Melany Jolly joins Markon
Melany Jolly joins Markon
Salinas, CA-based Markon Cooperative is making a push to boost its national account produce sales, recently hiring Melany Jolly for the position of vice president of national sales.
Ms. Jolly's primary responsibility will be to develop national account produce sales for Markon, a produce purchasing and marketing cooperative comprised of the leading independent broadline foodservice distributors in Canada and the United States. Markon purchases its produce from some 50 suppliers nationwide.
Ms. Jolly most recently was regional senior director of multi-unit sales for Sysco Corp. where she managed key national accounts and developed emerging chain business. Prior to joining Sysco, Ms. Jolly was executive vice president of Fresh America Corp. Fresh America had previously purchased Premier Produce Inc., a Texas-based independent produce distributor that Ms. Jolly founded in 1989.
Markon President Tim York said that Ms. Jolly is an excellent fit for her role with his company.
"I don't think you could find a more perfect background," Mr. York said, adding that the company "was so darn excited" to have Ms. Jolly land in its camp. Multi-unit accounts are where the business is going, he said.
Ms. Jolly will work closely with Markon member distributors and the Markon team in Salinas. She will analyze strategic business opportunities and help Markon develop products and services tailored to the unique needs of multi-unit operators. Steve Pinto handles Markon's national accounts inside sales while Ms. Jolly often will be on the road working on national accounts outside sales.
Mr. York said Markon -- now in its 21st year of experience working in the foodservice realm -- has taken stock of its position in the marketplace. He said that the company has performed very well in areas such as branding, procurement, marketing support and food safety. The push toward boosting its national account produce sales is not a "turning of the ship" but more of an expanded role for Markon, he said.
In large part fuel costs are driving this initiative. "Profits in distribution are measured by drop size," Mr. York said. "Looking at national accounts, we really hit their sweet spot."
At present, Markon's business is about 65 percent "street" accounts and about 35 percent national accounts, Mr. York said. From its Salinas headquarters, Markon provides fresh produce purchasing, food safety, quality assurance, logistics, marketing and sales services exclusively to its member distributors and their foodservice customers. Markon member distributors service over 85,000 accounts in North America, for annual sales in excess of $12 billion.
Ms. Jolly and her husband, Bill, reside in Boerne, TX, and have three grown children.
Ms. Jolly's primary responsibility will be to develop national account produce sales for Markon, a produce purchasing and marketing cooperative comprised of the leading independent broadline foodservice distributors in Canada and the United States. Markon purchases its produce from some 50 suppliers nationwide.
Ms. Jolly most recently was regional senior director of multi-unit sales for Sysco Corp. where she managed key national accounts and developed emerging chain business. Prior to joining Sysco, Ms. Jolly was executive vice president of Fresh America Corp. Fresh America had previously purchased Premier Produce Inc., a Texas-based independent produce distributor that Ms. Jolly founded in 1989.
Markon President Tim York said that Ms. Jolly is an excellent fit for her role with his company.
"I don't think you could find a more perfect background," Mr. York said, adding that the company "was so darn excited" to have Ms. Jolly land in its camp. Multi-unit accounts are where the business is going, he said.
Ms. Jolly will work closely with Markon member distributors and the Markon team in Salinas. She will analyze strategic business opportunities and help Markon develop products and services tailored to the unique needs of multi-unit operators. Steve Pinto handles Markon's national accounts inside sales while Ms. Jolly often will be on the road working on national accounts outside sales.
Mr. York said Markon -- now in its 21st year of experience working in the foodservice realm -- has taken stock of its position in the marketplace. He said that the company has performed very well in areas such as branding, procurement, marketing support and food safety. The push toward boosting its national account produce sales is not a "turning of the ship" but more of an expanded role for Markon, he said.
In large part fuel costs are driving this initiative. "Profits in distribution are measured by drop size," Mr. York said. "Looking at national accounts, we really hit their sweet spot."
At present, Markon's business is about 65 percent "street" accounts and about 35 percent national accounts, Mr. York said. From its Salinas headquarters, Markon provides fresh produce purchasing, food safety, quality assurance, logistics, marketing and sales services exclusively to its member distributors and their foodservice customers. Markon member distributors service over 85,000 accounts in North America, for annual sales in excess of $12 billion.
Ms. Jolly and her husband, Bill, reside in Boerne, TX, and have three grown children.
