Experience

Galerie au Chocolat Inc. (Canada) - Jelina Chocolatier (USA)

• Vice President Of Business Development

  • Jul 2016 - Present



Chocolat Central CJ Inc., Importer of Belcolade Chocolate

• Business Development Manager, Ontario

  • Oct 2015 - Jul 2016

  Belcolade is the REAL Belgian Chocolate - Made with the Finest Ingredients; 100% Coacoa Butter and Pure, Natural Vanilla. It is beautiful chocolate for Chocolate Making, Patisserie Crafting and Baking. Chocolat Central CJ Inc. imports Belcolade directly from Belgium, where the chocolate is crafted from bean to finished product. We distribute throughout Canada.My objective is to introduce fine Belcolade Chocolate to Chefs, Chocolatiers and Bakers. Chocolate Central is absolutely dedicated to customer-focused service and we are as passionate about supporting your business as we are about fine chocolate! Please contact me to discuss any opportunity you may have or know of! I can be reached at 416-524-5277 or linda@chococentral.com



Kellogg's Canada Inc.

• Business Development Manager, Costco

  • Jul 2012 - Oct 2013

  Developed and managed cereal, snack and energy bar packs for Costco. Developed and managed cereal, snack and energy bar packs for Costco.



Godiva Chocolatier, Canada

• Broker Manager/National Sales Manager

  • Apr 2011 - Aug 2012

  Launched and achieved listings for Godiva’s retail packaged truffles and chocolate bars across many Canadian Retailers; Loblaws, Shoppers Drug Mart, Katz, London Drugs, Safeway, Overwaitea, FCL, Uniprix, Familiprix, Brunet, Couche Tard, Longo’s, and Independents.Established strategy to launch brand across all Grocery, Drug, Mass, Club and Other Retailers.Set up Broker Partners and managed National Sales Team of Account Managers and Field Sales Representatives.Planned/Negotiated Forecasts and Budgets for National Launch.Consulted on products required to address Canadian Market Opportunities.



Lindt & Sprüngli Canada

• Canada
• Manufacturing
• 200 - 300 Employee

• National Key Account Manager

  • May 2000 - Apr 2011

  Most recently managed Lindt and Ricola brands at Costco. Achieved +33% Growth over 2 years! Previously managed the following accounts: Loblaws, Wal-Mart, Zellers, Katz, McKesson, Kohl & Frisch, Sobey’s Ontario, Longo’s, Hallmark, Canadian Tire, Blockbuster, Toys R Us, Michaels, Staples and others. Responsible for a large portion of Lindt’s annual gross sales revenue and extraordinary growth.Performed in Customer Marketing and Product Development roles in addition to traditional Key Account Management functions of opportunity identification, planning and execution.Coordinated Marketing, Logistics and Regional Sales functions as they pertained to ongoing business and seasonal initiatives.Prepared and presented company strategies for channel management and growth and provided input to larger perspective trading strategies; deal structures, sales force structure, information requirements.



Kraft Foods Group

• Customer Category Manager

  • Sep 1999 - May 2000

  Managed Maxwell House and Nabob Coffee brands at Sobeys. Coordinated Sobeys Customer Business Team activities for corporate banner initiatives, including Marketing, Finance, Sales (all business units), Category Management and Logistics.Prepared and presented feature strategies for category growth and managed execution.Utilized Kraft's info systems to analyze, plan, forecast and report volume and spending. Managed Maxwell House and Nabob Coffee brands at Sobeys. Coordinated Sobeys Customer Business Team activities for corporate banner initiatives, including Marketing, Finance, Sales (all business units), Category Management and Logistics.Prepared and presented feature strategies for category growth and managed execution.Utilized Kraft's info systems to analyze, plan, forecast and report volume and spending.



Cadbury plc.

• Nigeria
• Food & Beverages
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Assistant Brand Manager

  • Mar 1999 - Sep 1999

  Managed strategic planning for profitable brand performance and growth.Forecasted volume and profit contribution and monitored factory shipments.Proposed and investigated brand optimization and innovation initiatives. Led cross-functional project teams and coordinated group efforts. Planned and managed execution of marketing projects. Developed 2000 Brand Plans for Crunchie and TimeOut.

• Key Account Manager

  • Jul 1998 - Feb 1999

  Managed profitable account growth and new business opportunities in Discount and Entertainment Channels.Developed a strategic assessment of each channel. Recommendations were incorporated into annual account plans.Determined and delivered profit contribution targets for accounts.Built annual account plans and designed strategies for implementation. Worked with customers to bring focus to understanding their consumers and effective category management initiatives.



Sales and Merchandising Group/ Cadbury Chocolate

• Area Sales Manager

  • Dec 1995 - Jun 1998

  Managed training and professional development of Cadbury's Metro Toronto Retail Reps. Co-ordinated team efforts to achieve sales, distribution and merchandising targets.Empowered team to set challenging objectives and supported individuals in achieving goals.Coached team members in developing business building programs for accounts.Facilitated and organized communication between the Sales Office and Retail Reps.Prepared and presented semi-annual performance reviews and provided ongoing performance related feedback.Recruited and hired new reps.



Adams Brands, Warner Lambert

• Territory Manager

  • Nov 1993 - Nov 1995

  Achieved merchandising and distribution objectives in Retail, Wholesale and H/O accounts.Delivered sales volume targets while operating within trade spend budgets.Planned and executed account programs.Forecasted prepack sales and ensured sell-through within required time frames.Planned and supervised the activities of assigned Customer Service Representatives. Achieved merchandising and distribution objectives in Retail, Wholesale and H/O accounts.Delivered sales volume targets while operating within trade spend budgets.Planned and executed account programs.Forecasted prepack sales and ensured sell-through within required time frames.Planned and supervised the activities of assigned Customer Service Representatives.



Ault Foods

• Peru
• Food and Beverage Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Sales Co-ordinator - Co-op Placements

  • 1990 - 1993

  Forecasted product requirements, communicated sales related info throughout organization Forecasted product requirements, communicated sales related info throughout organization