CMI promotes Bob Mast
CMI promotes Bob Mast
Bob Mast has been promoted to vice president of marketing at Columbia Marketing International, based in Wenatchee, WA. He assumed the position formerly held by Mike Hambleton, who will continue to work on an array of special projects for CMI.
Mr. Mast came to CMI as its director of marketing in 2003. Prior to his relocation to Wenatchee, he served as assistant produce director and produce category manager for 100 stores in the Fry chain in Arizona. He graduated from Arizona State University in 1995 with a bachelor's degree in management.
"I am very honored and excited to accept this position," Mr. Mast said prior to his promotion. "I look forward to working with the CMI team, our growers and our customers to drive CMI's business and service to new levels.
"I enjoy working with the ever-changing demands of our retailers," Mr. Mast added. "[These] change every day. There have been a lot of challenging and fun projects."
Mr. Mast said that CMI currently is talking with the Pear Bureau Northwest in Portland, OR, to develop and customize plans to drive pear sales. The 2007 season produced a large crop of exceptional quality fruit, and Mr. Mast said that retailers should enjoy healthy sales when pears hit the marketplace.
CMI is in its third year marketing the gourmet sweet Ambrosia apple. The company is the exclusive marketer for the variety in the United States, where the apple has been well-received. Ambrosias are produced domestically, and CMI also has Canadian growing partners.
"Our tonnage is going to increase every year," Mr. Mast said. A new shipper was developed last season, and he was pleased to see how quickly Ambrosias flew out of the produce department.
"We are also enhancing the Grapple program," he said, adding that new display materials are being developed to promote Grapple sales. "This is our coordinated effort to get retail input on display vehicles. We present options, and retailers provide input."
One of the more exciting aspects of the business has been participation in trade shows, according to Mr. Mast. "We have a responsibility to enhance grower returns and retail sales," he said. "It is fun to visit with retailers and talk about coming crops and creative ideas."
Mr. Hambleton said that CMI couldn't have chosen a more worthy successor. "This promotion will be a perfect fit for Bob's skills that he has demonstrated as the director of marketing. Bob's extensive experience is a tremendous asset to our marketing and sales efforts. Giving Bob the helm of the marketing department will allow me to work on special projects which need additional attention."
Mr. Hambleton has already begun to turn his attention to three very important special projects: CMI's food safety program, organic product development and inventory management.
Mr. Mast came to CMI as its director of marketing in 2003. Prior to his relocation to Wenatchee, he served as assistant produce director and produce category manager for 100 stores in the Fry chain in Arizona. He graduated from Arizona State University in 1995 with a bachelor's degree in management.
"I am very honored and excited to accept this position," Mr. Mast said prior to his promotion. "I look forward to working with the CMI team, our growers and our customers to drive CMI's business and service to new levels.
"I enjoy working with the ever-changing demands of our retailers," Mr. Mast added. "[These] change every day. There have been a lot of challenging and fun projects."
Mr. Mast said that CMI currently is talking with the Pear Bureau Northwest in Portland, OR, to develop and customize plans to drive pear sales. The 2007 season produced a large crop of exceptional quality fruit, and Mr. Mast said that retailers should enjoy healthy sales when pears hit the marketplace.
CMI is in its third year marketing the gourmet sweet Ambrosia apple. The company is the exclusive marketer for the variety in the United States, where the apple has been well-received. Ambrosias are produced domestically, and CMI also has Canadian growing partners.
"Our tonnage is going to increase every year," Mr. Mast said. A new shipper was developed last season, and he was pleased to see how quickly Ambrosias flew out of the produce department.
"We are also enhancing the Grapple program," he said, adding that new display materials are being developed to promote Grapple sales. "This is our coordinated effort to get retail input on display vehicles. We present options, and retailers provide input."
One of the more exciting aspects of the business has been participation in trade shows, according to Mr. Mast. "We have a responsibility to enhance grower returns and retail sales," he said. "It is fun to visit with retailers and talk about coming crops and creative ideas."
Mr. Hambleton said that CMI couldn't have chosen a more worthy successor. "This promotion will be a perfect fit for Bob's skills that he has demonstrated as the director of marketing. Bob's extensive experience is a tremendous asset to our marketing and sales efforts. Giving Bob the helm of the marketing department will allow me to work on special projects which need additional attention."
Mr. Hambleton has already begun to turn his attention to three very important special projects: CMI's food safety program, organic product development and inventory management.
