Don Soper

Don Soper Email and Phone Number

Regional Sales Manager at Lesaffre helping retailers add innovation and profits to their baking category. @
Don Soper's Location
Tampa, Florida, United States, United States
Don Soper's Contact Details
About Don Soper

Sales Executive with over 30 years of successes at providing value to my customers, helping retailers to maximize profits and growth within the baking category. Specializing in yeast, both active dry and quick rise, along with organic and sourdough to the grocery industry.

Don Soper's Current Company Details
Lesaffre Yeast Corporation

Lesaffre Yeast Corporation

Regional Sales Manager at Lesaffre helping retailers add innovation and profits to their baking category.
Don Soper Work Experience Details
  • Lesaffre Yeast Corporation
    Regional Sales Manager
    Lesaffre Yeast Corporation Jan 2013 - Present
    Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area
    Responsible for the development and growth of my product portfolio (Private Label and Branded) within the United States and Canada to the grocery industry. Manage a broker network throughout my territory to ensure full product distribution at store level, pricing accuracy and management of the account at the headquarter level. In addition to providing direction and leadership to my broker partners, we make direct calls to our retail partners and distributors. Monthly forecasting, pricing elasticity, competitive retail pricing, inventory review and monitoring orders to ensure full execution, by account to accomplish sales and profit goals. Work closely with our Marketing department to identify account specific opportunities through social media and my customers internal marketing programs.Focus is to grow category dollars and profits through new items, innovation, and creative marketing programs that are customer specific. Major key accounts include Walmart, Costco, Publix, Loblaw, Kroger and many others.Recipient of 2016 National Brands Strategic Partner of the Year from Topco.
  • Clabber Girl
    National Sales Manager
    Clabber Girl Oct 2005 - Dec 2012
    Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area
    Managed and developed the following trades: Dollar, Club, Mass, Military, Natural, Hispanic and all other private label retail. Responsible for P&L, pricing, forecasting, marketing and trade funding for my business unit. Priced all private label items based on cost accounting models, efficiencies on volume and transportation costs for maximum profit at competitive prices.Consistently exceeded sales goals through management of broker network, direct account calls and fostering long term relationships with key personnel.Opened the following new customers: Dollar General, Dollar Tree, Wal-Mart, Target, Delhaize, Kroger, Super Valu, BJ’s Wholesale, Sam’s Club, Costco, Aldi, 99 cents only, and othersManaged the Delisheries fundraising business from 2008 – 2010 with three employees. Worked with accounting department to initiate tighter credit terms with our customers which limited our financial exposure in this volatile arena.Helped with the costing analysis and feasibility of new products for private label and the Natural trade to include gluten free and whole grain baking and cookie mixes.Called on most retailers in the following classes: Club, Mass, Dollar, Non-Traditional, Retail, Wholesale, Drug, Military, Natural, Hispanic.
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  • Soper Sales, Inc.
    National Sales Manager
    Soper Sales, Inc. Jun 2001 - Oct 2005
    Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area
    Represented companies to help sell and market their items to the grocery trade to include Club, Mass, Dollar and traditional grocery retailers.Managed retailers and brokers, presented new items and grew existing product sales and profits through effective planning and developing long term customer relationships. Developed marketing strategies to further the growth of the brands at various retail outlets throughout the US and focusing on the needs of the retailers.Secured all of Wal-Mart’s Great Value Baking Powder within six months of representing Clabber Girl.Obtained over 10 points of new distribution for Purity Foods selling their Purity Branded products to traditional retailers, dollar stores and alternative formatted stores.
  • Meals.Com
    Regional Sales Manager
    Meals.Com Oct 2000 - Jun 2001
    Buffalo/Niagara, New York Area
    Helped answer the need of retailers to integrate web functionality onto their web sites to include recipes, on-line coupons and other marketing tools revolving around the internet and consumer goods products.
  • Red Gold
    Regional Sales Manager
    Red Gold Jun 1997 - Sep 2000
    Buffalo/Niagara, New York Area
    Worked with all retailers in the Northeast to sell and promote private label tomato products (canned tomatoes, ketchup, tomato sauce, tomato paste, tomato puree, salsa, and spaghetti sauce).Responsible for acquiring new customers and growing sales with existing ones. Grew sales over 10% per year (in a very competitive category) by analyzing market opportunities, opening new customers, utilizing internal marketing tools and working with production to accurately forecast my customer’s volume needs.Opened new accounts in the Northeast including Stop & Shop, and Wakefern (ShopRite) and opened K-Mart on a national basis. Named vendor of the year at Federated Foods in 1999 from over 150 vendors.Designed a new marketing incentive program for Federated Foods which rewarded them for achieving higher sales goals with their customers.
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  • President'S Choice International
    Regional Sales Manager
    President'S Choice International Jan 1994 - Jun 1997
    Buffalo/Niagara, New York Area
    Helped to grow the first premium private label program to select retailers in the USA. Directed the sales of President’s Choice product line (over 1,000 upscale private label items) at six leading retailers – American Stores (Lucky, Acme Markets, Jewel, Shaw’s) Fred Meyer and Harris Teeter. Developed marketing plans, new item presentations and category reviews on a regular basis presenting to senior management within the accounts. All accounts had in-house broker representation that was held accountable to achieving individual customer goals and budgets.Launched and marketed the first box meat program in a US grocery chain, Jewel Food Stores. Developed marketing programs for each customer designed to highlight the product quality and uniqueness solidifying the premium yet cost advantage of the entire President’s Choice product line.
  • Colgate Palmolive
    Key Account Manager
    Colgate Palmolive Jan 1989 - Jan 1994
    Saginaw, Detroit Michigan
    Represented the following brands at select key accounts: Palmolive Dish Liquid, Colgate Toothpaste & Toothbrushes, Murphy Oil Soap, Ajax, Mennen Deodorant, Dynamo, Fresh Start, Irish Spring and others.
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Don Soper Skills

Broker Management New Business Development Sales Management Grocery Private Label Retail Pricing Strategy Business Acumen Marketing Strategy Brokers Consumer Products Sales Key Account Development National Accounts Food Strategic Planning Market Planning Iri Management Forecasting Business Development Food And Beverage

Don Soper Education Details

Frequently Asked Questions about Don Soper

What company does Don Soper work for?

Don Soper works for Lesaffre Yeast Corporation

What is Don Soper's role at the current company?

Don Soper's current role is Regional Sales Manager at Lesaffre helping retailers add innovation and profits to their baking category..

What is Don Soper's email address?

Don Soper's email address is do****@****orp.com

What is Don Soper's direct phone number?

Don Soper's direct phone number is +141461*****

What schools did Don Soper attend?

Don Soper attended Western Michigan University.

What skills is Don Soper known for?

Don Soper has skills like Broker Management, New Business Development, Sales Management, Grocery, Private Label, Retail, Pricing Strategy, Business Acumen, Marketing Strategy, Brokers, Consumer Products, Sales.

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