Benjamin Zionts

Drive operational excellence, production planning, co-manufacturer management, and new product development. - Leveraged an extensive network of brokers and carriers to streamline end-to-end logistics and fulfillment operations, achieving a 1–2-day reduction in delivery times, thereby enhancing customer satisfaction and operational efficiency. - Streamlined Production Plan, New Product Development, and S&OP meetings to 30 minutes enhancing cross-functional collaboration, reducing inventory by 60%, and cutting production lead times from 20 to 12 weeks. - Revolutionized a hydration powder stick pack from high-cost and poor taste to a cost-effective, palatable product, reducing costs by $1.25 per unit through collaboration with formulators and supplier negotiations. - Led a strategic initiative tor eformulate TIU’s plant- based protein powder by analyzing customer reviews and conducting in-person taste tests, significantly enhancing flavor profiles despite ingredient limitations.

Recruited by CEO to return and support the explosive growth experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic and to manage the launch of a new tablet-based household cleaning refill product line. - Led a direct procurement initiative with Chinese manufacturers to source high-quality spray triggers, reducing costs by 20% and saving $2MM in 2021, while streamlining the supply chain by bypassing middlemen. - Innovated a custom Excel-based forecasting model, transforming inventory management from reactive to proactive, resulting in a 90% reduction in out-of-stock incidents, building on a rudimentary version from a previous role. - Successfully led the development and launch of a new product line with sustainable packaging, achieving $1M in sales and distribution through major retailers like Costco, while completing the project on time and under budget. - Expedited the launch of an online international dryer sheet product from two years to six months by initiating an RFP with a manufacturer found on Alibaba, contributing to its successful branding and market introduction. - Leveraged personal network to onboard a new local Denver manufacturer, streamlining operations and slashing manufacturing costs by 15%, while significantly enhancing production reliability.

Charged with independently managing inventory, forecasting, material planning, and production planning for manufacturing and distribution. - Navigated sourcing challenges to identify and onboard a responsive soft chew contract manufacturer, reducing lead times from 14 to 10 weeks and ensuring an efficient transition from sampling to market-ready packages. - Established and implemented a comprehensive inventory process from the ground up, creating SOPs and training warehouse managers, significantly enhancing accuracy and transparency in the company’s owned warehouse. - Revamped sourcing and purchasing for ingredients and packaging, achieving a 10% cost reduction and improved transparency with five contract manufacturers.

Hand-selected by the CEO to manage all aspects of 1908 Brands’ supply chain after demonstrating purchasing and logistics excellence with the company’s seven brands. Effectively communicated between Quality, Operations, and Marketing departments to ensure product packaging and labels are up to date and compliant with the FDA. - Strategically sourced over 500 food, chemical, and packaging components from diverse suppliers, ensuring optimal supply levels at six contract manufacturers and one company-owned production facility. - Successfully launched 69 SKUs across five brands, overcoming formulation challenges and meeting strict nutrition requirements through effective Gantt chart project management and collaborative weekly status meetings. - Spearheaded cross-departmental coordination between Quality, Operations, and Marketing to enhance FDA compliance in product packaging and labels, leading to a successful Costco supplier audit with a high score of 96/100. - Strategically established backup and emergency suppliers based on competitive pricing and quality documentation, ensuring uninterrupted production and SKU availability during supply chain disruptions. - Cultivated strong supplier relationships through personal interactions at trade shows, resulting in a reliable supply of organic ingredients and a 10% cost reduction.

Very rapidly promoted from Customer Service role to Purchasing Manager. Charged with negotiating and purchasing food ingredients and packaging materials for the three snack brands. - Reduced ingredient costs by 35% in the first year by transitioning to suppliers with robust quality control, enhancing supply reliability and transparency, leading to improved ingredient quality and advance notifications of supply shortages. - Resolved a critical production issue with an oatmeal/fruit puree squeeze pack, flying out on short notice to collaborate with a local formulator in Utah, resulting in a successful product launch with a compatible formulation. - Innovatively sourced new ingredients for small-scale recipes, conducting thorough supplier research and negotiations, leading to a 20% cost reduction in flagship product ingredients and securing multiple reliable sources.

Excelled as the primary contact for customers, adeptly resolving issues and balancing customer and company needs. Thrived independently, creating a B2B order tracker to streamline fulfillment, notably aiding in a successful Staples launch. - Achieved 99% accuracy in order processing and addressed shortages promptly; negotiated with new freight providers to cut logistics costs by 10%, shorten delivery times by 1-2 days, and enhance supply chain transparency. - Proactively contacted new freight providers to reduce 1908 Brands’ freight and logistics spend by 10%.

Quickly advanced to manage account coordination, operations, and direct sales for a multi-million-dollar food wholesale business, overseeing ordering, inventory, distribution, quality control, and customer service. - Oversaw $1M in domestic business and manage over 300 imported product offerings, coordinating with a sister company/supplier in Scotland to manage over $2M in inventory. - Significantly contributed to sales and customer support for Whole Foods in Florida and Northeast regions, achieving a consistent increase in revenue from $153K in 2010 to $296K in 2014, while also managing inventory.