Ocean Mist boosts marketing and sales team
Ocean Mist boosts marketing and sales team
Castroville, CA-based Ocean Mist Farms has hired Kori Tuggle as its marketing manager, effective June 1. She comes to Ocean Mist from Salinas, CA-based Church Bros. LLC, where she was director of marketing and business development. Prior to that, she held the same title at Santa Maria-based Fresh Kist Produce LLC.
Ms. Tuggle had reunited with her former bosses -- Steve and Tom Church -- at Church Bros. LLC on Sept. 13 after she left Fresh Kist. At Church Bros., Ms. Tuggle directed a wide range of marketing programs, including packaging, promotions, new product development, advertising and contract management.
Previously, Ms. Tuggle worked for Safeway Inc. for several years, first as produce buyer and then in international sales and marketing. She is a graduate of the agricultural business program at California Polytechnic State University and has a master's degree in business from Pepperdine University. She has been very active in industry organizations, including United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association, Produce for Better Health Foundation, the Fresh Produce & Floral Council and the Cal-Poly Agribusiness Advisory Board.
"I used to want to work for Ocean Mist when I was buying artichokes from them for Safeway," Ms. Tuggle said, adding that she said she is "extremely proud to join Ocean Mist and that it is an opportunity "to be a part of a growing, highly reputable, 81-year-'young' company.
Ms. Tuggle said that it was a hard decision to leave Church Bros. "Tom and Steve [Church] taught me the marketing game, Ms. Tuggle said.
Ocean Mist also has created additional responsibilities for Joe Feldman, who joined the company in February as vice president of commodity sales. Mr. Feldman will continue to wear that hat but also will become vice president of sales and marketing, effective July 1.
Ocean Mist President Ed Boutonnet said that Mr. Feldman's 20 years in the produce industry "have given him the depth of experience that makes him quite capable to head our sales and marketing department. In May, Ocean Mist further shored up its sales team by hiring industry veteran Wyatt Maker. Mr. Feldman said that he has had a long association with both Ms. Tuggle and Mr. Maker.
"I knew Kori as a buyer for Safeway, Mr. Feldman said. "I worked with Wyatt at River Ranch. He knows product. "With the additions of Kori and Wyatt, we are positioning ourselves as a very effective team to market our dominant position in Ocean Mist artichokes and the long-respected quality of our broad line of other products, Mr. Feldman added.
Ms. Tuggle had reunited with her former bosses -- Steve and Tom Church -- at Church Bros. LLC on Sept. 13 after she left Fresh Kist. At Church Bros., Ms. Tuggle directed a wide range of marketing programs, including packaging, promotions, new product development, advertising and contract management.
Previously, Ms. Tuggle worked for Safeway Inc. for several years, first as produce buyer and then in international sales and marketing. She is a graduate of the agricultural business program at California Polytechnic State University and has a master's degree in business from Pepperdine University. She has been very active in industry organizations, including United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association, Produce for Better Health Foundation, the Fresh Produce & Floral Council and the Cal-Poly Agribusiness Advisory Board.
"I used to want to work for Ocean Mist when I was buying artichokes from them for Safeway," Ms. Tuggle said, adding that she said she is "extremely proud to join Ocean Mist and that it is an opportunity "to be a part of a growing, highly reputable, 81-year-'young' company.
Ms. Tuggle said that it was a hard decision to leave Church Bros. "Tom and Steve [Church] taught me the marketing game, Ms. Tuggle said.
Ocean Mist also has created additional responsibilities for Joe Feldman, who joined the company in February as vice president of commodity sales. Mr. Feldman will continue to wear that hat but also will become vice president of sales and marketing, effective July 1.
Ocean Mist President Ed Boutonnet said that Mr. Feldman's 20 years in the produce industry "have given him the depth of experience that makes him quite capable to head our sales and marketing department. In May, Ocean Mist further shored up its sales team by hiring industry veteran Wyatt Maker. Mr. Feldman said that he has had a long association with both Ms. Tuggle and Mr. Maker.
"I knew Kori as a buyer for Safeway, Mr. Feldman said. "I worked with Wyatt at River Ranch. He knows product. "With the additions of Kori and Wyatt, we are positioning ourselves as a very effective team to market our dominant position in Ocean Mist artichokes and the long-respected quality of our broad line of other products, Mr. Feldman added.
