Pat Ruggles Email & Phone Number

Rejoined Smith Dairy after 19 years to oversee and grow the Ice Cream division which specializes in the production of high quality ice cream products including Ruggles Premium and Smith Ice Cream brands. We also make specialty ice cream products for several valued co-packing partners and are always interested in expanding this group of strategic alliances.

• Primary leadership force behind this manufacturer / distributor of outdoor lighting products with sales to more than 1500 distributors & showrooms and to Home Depot, Lowe’s and the nation’s other Big Box retailers
• Returned company to profitability in the first six months on duty. Went on to double sales and post fourteen straight years of profits.
• Organized team that conceptualized, developed, and launched a new line of non-corrosive “Coastal” lighting fixtures. Received five U.S. Design Patents.
• Traveled extensively and initiated strategic international alliances with China and Europe. Reduced costs by as much as 60% and improved quality and speed-to-market
• Awarded “Vendor-of-the-Year” honors for our product category by the second largest home improvement retailer in the US
• Vastly improved productivity by reducing hourly workforce by 64+% while doubling sales. Accomplished this while also successfully negotiating four consecutive union labor contracts

• Owned the responsibility for sales and marketing activities at this manufacturer of health and beauty care productsDirected five direct regional sales managers and a national network of independent representatives..
• Achieved market share gains and double-digit profit growth each year
• Designed value-added customer solutions that delivered over $1 million in additional sales volume to the world’s largest retailer
• Led the introduction of six new products and the re-launch of eight existing products in just fourteen months. Resulted in a 38% sales increase

• Established, launched, and developed this successful manufacturer of premium branded ice cream products. Merged with Smith Dairy Products Company in 1987.
• Built the Ruggles brand from start-up to market success. Consistently gained market share and shelf space while receiving the highest rankings for retail customer service satisfaction
• Employed unique and innovative packaging and distribution methods to gain maximum sales with minimum investment and cost. Led to higher consumer satisfaction and faster acceptance and support of the brand
• Ruggles became the #1 premium ice cream brand in all markets served within the first five years of operations
• Excelled in new product innovation by being first to market with two new product categories – Light Ice Cream and Packaged Frozen Yogurt. Resulted in a 25% increase in market share and a move to #1 in the markets served