JAMES T.

ERGEN
2829 West Harrison Street Glenview, Illinois 60025
(847) 224-9608 cell * je682272@westpost.net
SENIOR SALES EXECUTIVE
Seasoned sales professional with over 30 years of proven expertise in food indus
try. Displays exceptional talent and drive for building client base and customer
maintenance. Extreme dedicated focus on maximizing revenues and increasing firm
profitability. Develop promotional and sales strategies, and lead national sale
s team in successful implementation of programs to expand market share and incre
ase brand awareness.
CORE COMPETENTCIES
* Client networking, management and relationship building
* Researching micro and macro markets to gain customer intimacy to develop custo
mized sales strategies
* Optimizing new and existing channels
* Developing and implementing product line promotions and programs
* Developing new product lines and categories
* Negotiations of distributor partnerships and contracts
* Advertising and merchandising
* Direction and management of sales staff
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
NATIONAL SALES MANAGER
IMPERIAL FOOD SERVICE * SOUTH ELGIN, ILLINOIS October 2009-August 2010
A preferred vendor for the U.S. government supplying foods for the military, bot
h domestic and overseas with sales in excess of $80 million.
Responsible for national business development with national retail supermarket c
hains.
NATIONAL CORPORATE ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
DIETZ & WATSON * PHILADELPHIA, PA April 2006-October 2009
A national leader in the premium deli meat and cheese industry with 3 manufactur
ing plants with sales in excess of $350 million.
Responsible for regional business development and sales strategies. Accountable
for sales in excess of $40 million (est. 2009), increasing sales year-over year
by 25% (average) from 2007-2009.
SALES AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Managed Giant Eagle account on corporate level. R
esponsible for designing and implementing programs to help increase top-line sal
es and bottom-line profits. Designed weekly promotional calendar for print adver
tising. Managed brokers, distributors and accounts in Midwestern part of the cou
ntry. Targeted strong retailers such as Meijer and Roundy's. Managed Lipari Food
s Distributor which covers 10 state radius. Managed and developed private label
business for Aldi, US. Responsible for the development and implementation of pri
vate label meat items in 1,000 store chain. Developed and maintained strong prof
essional relationship with new and existing customers.
NATIONAL CORPORATE ACCOUNT MANAGER
GEORGE E.DELALLO COMPANY * GREENSBURG , PA July 1996-April 2006
National specialty foods importer.
Responsible for regional and nation-wide business development and sales and mark
eting strategies. Tasked with expanding the grocery and perishable portfolio thr
ough the building of new and existing client base. Directly responsible for sale
s in excess of $30 million., increasing revenue by 20% (average) year-over-year
from 2004-2006.
Solely managed single largest profit entity in company (Giant Eagle olive and an
tipasto business) Sole representative and negotiator on multiple accounts. Manag
ed, coordinated and attended all national food trade shows to increase brand awa
reness and initiate potential networks. Designed and implemented national grocer
y program for national retailers. Broke down and analyzed Excel spreadsheet peri
odic revenue and market data to determine seasonal, regional, and product line t
rends to develop quarterly forecasts and to devise customized regional and natio
nal weekly, monthly and quarterly promotions and discounts to increase brand awa
reness and market penetration. Researched and analyzed new and existing markets
to develop and promote new food categories Engaged in channel expansion and bran
d education through client relationship building. Designed and implemented natio
nal incentive program for national perishable regional managers. The program is
volume-based program where the managers can obtain incentives based on increases
over the previous year. Built in an accrual program for the retailer that is al
so based on volume increases. Total national perishable business increased over
60% from previous year. Main point of contact for national and regional sales re
presentatives, responding to and providing information regarding new promotions
and direction for implementation of new programs. Interfaced daily with national
and regional sales representatives to maintain finger on pulse, gain understand
ing of market trends and competitor tactics. Conduct initial recruiting and hiri
ng of sales and management personnel.
CO-MANAGER
THE FOOD GALLERY * MCMURRAY, PA March 1995-June 1996 6 store upscale specialty f
oods retailer with sales in excess of $20 million annually per store.
Managed daily operations and maintain profitability for this grocery store with
$20 million in annual sales.
GENERAL MANAGER
FOODLAND * IMPERIAL, PA May 1975 - December 1994
Responsible for managing all facets of business including financial, personnel a
nd business development activities for estimated $7 -$8 million in annual sales.
EDUCATION:
THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY, University Park, PA 9/79 - 3/82