Mike Lasher Email & Phone Number

Director of Sales & Marketing focused on creating new products, building distribution, increasing sales, and growing customer market share through innovation and category leadership. Gulf Pacific has an extensive portfolio of Conventional and Organic Rice, Beans, Rice Blends, Ancient Grains, Flour, Bread Crumbs, and Spices. Responsible for new customer development and expanding existing business by building strategic partnerships with National and Regional Chains in Grocery, Mass, Natural, Club, Value, Dollar, C-Store, and Alternative Channels.

Phoenix, Arizona, Us

Sales Director responsible for selling innovative new products and brands to National and Regional Retail Chains in multiple categories including Frozen, Produce, Bakery, and Dry Grocery. Building strategic partnerships with Retailers, Brokers, and Distributors to expand distribution, increase sales, and grow market share.

Responsible for selling large and diverse portfolio of Private Label and Branded products including Rice, Beans, Ancient Grains, Popcorn, Cereal, Pasta, and Baking Mixes through all Trade Channels. Products include commodity and value added items in conventional, all natural, and organic offerings. Entrepreneurial sales role focused on identifying and building new strategic retail partnerships with large National chains (including Walmart, Kroger, Aldi, Fresh Market, and Save-a-Lot). Effectively manage Broker network to invest time and resources to grow business by sharing industry expertise, training, category leadership, consumer insights, and product knowledge. Built great relationships with Retailers by understanding customer needs along with their competitive environment, aligning around strategy, and exceeding expectations with great follow-up, communication, and execution.

Responsible for selling Private Label Bread products to Grocery, Mass Merchandiser, and Club Channel Headquarter Customers. Developed strong partnerships with National and Regional Retail Chains through a Broker network by creating unique value added strategies to grow private label share and increase overall category sales in frozen, dairy, commercial bread, and in-store-bakery. Built strong relationships and motivated Brokers to invest more time focusing on our business by educating them on category, consumer trends, competitive landscape, and revenue potential.

Horsham, Pennsylvania, Us

Sales Director with responsibility for managing headquarter customers through team of National Account Managers and Regional Account Managers across Grocery and Club Channels. Responsible for developing strategic plans and programs that grow sales, share, and profitability for branded and private label products with large chain accounts including Safeway, BJ’s, and Costco.

Mclean, Virginia, Us

National Account Manager with headquarter responsibility for Tractor Supply Company, the largest farm and feed chain in the US, with over 1,000 stores in 45 states. Complete P&L ownership of private label pet food business with primary objective of growing profitable sales while increasing efficiencies and reducing costs. Effectively managed supply shortages by creatively sourcing product and overcoming significant logistical challenges to remain competitive and maintain vendor exclusivity. Directed cross functional teams leading several projects including, reducing cost of delivery system, improving supply chain efficiency, implementing system conversion, and increasing earnings.

Horsham, Pennsylvania, Us

National Account Director for Target Corporate headquarter sales and category team based in Minneapolis. Awarded Target Vendor of the Year Honors for preferred CPG supplier by building strong relationships and developing mutually beneficial business plans that generated unprecedented growth. Sold innovative private label program strategically leveraging additional branded shelf space, improved positioning, and incremental displays, generating a 10 fold increase in total bread sales. Organized and directed market tours with buyers to enhance understanding of bread business, DSD process, and unique regional opportunities building a strong partnership with aligned purpose/objectives. Developed cross-couponing and customized marketing programs partnering with other food vendors to increase store traffic, shopper conversion, and basket size.

Horsham, Pennsylvania, Us

Managed Operations for largest DSD field sales team in Houston with emphasis on depot to customer business. Handled extensive geography in southeast Texas and Louisiana with organization of 60 route drivers, five warehouses, and four district managers. Restructured business by splitting and increasing the number of routes which created focus on premium bread and expanded volume on more profitable products. Converted all routes from company owned to independent operators which drastically reduced operating expenses driving increased sales and profitability. Made Key Account calls for regional chains and grew sales at Brookshire Brothers from $1,000,000 to $5,000,000 replacing largest competitor as preferred supplier through relationship building and fact based selling.

Directed all aspects of DSD sales and operations for Nabisco in Las Vegas district. Created first general manager position in southern California region. Built cross-functional warehouse, delivery, sales, and merchandising team, resulting in most profitable branch operation in Western US. Restructured organization, added five new routes, and changed merchandising, service, and delivery process resulting in four consecutive years of double digit sales growth.

Chicago, Illinois, Us

Recruited, hired, trained, and developed newly formed sales organization consisting of 16 territory managers responsible for all categories in over 900 retail stores in southeast Texas and Louisiana. Hired recent college graduates that were high profile student athletes and developed a well trained and focused sales team that drove double digit increases in sales and market share.

Battle Creek, Michigan, Us

Developed and executed sales/marketing plans for eight territory sales representatives, five food brokers, and 25 food service distributors in four states. Sold deli programs to large regional grocery and convenience store chains which expanded supply chain by adding six new distributors. Sold extensive line of cookies, crackers, and frozen foods. Demonstrated and sold product at food shows, presented at distributor sales meetings and marketed directly to foodservice customers/operators.

London, Gb

Managed entire beer portfolio for Guinness Import Company. Created sales/marketing promotions for 40 distributors in four states covering all major trade channels including grocery, liquor, convenience, drug, mass merchandisers, club warehouses, restaurants, and bars. Conducted sales training meetings with distributors to educate and provide targeted marketing of brands. Trained distributor representatives while making chain buying account calls for restaurants & retailers. Created customized promotions on-premise to drive consumer demand and build market share.

Us

Handled complete line of candy products and sold promotions/programs to regional buyers for all major chains in the mid-south including Kroger, Winn Dixie, Flemming, Baddour, Affiliated, and Harvest Foods.

Minneapolis, Minnesota, Us

Oversaw 15 categories in dry grocery, frozen, and refrigerated categories. Held headquarters call responsibility for Winn Dixie in Miami division of 165 retail stores throughout south Florida averaging $200,000 in weekly ACV. Increased sales 7% growing account to third largest customer in Atlanta region with total annual sales of $12,000,000.