Don D. Smith

Don D. Smith Email and Phone Number

Chief Executive Officer @ French Gourmet
United States
Don D. Smith's Location
United States, United States
Don D. Smith's Contact Details
About Don D. Smith

Versatile, entrepreneurial, passionate and purpose-driven consumer packaged goods (CPG) executive with comprehensive knowledge across multiple U.S. and international channels including commercial & non-commercial foodservice, conventional grocery, natural, club, and convenience. Expertise in creating and executing strategic business plans that deliver EBITDATransformational Leadership ◆ Strategic Planning ◆ Operational Excellence ◆ Sales Cycle ManagementSKILLS• Strategic planning & implementation• Team building, training & cross-functional leadership• P&L/budget management & financial reporting• Contracts & negotiations• Revenue & profit growth• Pricing strategy#cpg #ceo #naturalproducts #bakery #frozen

Don D. Smith's Current Company Details
French Gourmet

French Gourmet

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Chief Executive Officer
United States
Don D. Smith Work Experience Details
  • French Gourmet
    Chief Executive Officer
    French Gourmet
    United States
  • Shellsbydesign
    Chief Executive Officer
    Shellsbydesign Aug 2024 - Present
  • French Gourmet
    Chief Executive Officer
    French Gourmet Dec 2023 - Present
    Sparks, Nevada, Us
    Producer of premium laminated dough products utilizing authentic French lamination/fermentation methods on an international scale.
  • Global Bakeries, Inc.
    Chief Executive Officer
    Global Bakeries, Inc. Jul 2022 - Dec 2023
    Pacoima, California, Us
  • Michael'S Bakery Products, Llc
    Senior Vice President Of Sales And Marketing
    Michael'S Bakery Products, Llc Sep 2013 - Jul 2022
    Clear Lake, Ia, Us
    Gourmet ready-to-bake frozen cookie dough and snack items created with fresh, all natural and premium quality ingredients, providing healthier options with superior taste. Acquired by CH Guenther in 2022.Recruited to oversee sales & marketing and identify expansion opportunities outside of K-12 and hospitality industries to grow company while operating within a conservative budget. Identified prospects and established relationships across new channels in the U.S. and internationally including co-manufacturing, private label, restaurants, c-store, club, natural and grocery. Recruited, hired and trained key personnel, building a best-in-class sales team to launch the branded retail store program. Managed top-level national broker relationship with Waypoint, brand specific brokers for retail and national/regional distributors (Sysco, US Foods, PFG, Shamrock, BEK, regional and international distributors). Awarded added responsibility of managing, evaluating and improving operational efficiencies for R&D, supply chain and manufacturing.• Identified and collaborated with a government agency, subsidizing overseas sales efforts and cutting sales/marketing efforts in half over 4 years. • Strategized and initiated business opportunities internationally, opening the first international branded retail center in Hong Kong as well as developing business in Southeast Asia, Middle East and Mexico.• Redesigned R&D and commercialization process, including focusing resources on highest value opportunities, initiating a new project vetting process based on revenue & gross profit and implementing a staged production process.• Reviewed, improved and implemented new pricing models including labor estimates, building in waste and accounting for freight, providing a more accurate understanding of profitability by channel and account.• Reviewed, updated and coached team on sales reporting strategy, creating effective and useful reports for company-wide strategy development.
  • Progressive Gourmet
    Vice President Of Sales And Marketing
    Progressive Gourmet Dec 2011 - Sep 2013
    Specialty frozen appetizer manufacturer. Acquired by Monogram Foods in 2016.Brought on board to report directly to the CEO and grow manufacturing business across retail and foodservice channels. Top graded and restructured sales & marketing teams with 16 direct reports. Personally oversaw relationship with retail brokers and managed sales team responsible for foodservice brokers across the nation as well as overseeing national and regional distributor relationships.• Grew manufacturing business 51% the first year ($6.5M).• Created and implemented a new pricing strategy, resulting in $250K+ profitability improvement the first year, and $500K the second year.• Opened restaurant accounts nationally (Brinker Brands & Corner Bakery Café), delivering $600K in 3 months and placing company on target for $2.5M in 2013.• Created team and initiated/implemented a new multi-departmental project management and commercialization process, overseeing the development & launch of a custom frozen item for Trader Joe’s, resulting in the most successful product launch in 3+ years (developed business into multi SKU $3.5M annual revenue).
  • Crestone Group, Llc
    Executive Vice President Of Sales And Marketing
    Crestone Group, Llc Nov 2001 - Dec 2011
    Carlsbad, Ca, Us
    Nationwide commercial bakery with 3 SQF certified bakeries providing baked goods to foodservice, restaurant chains and conventional grocery stores.Selected to solve a customer concentration issue – 94% existing business through Starbucks – by targeting and growing the national foodservice market through identifying new business opportunities, improving budget management and developing/executing successful go-to-market strategies. Reported directly to the CEO.• Increased company sales from $3M to $92.2M and improved gross margin by 9% during tenure.• Negotiated multi-year agreements worth $81M with Seattle’s Best Coffee, Macaroni Grill, On The Border, Corner Bakery Café and Landry’s Seafood.• Developed new vertical market (c-store), achieving $2M in first year sales.• Focused resources on highest value opportunities through priority project management.
  • Cybertel
    Vice President Of Sales
    Cybertel Jun 2000 - Nov 2001
    Oversaw sales, marketing and product development of integrated communications products including VOIP, broadband and Unified Communications. Increased sales from $840K to $7.7M annual revenue in domestic and international business.
  • Ellsworth Adhesives
    General Manager
    Ellsworth Adhesives Jun 1993 - Jun 2000
    Germantown, Wi, Us
    Turned around acquisition by driving revenue and increasing operating profit. $10M P&L responsibility for the western division of the custom/specialty chemical manufacturer and distributor. Increased operating profit from $180K to $1.1.M and sales from $5.5M to $10.4M during tenure.

Don D. Smith Skills

Sales Management Product Development Sales Marketing Strategy Food Marketing Selling Executive Management Distributed Team Management Team Building Business Development Frozen Food Market Planning Negotiation Key Account Development Inventory Management Account Management Budgets Retail Building High Performance Sales Teams Key Account Management Solution Selling Consultative Sales Management Customer Service Entrepreneurship Integrated Marketing Manufacturing Sales Presentations National Account Development Industrial Chemicals Income Statement Corporate Sales Management Sales Compensation Design Foodservice Distribution Retail Food Event Planning Event Management

Don D. Smith Education Details

  • California State University, Chico
    California State University, Chico
    Communications

Frequently Asked Questions about Don D. Smith

What company does Don D. Smith work for?

Don D. Smith works for French Gourmet

What is Don D. Smith's role at the current company?

Don D. Smith's current role is Chief Executive Officer.

What is Don D. Smith's email address?

Don D. Smith's email address is ds****@****ies.com

What schools did Don D. Smith attend?

Don D. Smith attended California State University, Chico.

What skills is Don D. Smith known for?

Don D. Smith has skills like Sales Management, Product Development, Sales, Marketing Strategy, Food, Marketing, Selling, Executive Management, Distributed Team Management, Team Building, Business Development, Frozen Food.

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