Jo Heron
Founder and President at Sisu Solutions Incorporated- Claim this Profile
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Bio
LinkedIn User
Jo was a marketing pioneer in the Canadian RTU Sauce Category. Category that continues to grow. Very Strategic and true professional. Jo understands the food industry and will be an asset is growing your business or fixing problems!
LinkedIn User
Jo was a marketing pioneer in the Canadian RTU Sauce Category. Category that continues to grow. Very Strategic and true professional. Jo understands the food industry and will be an asset is growing your business or fixing problems!
LinkedIn User
Jo was a marketing pioneer in the Canadian RTU Sauce Category. Category that continues to grow. Very Strategic and true professional. Jo understands the food industry and will be an asset is growing your business or fixing problems!
LinkedIn User
Jo was a marketing pioneer in the Canadian RTU Sauce Category. Category that continues to grow. Very Strategic and true professional. Jo understands the food industry and will be an asset is growing your business or fixing problems!
Credentials
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Cold Calling: The First Seven Seconds
LinkedInJul, 2022- Nov, 2024 -
Moving Past Change Fatigue to the Growth Edge
LinkedInJun, 2022- Nov, 2024 -
AED and First Aid St. John's Ambulance
-Jan, 2008- Nov, 2024
Experience
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Sisu Solutions Incorporated
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Canada
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Food and Beverage Services
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1 - 100 Employee
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Founder and President
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Feb 2014 - Present
Sisu Solutions Incorporated is a business consulting company providing business building services for the food industry. Services include: Sales Channel/Market Development and Planning, Full Cycle Business Development Coaching, and, Strategic Planning. We can provide business building expertise within the following channels: Club Channel (i.e. Costco - all food departments including bakery, deli and food court) Convenience and Gas - distribution and store chains/independents Food Processors - selling of ingredients to food manufacturers Food Service - distribution, operators (independent, regional and national chains) Retail Supermarket Peripheral Fresh Departments - including Bakery, Deli-HMR, Meat & Seafood and, Produce. Sisu can customize our services according to your needs and budget. We can provide "hands-on" and/or coaching to assist you in achieving your short or long term goals. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss your business development needs further. I can be reached via Linked In. or at jo.heron@sisu-solutions.com Please visit my website at www.sisu-solutions.com for further information. Show less
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Kraft Heinz
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United States
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Food and Beverage Services
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700 & Above Employee
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Channel Manager - Club Stores, Industrial Ingredients and, Retail Perimeter Depts. (HMR, Produce),
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Nov 2001 - Dec 2013
Responsible for developing business with retail supermarket chain perimeter departments, club channel customers and food processors via a B2B business model. Territory coverage included Western Canada, Ontario and Quebec. Business was developed by marrying clients category objectives with a Kraft food product that could be used as an ingredient for a particular food item. Successful achievement of business was solidified with proposals which utilized research to support trend/application, culinary applications along with merchandising recommendations. Developed profitable business within Retail Perimeter departments of $2.2 million over 2 years; Club channel by $8 million over 3 years and, $3.0 million with Food Processors over 2 years. Sales contributions met and exceeded not Gross Revenue and Gross Profit annual objectives. Solid, long-term partnerships were developed which provided me with the opportunity to develop a solid working knowledge of the day to day issues along with long term business development/ planning challenges manufacturers and retail perimeter department managers alike, face. Show less
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Mondelēz International
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United States
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Food and Beverage Manufacturing
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700 & Above Employee
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Director of Western Canada Foodservice Sales
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Jul 1998 - Oct 2001
I worked with a great team of regional account managers and brokers whom I provided coaching/hands-on training to which assisted them in developing Nabisco's Foodservice base business along with the incorporation of the Convenience and Gas business with distributor and operator (independent and chain). Over the 3 years we delivered double digit growth annually on our base foodservice business while growing the incorporated Gas and Convenience double digit through improved distribution channels and key account pull strategies. I was responsible for developing and managing an annual business plan which incorporated trade, sales and regional expense budgets. We were able to grow our business +38% over 3 years while maintaing same SG&A Expense $ costs. As part of the senior management team of our division, provided input and direction on over arching business strategies including channel and product development as well as providing me with further opportunities to hone my strategic planning skill sets. Show less
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TreeHouse Foods
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United States
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Food and Beverage Manufacturing
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700 & Above Employee
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Director of Foodservices
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Sep 1992 - Jul 1998
I was responsible for managing all aspects of the Foodservice divisions business unit including P&L, Capital Expenditures, Strategic Planning, Product Development and Marketing. My role as a member of the executive team provided me with an opportunity to hone my strategic and annual planning skills for both the Foodservice division and for E.D. Smith's overall North American business. Working with a great team of brokered and direct sales teams we tripled the size of the Foodservice business in 5 years, our team and products became the source for sauces within the Canadian Foodservice marketplace. Achieving #1 share of market and preferred category status with operators and distributors alike was realized due to the commercialization of the Saucemaker Sauce Category. Unique and on trend sauce flavours in easy to use packaging made these products an instant success with operators and distributors alike. We developed business development support tools for operators (both independent and chain) through the "Taste Adventure" and "Simple Solutions" recipe/application program support with merchandising materials. Tools were also developed to assist Distributors and their Sales and Marketing teams sell sauces coupled with protein concepts for additional gross margin per drops. The program was titled SauceMasters and was a series of hands on training modules that lead to SauceMaster certification. Our team was also successful in harnessing this unique set of skills to propel E.D. Smith Foodservice's ketchup category to a solid #2 position within the Canadian Foodservice market. Success was achieved through on and leading trend packaging and processing coupled with customer customization. Show less
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Campbell's
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United States
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Food and Beverage Services
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700 & Above Employee
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Marketing Manager and Western Canadian Sales Manager - Foodservice
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Nov 1985 - Sep 1992
Responsible for full P&L responsibilities along with product ideation and launch strategies. Member of Foodservice management team, I participated in both annual and long term strategic planning initiatives. In 1990 I was promoted to the role of Western Canadian Sales Manager where I worked with a dedicated team of account managers and broker sales forces to develop all aspects of both foodservice and retail HMR/Deli sales in Western Canada, resulting in double digit increases each year. . Additional responsibilities included forecasting, budget development and managing trade investment for improved ROI's. As product manager was responsible for product development, launches including A&C budgets and sales operating plan objectives. Worked closely with operations, R&D, finance teams. Show less
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Summit Food Service - A Division of Colabor
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London, Ontario
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Marketing Manager
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Nov 1981 - Nov 1985
Responsible for merchandising of products distributed by Summit Foods to both independent and chain operators in Ontario. In addition to merchandising responsibilities, I managed a portfolio of house chain accounts covering Educational and Business/Industrial segments. Responsible for merchandising of products distributed by Summit Foods to both independent and chain operators in Ontario. In addition to merchandising responsibilities, I managed a portfolio of house chain accounts covering Educational and Business/Industrial segments.
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Education
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1978 - 1981
Fanshawe College
Associate's Degree, Finance and Marketing -
1974 - 1977
Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School
High School, Level 5
Community
