T&A's Doug Meyer now at West Pak Avocado
T&A's Doug Meyer now at West Pak Avocado
Industry veteran Doug Meyer has joined Temecula, CA-based West Pak Avocado as its new vice president of sales and marketing. He will be managing the daily sales and marketing functions of the company.
Mr. Meyer told The Produce News that after 13 years with vegetable giant Tanimura & Antle in Salinas, CA, he made the move because it is "an opportunity to grow my career" and because West Pak is perfectly positioned for its own tremendous growth. "We are poised for increased sales in a number of areas including national retail, foodservice and club stores."
He said that West Pak is one of only three California avocado shippers to have its own packingshed in Mexico. That gives the company complete control of the Mexican product from the grove to U.S. retailers, which enables it to impose its own quality and food-safety standards. The firm also has close ties to its Chilean producers.
"Because we have control of production from all three areas (California, Mexico and Chile), we are well-positioned to offer year-round programs to any customer regardless of their needs," he said.
Mr. Meyer graduated from Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo with an agribusiness marketing degree and immediately joined T&A, where he had interned while in college. At T&A, the nation's largest lettuce shipper, he started as an inspector for the sales department before moving through a number of sales positions of increasing responsibility for both foodservice and retail accounts over the years. When he left, he was in charge of T&A sales to Wal-Mart Stores.
With two young children, Mr. Meyer said that it was the perfect time for him and his wife, Elisa, to make a career and physical move. The family has moved from the Salinas Valley to San Diego County.
In a West Pak press release, Mr. Meyer said, "Over the past 25 years, West Pak has earned an excellent reputation in the avocado segment and has positioned itself extremely well ... Galen Newhouse and Randy Shoup, co- owners of West Pak, have built a world-class organization here in every aspect of the business. We're going to explore all options available to us, capitalize on our strengths and aggressively pursue opportunities ahead. I am thrilled to be joining a company with such a strong entrepreneurial spirit and look forward to working with their team and leading the sales efforts to an even higher level of success."
In the same press release, Mr. Shoup, president of West Pak, said, "This is a great opportunity to have someone of Doug's experience, talent and vision join our team and lead the sales and marketing activities. By combining the assets of the organization with Doug's leadership abilities, we are well equipped to face the challenges ahead. This represents a new chapter in our long history and exciting times for everyone associated with West Pak Avocado."
Mr. Meyer told The Produce News that with regard to the sale of avocados and fresh vegetables, in which he has developed expertise, "The general dynamic is the same. Obviously there are differences. Avocados are less perishable. They do not ripen until you take them off the tree, and they store well so you have more flexibility. You have to ship lettuce within three days of harvest, so if you pick it on Friday, you better have a buyer on Monday. But the key to customer service is the same no matter what product you sell and that is consistent supply and quality. If you provide those two things, you will be successful."
Mr. Meyer told The Produce News that after 13 years with vegetable giant Tanimura & Antle in Salinas, CA, he made the move because it is "an opportunity to grow my career" and because West Pak is perfectly positioned for its own tremendous growth. "We are poised for increased sales in a number of areas including national retail, foodservice and club stores."
He said that West Pak is one of only three California avocado shippers to have its own packingshed in Mexico. That gives the company complete control of the Mexican product from the grove to U.S. retailers, which enables it to impose its own quality and food-safety standards. The firm also has close ties to its Chilean producers.
"Because we have control of production from all three areas (California, Mexico and Chile), we are well-positioned to offer year-round programs to any customer regardless of their needs," he said.
Mr. Meyer graduated from Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo with an agribusiness marketing degree and immediately joined T&A, where he had interned while in college. At T&A, the nation's largest lettuce shipper, he started as an inspector for the sales department before moving through a number of sales positions of increasing responsibility for both foodservice and retail accounts over the years. When he left, he was in charge of T&A sales to Wal-Mart Stores.
With two young children, Mr. Meyer said that it was the perfect time for him and his wife, Elisa, to make a career and physical move. The family has moved from the Salinas Valley to San Diego County.
In a West Pak press release, Mr. Meyer said, "Over the past 25 years, West Pak has earned an excellent reputation in the avocado segment and has positioned itself extremely well ... Galen Newhouse and Randy Shoup, co- owners of West Pak, have built a world-class organization here in every aspect of the business. We're going to explore all options available to us, capitalize on our strengths and aggressively pursue opportunities ahead. I am thrilled to be joining a company with such a strong entrepreneurial spirit and look forward to working with their team and leading the sales efforts to an even higher level of success."
In the same press release, Mr. Shoup, president of West Pak, said, "This is a great opportunity to have someone of Doug's experience, talent and vision join our team and lead the sales and marketing activities. By combining the assets of the organization with Doug's leadership abilities, we are well equipped to face the challenges ahead. This represents a new chapter in our long history and exciting times for everyone associated with West Pak Avocado."
Mr. Meyer told The Produce News that with regard to the sale of avocados and fresh vegetables, in which he has developed expertise, "The general dynamic is the same. Obviously there are differences. Avocados are less perishable. They do not ripen until you take them off the tree, and they store well so you have more flexibility. You have to ship lettuce within three days of harvest, so if you pick it on Friday, you better have a buyer on Monday. But the key to customer service is the same no matter what product you sell and that is consistent supply and quality. If you provide those two things, you will be successful."
