Harris Couch has been named vice president, foodservice. Couch has worked more than 30 years in the foodservice industry. He has been involved in purchasing, regional sales, multi-unit purchasing and sales, and most recently management of a systems distribution group. Couch will be involved in both category management and sales.
Tom Smouse was hired as the new director of category management, foodservice, reporting to Couch. Smouse brings more than 25 years of experience to Federated Foodservice. He was a buyer at a distributorship in Texas in the beginning of his career. He then spent the bulk of his career at the headquarters of a distribution group involved in the refrigerated purchasing category, quality assurance, branding and most recently in training. Smouse also has a culinary background and certification. He will be responsible for the refrigerated and frozen categories, as well as the day-to-day management of the foodservice category management team.
Reporting to Tom will be new appointees Chuck Coscia and Cindy Milazzo.
Coscia, as category manager, will have direct responsibilities for the non-food and service categories, as well as a variety of the marketing programs. Coscia has experience with group organizations in the hotel industry, as well as five years in the foodservice industry. He was involved in the development of a disposables branding program at a distribution group headquarters.
Milazzao, as the second category manager, is new to the Federated Foodservice team this year. Milazzao has been working with new suppliers as well as negotiating and developing new monthly purchasing incentives. She is responsible for the new leveraged purchasing opportunity. Milazzao has a degree in hotel & restaurant management and has had management responsibility on the operator side of our industry.
The distributor group also announced changes in its sales department. Sheri Garity has assumed the position of customer service manager. Jan LeBlanc will report to Garity, who has been with the group for several years. She has worked with members on the implementation of their food shows and tracking of Promotional Allowances. In addition to managing customer service, Garity will also assume responsibility for accounts directed by Ian Davis and Bernie Peluso.
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