1717 Barlow Lane #2 Phone (206)419-3080

Boise, Idaho 83709 E-mail jhorne10708@gmail.com

John Horne
Profile Seasoned Sales Management professional with extensive experience in the consumer
packaged goods industry. Extensive history of delivering profits and building national brand
awareness in the Natural and Organic Specialty Food market segments. Skilled at identifying
sales opportunities and maximizing efficiencies. Strong reputation for motivational
leadership of national and regional direct reports and brokers. Recognized for conducting
powerful sales presentations to high-profile retail executives, and for expertise in both
operational and financial management.

Professional March 2007 – August 2009 Casa Pons U.S., Inc Bronxville, NY

Experience ($250 million U.S. subsidiary of Grup Pons, a family-owned grower/producer/marketer/exporter of Spanish XV Olive
Oils).

U.S Director

• Direct all national sales and marketing initiatives

• Approved all banking and fiscal transactions for U.S. operations

• Delivered corporate sales presentations to executive audiences at the national level

• Developed and initiated national sales forecasts and operational plans

• Managed a national network of seventy five Specialty Food Brokers

• Negotiated and signed-off on all customer and broker contracts

• Coordinate container shipments from Barcelona and compliance issues with the FDA

• Organize national tradeshows and multiple distributor events

Key Accomplishments:

• Achieved multiple national product placements in over three thousand locations

• Developed alternate distribution channels throughout the U.S.

• Organized a national Specialty Foods broker network for Natural and Organic

• Relocated our warehouse to improve efficiencies, saving the company $40,000

annually

• Eliminated pricing schedules from 8 to 2 (grocery mass and food service only)

• Improved sales and operation efficiencies by establishing order minimums for all
customers
December 2006 – March 2007

NATURAL SPECIALTY SALES, INC. (NSSI), a division of Acosta - Washington and

Oregon

Provider of national sales and marketing solutions for manufacturers of natural, organic, gourmet, and ethnic
foods.

BUSINESS MANAGER

• Team lead for Apple Gate Farms – fresh natural and organic market segments

• Coordination and implementation of all promotional activities and corporate

presentations

• Established regional sales and marketing strategies, and annual promotional

planners

Key Accomplishments:

• Delivered sixty two percent increase in product placement in six months

• Increased customer count twenty four percent in first four months in position

• Established over 3,000 new pints of distribution within existing accounts in six
months

June 2003 – December 2006 DPI, INC. Seattle, Washington

Leading distributor of imported and domestic specialty and ethnic food. Serving grocery mass market, and other retailers in
the Pacific Northwest.

DISTRICT MANAGER

• Hire, train, and direct sales activities of thirty five field sales staff and three District
Managers

• Directed sales call frequency and service schedules

• Managed key relationships with stores and corporate personnel

• Ensured the schematic integrity of over five thousand items

Key Accomplishments:

• 144 new points of distribution in a national grocery mass retailer within two months

• Trained minimally experienced team members, leading to reduced employee

turnover

• Led North West team in delivering company’s largest sales increase

April 1999 – May 2003 HAGENSBORG FOOD CORPORATION, Vancouver, British

Columbia
Manufacturer of fine European chocolate truffles and importer of Spanish Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Sherry Vinegar, and Sea
Food Pates

VICE PRESIDENT SALES

• Directed all sales and marketing activities in the U.S. and Canada

• Coordinated all national and distributor Trade Shows

KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Placed multiple branded products in leading national grocery retailers; Spanish XV

Olive Oil, Sherry Vinegar, Sea Food Pates, and upscale Chocolate Truffles.

• Secured three private label Chocolate Truffles in Safeway – nationally

October 1995 – March 1999 GOURMET AWARDS/TREE OF LIFE, Clackamas,

Oregon
National Distributor of Specialty Foods (Natural / Organic / and Ethnic) to the grocery mass market.

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

• Developed and managed customer and corporate relationships

• Delivered corporate sales presentations to; SUPERVALU, Haggen, Bartell’s, and

Safeway

KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Increased same store sales twenty seven percent in two years

• Implemented a perpetual merchandising module accommodating seasonal themes

CAREER NOTE: Previous roles include General Manager for McKesson Robins/Mass
Merchandisers, Inc., and Vice President for Pac-West Wholesale Distributors, Inc.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Business Administration Courses, Brigham Young University, Rexburg,

Idaho

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Food Marketing Institute (FMI) – National Association for the Specialty Food Trade (NASTFA)

Private Label Manufacturing Institute (PLMA) – National Confectioners Association (NCA)

Confectioners Manufacturing Association (CMA)

REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST