JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Acosta Sales & Marketing, a leading full-service sales and marketing agency in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry, has announced the acquisition of four southeastern foodservice companies--United Foodservice Sales, Innovative Foodservice Marketing, Premier Sales Associates and Joyner Brokerage Co.--and the appointment of Mark Hayden to Foodservice Division president.
Under Hayden's leadership, the combined companies will provide an enhanced suite of sales and marketing services to the foodservice industry across the East Coast.
Acosta entered the foodservice channel in March 2012 through the acquisition of Venture Sales Group (VSG), a leading foodservice sales agency in the northeast United States, and in April 2012 with the acquisition of Quality Sales & Marketing (QSM), a leading foodservice sales agency in the Carolinas (see Related Content below for previous CSP Daily News coverage). The acquisitions of United Foodservice Sales, with operations in Alabama and the Florida panhandle; Innovative Foodservice Marketing, with operations in Mississippi; Premier Sales Associates with operations in Tennessee; and Joyner Brokerage, with operations in Arkansas, extend Acosta's foodservice division in the Southeast.
"We are pleased to announce that we are rapidly growing our foodservice division with the addition of Mark Hayden, and are expanding our footprint in the foodservice channel through our newest partnerships with these leading Southeastern agencies," said Acosta president & CEO Robert Hill. "Each of these companies brings robust track records, talented associates and strong regional presences that will help to bolster this division. These companies, combined with Mark's leadership and extensive industry experience, will help us continue to build the leading foodservice agency platform in the U.S."
Hayden has spent more than 25 years in the foodservice industry, primarily in leadership roles with Lamb Weston, a division of ConAgra Foods, that has leading foodservice frozen potato market share in North America. In his new role at Acosta, Hayden will oversee the company's bourgeoning foodservice division and will continue its expansion by growing the core business through strategic acquisitions.
Acosta provides outsourced sales, marketing and retail merchandising services to more than 60% of the top brands in the CPG industry. It has approximately 30,000 associates in more than 75 locations throughout the United States and Canada.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.