Jason Atkins Email and Phone Number

Analyze market trends, demand and supply patterns, and pricing data to support sourcing strategies.Evaluate supplier performance and negotiate contracts to ensure cost-effectiveness and quality.Collaborate with internal stakeholders to align sourcing strategies with organizational objectives.Develop and maintain supplier relationships to ensure the availability of high-quality produce at competitive prices.Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of sourcing activities and supplier performance.Collaborate with the procurement team to develop sourcing strategies for the produce category.Coordinate with suppliers to ensure timely delivery of products and resolve any supply chain issues.Conduct data analysis to identify cost-saving opportunities and improve procurement processes.

• Procured Private Label Food products that were sold into the K-12 segment nationally• Negotiated with manufacturers to lock in pricing with Supply Agreement Contracts for packaging and finished goods • Focused on quality, deliverables and process improvement while maintaining adequate inventory service levels• Attended operational meetings with other department leads to discuss company initiatives and on-going projects• Met with vendors to source new potential items and understand market trends• Maintained transition of items from one vendor to another and minimize disruption of supply chain

• Sourced and Developed New Customers needing help with CPG Reverse Logistics and Supply Chain Services• Helped increase the value for our current customer base utilizing various services the company provided• Served as point of contact for new clients to ensure continuous relationship building• Worked on remarketing vendors assets to help obtain the most margin for their product thru reclamation• Maintained ERP records for all key account activity on each customer• Developed sales strategies and tactics to increase branded sales, market share, revenue and profits• Monitored and analyzed market conditions and trends across various customers nationwide

• Managed a procurement team that was responsible for supplying product for over 1,500 locations around the U.S.• Negotiated with vendors to lock in pricing with Supply Agreement contracts & saved over $ 1M in an RFQ process• Partnered with Director of Supply Chain to unlock in-bound freight savings of over $100k • Ensured inventory levels maintained consistent with food sales during Covid-19 • Worked to establish primary and secondary vendors on key items to prevent out of stocks• Attended weekly meetings with department heads to go over ongoing projects and company initiatives• Managed transition of items from one vendor to another trying to minimize disruptions to the supply chain• Traveled to trade shows to source new vendors and continue studying market trends

• Responsible for developing a closeout & diverting department from scratch • Managed over $850M in purchases of schematic, promotional and closeout / treasure hunt itemsOverall program resulted in over $85M in COGS savings• Built a forward buy simulator that was used for replenishment purchases on future price increases• Created reports that were shared with chief merchants of the respective departments• Partnered with merchants to help prepare for joint business planning across 11 distribution centers• Maintained collaborative relationships with internal colleagues across various departments of the company• Built positive contacts with vendors, brokers and manufactures throughout the country• Continually built product knowledge while attending trade shows and conferences

• Effectively helped clients in with national price negotiations and utilizing best purchase practices• Monitored diverting markets and national trends to provide new product opportunities• Researched and evaluated suppliers based on price, quality, and product selection• Traveled with clients to trade shows and expositions to source new vendors and products • Helped wholesalers streamline their warehouse shipments and deliveries to help increase service levels

• Responsible for annual sales budget of $ 25M• Oversaw several field account managers on daily business to help drive purchases • Monitored shipments of diverted CPG goods in various categories (Grocery, Candy, HBA, Dairy, Frozen)• Studied market data & trends to find product opportunities in emerging markets.

• Procured both national and regional CPG items thru diverting partners• Negotiated with vendors to assure the best costs thru opportunistic purchased and forward buys• Fostered relationships with brokers to help with category market research• Analyzed daily service levels at numerous warehouses to insure adequate inventory levels