brad ross

As an independent manufacturer's representative in the food service supply and equipment industry I put into place a business model that is unique in this industry today. Instead of carrying 15+ lines and having multiple sales people as do most rep groups, I chose to remain as an individual selling just a few lines, with the key word being "selling". I kept my focus on local restaurant supply dealers in my territory as well as chain accounts based in my territory. Today I cover Georgia, Alabama, central and east Tennessee and the Florida panhandle as well as North and South Carolina. It is a large area, but with just a few lines to sell, it has been a very successful model for over 30 years. My strengths have been relationship building with a focus on becoming a resource for my customers. I have accomplished this through obtaining extensive product knowledge, offering a very high level of customer service and an unquestioned level of integrity, loyalty and trust.

In this consulting position for Browne & Co. I assisted in both the product development and marketing sides of the company. My 35+ years of experience in selling smallwares to the foodservice industry as well as my product and competitor knowledge made me uniquely qualified for this position. In this consulting position I helped to write copy for catalogs, flyers, packaging, etc. as well as offered ideas on how to best illustrate the features and benefits of products through the use of photography. On the product development side I offered insights into various market segment opportunities and competition as well as offering ideas for new, unique products or how to redesign existing products to obtain a competitive edge. I was also intimately involved in competitive pricing analysis and helping to determine potential market share for new items.

While maintaining my position as a manufacturer's representative for Browne-Halco, I also served as a Regional Sales Manager to help Browne & Co. restructure the new U.S. based Browne-Halco after Browne's purchase of Halco in 2003. In this role I was in charge of managing and training four other rep groups as well as being the main Browne-Halco contact for multiple buying groups within the foodservice equipment and supply industry. In addition, I had a significant role in laying out Browne-Halco's strategy for going to market in the U.S.

Independent manufacturer's representative covering the state of Florida in the food service equipment and supply industry. Called on restaurant supply distributors and chain accounts. Product categories consisted of smallwares, furniture, counter top equipment and menu boards.