Tom Clayton

Tom Clayton

Tom Clayton 
Charlotte, NC 28104
Email Address: tomclayton@carolina.rr.com
LinkedIn Profile Address: Tom Clayton


FORTUNE 500 FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY SALES MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL

I am a classically trained Fortune 500 sales professional with over 20 years of branded products and over seven years private brands sales and sales management experience. I am looking for a National or Regional CPG sales or sales management position and offer you a career-long history of high level proven results. I am open to opportunities that allow me to utilize my vast branded and private label sales experience to build or grow your U.S. business.


SPECIALTIES

  • Branded and private brands sales and sales management
  • Broker management
  • Restructuring and turnaround
  • Branded and private label new product development and launch
  • Foodservice, Co-packing, Export, Military and C-store sales development
  • Accounting and deduction control and management
  • Marketing and promotional planning and implementation

Extensive experience selling many categories throughout thestore including soups, juices, canned and frozen vegetables, salty snacks, condiments and sauces, salad dressings, honeys, pasta sauces, pickles, deli mustards, refrigerated dressings, frozen dinners, entrees, breakfasts, breads and desserts.


ABOUT ME

I have strong, proven branded and private label sales experience in all CPG channels with extensive experience in retail grocery, including Wal*Mart, the Clubs, Target, all Southeast grocers, HEB, Aldi, Save-A-Lot, Kroger, FoodLion, Publix, Dollar Stores, CVS and 7-Eleven, to name a few.

I have served as a Director of Private Brands and as VP of Sales & Marketing, and was with a major Fortune 500 foods leader for over 20 years. I also have experience at privately held smaller companies.

The most rewarding aspect of my career has been working in the ever changing and challenging foods industry.  It’s exciting and I have great pride in my career-long history of delivering exceptional results.  I have enjoyed the wide variety of products and challenges I have encountered thus far in my career and truly look forward to my next opportunity.

One of my biggest challenges (and proudest career moments) was to break my company’s products into a brand new department sector. The situation was complicated. We were a much smaller player than the currently stocked nationally known product line.  I developed a solid strategy and started working with key customers to accomplish my goal.  My first major success was with Wal*Mart, where I got our products in national distribution, producing over $1million in sales volume annually – and our product ultimately replaced the national brand.

I have a real passion for achieving desired results and enjoy working in a supportive, team-inspired environment where the opportunities abound and I am unleashed to make things happen.  Being appreciated and rewarded for my accomplishments is a strong motivating factor.

If you asked the people I have worked for about me I think they would say that I have a powerful desire to be on top, to meet expectations, and to accomplish desired goals. They would probably mention my drive, my willingness to learn and grow, plus my creativity and integrity in approaching my work. I also think they would say I am a consummate team player.

 

DOWN TIME

When I’m not working I enjoy tennis and golf and volunteering at my church. I also love to travel and have had the opportunity to explore different parts of the world.

My favorite quote? “The harder I work, the luckier I get!”  I think Sam Goldwyn said that!

 

I welcome new connections on LinkedIn!  Click here to connect with me.

 

CPGJOBS SAYS…

Tom has been a great candidate of ours since 1999.  He is a Food & Beverage industry senior sales and management professional with many years proven Branded and Private Brands sales and leadership results. He is a highly motivated self-starter with excellent interpersonal, analytical, written, verbal communications and presentation skills. We have also found him to have extensive knowledge and expertise in sales and sales management methodologies and tools. Tom is very personable and we have enjoyed having him as a candidate as his career has developed. We feel that any company would be fortunate to have him as an employee.