Eric Lawrence Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Illinois, Us

With a focus on retail grocery we support custom programs for commissary, foodservice, and private label for the deli, commissary, bakery, and center store categories. Newly Weds supports the grocery industry by producing bread crumb (Japanese panko and American breadcrumb), breading, batter, seasoning, sauces, and functional ingredients. Private label retail and foodservice sauces, seasoning, bread crumbs, croutons, portion control sauce cups, and more.

Palatine, Il, Us

​Vestis Group partners with global manufacturers to provide the highest quality imported and exported food products available. Vestis offers an ever-expanding catalog of food ingredients to meet the stringent requirements of the industries we serve. ​Blending, Milling and Other SpecializationVestis Group offers custom services, including: blending, milling, warehousing and financing.

Elk Grove Village, Illinois, Us

Responsibilities included creating and managing P&Ls on branded and private label/own brands business at the headquarter level at 7 of the top 10 grocers in the US which include HEB, Publix, Kroger, Wakefern, Aldi, Whole Foods Market, and Ahold Delhaize USA as well as many other grocery chains and distributors. In addition, I have developed a strong network in retailer commissaries calling on Bakkavor, Taylor Farms, and Tamp Bay Fisheries. I produced double digit sales growth (dollars, LBs, & cases) year over year through sales and trade management as well as broker relationships and management. 2018, 2019, 2020, 1st quarter of 2021. Buyers/Categories called on: Deli, Meat, Frozen, Dairy, Bakery, Plant Based Proteins for both branded and private label. Additional customers called on: Amazon Fresh, Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, KeHE, UNFI, Ingles, MDI, Brookshire Grocery, Raleys, Price Chopper, Weis, Big Lots, and more. Extensive experience managing customer portals:Whole Foods Gateway SystemHEB OBPS System KeHE ConnectPublix Vendor Portal

Middleton, Wisconsin, Us

Top customers called on Big Lots, Dollar Tree, Dollar General, KeHE, Publix, Meijer, and more. Managing an extensive broker network calling on produce, grocery, and the baking categories, my focus was on new sales and distribution. Starting from scratch, I built Saco's dollar channel program to include everyday and seasonal programs in the top dollar chains/alternative channel for a combined 31k points of distribution. I successfully sold in the new organic line into three of my top customers for everyday placement. In addition, I gained placement and distribution for our baking line extension.

Elk Grove Village, Illinois, Us

Top customers include Starbucks, Whole Foods, Publix, HEB, Wegmans, Savemart, Raleys, Nugget, Big Lots, Dollar General, Nestle, ConAgra, Thrifty Ice Cream, Blue Bell, and more. Reporting to the President and COO my duties included calling on all channels of trade. I managed sales in retail grocers (national and regional), big box stores, dollar, c-store, natural specialty, industrial/bulk, foodservice, and ingredients. In addition to my focus on core items/programs, I worked closely with customers and Doumak's customer service, QA, and R&D teams to develop custom items, pack size, and flavors. I developed and managed our branded Campfire and Fireside lines, private label programs, bulk, industrial, food service, and custom items. I managed Doumak's Campfire brand marketing initiatives through social media, bloggers, websites, and trade shows to align marketing with our sales goals, new items, and seasonal periods.

Elk Grove Village, Illinois, Us

Duties included: Managing national sales, including both national and regional customers throughout the country in all channels including retail grocery, drug, mass, c-store and all industrial outlets. Responsibilities included:• Planning, marketing, and selling core, new, and seasonal items through managing national sales/customers for both branded and private label.• Managing and motivating an extensive network of regional brokers in both the retail and industrial trade. • Continue to build and strengthen the relationships of existing customers, gain new customers through networking, cold calling, and lead follow up. • Working closely with QA, R&D, and production/operations on custom items, new ideas, and future trends. www.doumak.comwww.campfiremarshmallows.com

Irving, Tx, Us

Kroger, Save A Lot, Albertson's, Meijer, Costco (MW), Cub Foods, Schnuck's, Affiliated Foods, Lipari and moreDuties include: Managing the Midwest region’s business that include many national and regional grocers/retailers and distributors (in 15 states). Responsibilities include:• National and regional level HQ/corporate sales calls• Growing sales within existing customers• Acquire new business and distribution• Create and maintain region’s budget and P&L• Manage trade and promotional spend • Manage, train, lead, and motivate brokers and distributors

Horsham, Pennsylvania, Us

Duties include: managing sales and promotional activity, while maximizing earnings and reducing waste within key accounts. This position is also responsible for strategic customer planning as well as executing account and corporate strategies and initiatives.•Manage six national brand lines (Thomas', Brownberry, Arnold, Entenmann's, Boboli, and Bimbo)•Category leading items in multiple consumer packaged goods segments•Manage trade allowance and customer merchandising funds •Identify trends and opportunity through internal and syndicated data

Horsham, Pennsylvania, Us

My role was to grow BBU’s sales and increase brand exposure within national accounts (Wal-Mart, Sam’s, Costco, Target, Dominick’s and Jewel).•Present and sell new items and product lines to store managers and buyers•Identify and execute opportunities to grow sales, reduce returns and waste•Present current, future, and past promotional activity results •Build relationships through meetings with store, zone, and district managers

Horsham, Pennsylvania, Us

Duties included: managing and advising a national retailer’s Chicago division multi-million dollar commercial bread and sweet baked goods category. I also had to create planograms, analyze and report data and market trends, as well as conduct annual in-depth regional SWOT analysis.•Advise on new items, market trends, product placement, and Sku Rationalization•Produce bi-annual category schematics and store planograms•Organize and execute the bi-annual resets for a national chain•Worked closely with Safeway’s corporate bakery team

Skokie, Illinois, Us

Specializing in imported and domestic cheeses and meats, I represented over 1000+ skus of cheeses plus meats, olives, and specialty food products.•New customer consulting•Business development•Cold calling, lead follow up•Presenting and demonstrating new items and product lines •Generated long term customers

Duties included: Managing the front and back of the house at two high volume full service restaurants as well as, inventory, purchasing, item and menu creation, planning, pricing and quality control.•Purchase fresh seafood•Manage and schedule a staff of 50+ employees•Purchasing and inventory of fresh seafood, liquor, produce, and dry goods•Planned daily menu, organized catering events, and private party planning

Managing the day to day operations for both full service high volume cafes near Northwestern University.

Bachelor Of Science, Business Management

Mba - Not Complete, Business Management And Administration