ABOUT US
OLIPOP was founded in 2017 by Ben Goodwin and David Lester. Ben and David have been working together for nearly a decade to find accessible solutions to bring the benefits of digestive health to as many consumers as possible. OLIPOP is a deliciously refreshing tonic that is crafted with prebiotics, botanicals, and natural plant fiber to support your microbiome and benefit digestive health. We're on a mission to provide an affordable, delicious alternative to soda that delivers leading-edge health benefits to mainstream consumers.
OUR TEAM
At Olipop our values lead the way we create our products, engage with each other, and interact with our community. While we’re invested in our product, we’re equally invested in personal development. We’re tightly knit, we’re genuine and we’re always pushing the envelope to do a better job than we did the day before. Our team is also fully remote, requiring us to be resourceful, creative and collaborative to support our fast-moving business.
To best serve our diverse community of customers, we also seek to recruit and include people with a diversity of abilities, backgrounds, and cultures.
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
Working at a start-up can be as much a personal journey as it is a professional one. To succeed at a company like Olipop, you must be comfortable with failing, learning, and adapting. You need to be curious, optimistic, and able to find a way when it seems impossible. You must be confident enough to express your ideas but humble and open to learning from your experiences and from others. If this is the approach you take to life, then we’d love to hear from you.
THE ROLE
The Director of Distribution will lead and advance strategic relationships with large broad-line distributors, as well as key contract foodservice customers. This role will be pivotal in creating and nurturing partnerships with industry giants such as PFG, Vistar, Sysco, and US Foods, while working closely with contract foodservice providers like Compass, Canteen, Sodexo, and Aramark. The Director will collaborate with cross functional teams, including Foodservice and On-Premise, Supply Chain and Operations, to identify and implement innovative distribution solutions that maximize efficiency, availability, and drive business growth.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- Strategic Relationship Management:
- Develop and maintain strong, long-term relationships with large broad-line distributors (e.g. PFG, Vistar, Sysco, US Foods).
- Collaborate with distribution partners to optimize product reach, market penetration, and logistics efficiencies.
- Collaborate with distribution partners on marketing efforts that build awareness of OLIPOP to their - customers.
- Work with cross-functional teams to develop tailored strategies that align with business goals, ensuring mutual growth and success with distribution partners.
- Foodservice Customer Engagement:
- Act as the primary liaison for key contract foodservice customers (Compass, Canteen, Sodexo, Aramark).
- Identify and understand the unique needs and challenges of each customer and collaborate on customized,mutually beneficial distribution solutions.
- Lead contract negotiations and ensure availability of our products. Exceed customer expectations while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
- Collaboration with Internal Teams:
- Partner closely with the Foodservice and On-Premise team to ensure seamless coordination between distribution and customer needs.
- Provide insights and recommendations to sales team based on distribution performance, trends, and customer feedback to optimize solutions.
- Lead cross-departmental efforts to address operational challenges and implement innovative distribution strategies.
- Market Intelligence & Business Development:
- Monitor industry trends, competitor activities, and market conditions to identify opportunities for growth and areas for improvement.
- Develop and execute strategic initiatives that enhance the distribution network and drive revenue growth across target markets.
- Leadership & Team Development:
- Create vision of success for Distributors and Key Foodservice providers
- Develop distribution strategy that aligns with our strategic priorities
- Lead, mentor, and develop the distribution team to enhance overall performance and support business objectives.
- Foster a collaborative environment that emphasizes proactive problem-solving, creativity, and continuous improvement.
- Reporting & Performance Analysis:
- Regularly track and report on key distribution metrics, customer satisfaction, and sales performance to senior management.
- Analyze distribution data to identify areas for improvement and implement actionable solutions.
- Create and monitor monthly forecasts, working in partnership with the sales team to work towards a forecasting accuracy goal of 95%
- Create and communicate annual business plans for distributors and customers
- Conduct regular business reviews with distributors and customers
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, or related field. MBA or advanced degree preferred.
- Minimum of 10 years of experience in distribution, supply chain management, and/or foodservice industry, with at least 5 years in a leadership role.
- Proven experience building and maintaining relationships with large broad-liners (e.g., PFG, Sysco, US Foods) and contract foodservice customers (e.g., Compass, Sodexo, Aramark).
- Strong knowledge of foodservice distribution systems, logistics, and supply chain management.
- Exceptional negotiation, communication, and relationship-building skills.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate cross-functionally and drive successful outcomes in a team-oriented environment.
- Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret data and translate it into actionable strategies.
- Strong leadership capabilities with experience in mentoring and developing teams.
Reports to: VP, Foodservice & On Premise
We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Olipop does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor. Applicants and employees are protected from discrimination under Federal law. For more information, please see EEO is the Law.
