Keith Carlson Email & Phone Number

Saint Paul, Mn, Us

Los Angeles Metropolitan Area

Category defining beverage brand that pioneered the zero calorie, zero sugar, zero sodium platform made with plant-based ingredients and nothing artificial. Beverages that are vegan, kosher, gluten free, Non-GMO Project Verified and free of added color. Developed and implemented strategic and data-driven growth plans for Costco business, expanding sales from $3MM with product in 1 region to $12MM with product in 5 regions.· Utilized success in other accounts and internal Costco sales data to develop a compelling presentation, secure appointments and acquire new regions.· Re-acquired Kroger account responsibility, stabilized declining sales, revitalized promotional plan and implemented new spending standards, resulting in $300K cost-savings in the 1st quarter.· Expanded Aldi from 1 rotation and $300K in sales to 3 annual events and $1MM in sales.· Overcame hurdles to placement at Aldi by solving their supply chain constraints and gaining 6 items nationally and a high level of profitability for Zevia.

Established distribution across conventional grocery, natural, specialty, convenience and mass channels, directly contributing to company growth from $12.5MM to $150MM.Key Account Examples: Meijer, Kroger, Hy-Vee, HEB, Fresh Thyme, Aldi, Supervalu, Cub Foods, Super One Foods, Kowalski’s, Cash Wise/Coborn’s, Hugo’s, Hornbacher’s, Festival Foods, Woodman’s, Sendik’s, Jewel, SpartanNash, Busch’s, Buehler’s, Central Market, Market Street, BCG, AWG, Harp’s, Pyramid, Hen House, Cosentino’s, Dierbergs, Schnucks, Holiday, Casey’s, Fareway Foods, and Target.· Oversaw all sales & business development activities for central region, consistently surpassing 35% of U.S. company sales.· Achieved the lowest and most effective spend per case for 11 consecutive years.· Fostered strong relationships with UNFI, KeHE and SuperValu, maintaining focus on building distribution and quality promotional activity that was profitable, predictable and repeatable.· Continually trained and mentored employees, successfully transitioning numerous accounts as the business scaled.· Managed Acosta brokers initially and participated in transition to full direct sales team in 2021 (hired Key Account Managers and Regional Account Managers to cover key indirect accounts).

Houston, Texas, United States

America’s leading rice company and the most extensive marketer of wild rice in the world.Responsible for the rice brand portfolio (Minute, Success, Mahatma) at Target Corporate, generating $5MM in sales, as well as oversaw headquarter and regional divisions of Supervalu post Albertsons acquisition.· Directed business at corporate retail and independent stores, consistently achieving TDP and sales growth targets in the highly competitive dry pasta & rice categories.· Utilized and managed Acosta brokers nationally.

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Drove SuperValu business post Albertsons merger, handling all headquarter, regional and key account work for the entire 3M consumer portfolio of $15MM.· Generated highest territory growth in company’s consumer business.· Developed and implemented a program to sell custom displays at regional shows, eliminating huge warehouse markup and allowing retailers to compete with mass accounts on price.

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Created and executed planogram (POG) programs at drug, office, home center, dollar and hardware retailers nationwide (3M still currently utilizes several of these POG programs). Trained, mentored and prepared Key Account Managers for category reviews, acting as brand expert and problem solver.Key Account Examples: Walgreen’s, Rite-Aid, CVS, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Menards, Dollar Tree, Dollar General and Family Dollar.

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Oversaw grocery class of trade across 5 categories for multiple 3M brands including Post-It, Scotch Brite, Filtrete, Command, Nexcare, Scotch and O-Cello. Collaborated with Brand Managers to achieve retail standards on product, placement, price and promotion to compete against lower-cost brandsKey Account Examples: SuperValu, Cub Foods, Woodman’s, Certco, Nash Finch, Haggens, Roundy’s and Cashwise-Coborns.

Jacksonville, Florida, United States

Leading sales & marketing brokerage providing sales, marketing and commercial solutions to drive business for brands. Managed multiple brands across all grocery departments including meat, deli, dairy and produce including Dole ($9.6MM), Dannon, Dean Foods and Del Monte. Continually expanded account business and responsibilities throughout tenure.

Bachelor Of Business Administration (Bba), Finance, General

Activities and Societies: Men's Ice Hockey, Alumni Tele-Fund

Education record

Activities and Societies: Men's Ice Hockey, Model United Nations