I’m proud to provide professional business planning, sales management and brand-management services within the natural and organic foods and health products industry for over 35 years, serving regional, national and global markets, and working closely with brokers, distributors, manufacturers and managing Canada’s most influential retailers, such as Empire (Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Farm Boy, Thrifty Foods) Loblaws (Shoppers Drug Mart, RCSS), Pattison Group (Save-On-Foods, Buy-Low Foods, Nesters Market, Quality Foods, Urban Fare, Choices Market, Nature’s Fare Markets),Walmart, Metro, Avril, Healthy Planet, Bulk Barn, Popeye’s Supplements, Nutter’s, Kootenay Coop, Amaranth Whole Foods, Community Natural Foods, Planet Organic, Sangsters, Vitality Health Foods, Sunterra Markets, Federated Coop, Calgary Coop, Whole Foods, McKesson, Well.ca, Health First Network, Sysco and Gordon Food Service.
Some notable positions I have excelled in include Sales & Brand Manager for LeBeau Excel, over a 10-year period, managing over 70 national and international brands representing natural and organic foods and including highly regulated vitamins, nutritional supplements, premium and specialty products across Alberta, BC Interior and Lower Mainland, consistently achieving above national average YOY increases.
Prior to working with LeBeau Excel, I dedicated 10 years providing Business Development Consulting and Brand Management services for participants in British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture‘s grant funding programs, where I was responsible for sourcing, qualifying and securing over 50 natural product manufactures to participate in the program, earning clients trust and crafting their formal Business and Marketing Plans, helping these businesses to clarify and supercharge their business planning and providing brand-management services. I was also responsible for the creation of 8 instructional modules on business management topics and growth strategies, used by industry leaders.
The Ministry of Economy of Mexico engaged me in Business Consultant services over a 5-year period, where I supported 18 Mexican-based natural food manufactures and growers, assisting them in structuring their business, sales and marketing plans and identifying opportunities for exporting natural food products into Canada and abroad.
My strengths have always focused on meaningful and consistent brand and customer service, supporting and building long-lasting relationships. I possess a strong understanding of sales and marketing metrics and key performance indicators. I am well versed and skilled in strategic deployments of promotions and measurements of their results. I bring a strong ability and desire to manage all aspects of strategic planning, sales, marketing and business development initiatives.
I have always been personally and professionally inspired to represent and advocate for products that support health and well-being to people, animals and the planet. I very much enjoy contributing to the overall growth of brands within the natural, organic plant-based product categories that provide meaningful support to the brands I represent and the end-consumer.
DRIVE & MOTIVATION
• I am passionate about healthy living and the importance of healthy food choices
• I love to work in a fast paced, highly collaborative environment
• I bring new ideas, take them from concept to execution, to grow the business
CHARACTER & ABILITIES
• I have a strong bias for action with the ability to execute and achieve results
• I can successfully manage multiple priorities and deliverables
• I have an ability to influence while working collaboratively both externally and internally
• I am an exceptional communicator, who can build meaningful relationships and inspire action
KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS
• I have a solid business development, sales and marketing background
• I consistently drive growth and achieve sales plan targets
• I have an analytical nature, and strong familiarity with strategic data capabilities
• I have exceptional communication, relationship building, and negotiation skills
• I have highly proficient computer skills including Microsoft Office, and customer data portals
EXPERIENCE
• I have years of experience in a CPG sales role.
• I have years in key account management, brand-management and business development roles in the food/beverage category
• I have experience working directly with major national account, such as Loblaw and Sobeys
• I have extensive experience in Natural/Organic categories
THINGS I DO
• I build and execute customer plans to achieve business plan targets
• I unlock market share growth in my assigned customer portfolio
• I leverage insights to influence the customer category plans
• I execute annual promotional plans and manage trade spend budget
• I launch new products flawlessly and retailer timeframes and guidelines
• I identify and communicate store level and brand opportunities
Love what you do and do what you love.
– Hartley Berg