zebra Dream as a key player in the market.• Established and maintained relationships with suppliers and partners, ensuring the seamless sourcing of quality ingredients and the efficient distribution of frozen products across Australia.• Employed effective financial management practices, optimising budget allocation, cash flow, and financial reporting, contributing to the growth and profitability of Zebra Dream Coconut Ice Cream.