Bakersfield, Calif.-based Bako Sweet says the company has strengthened its team with new hires in sales and marketing. The company says this additional staff reinforces its focus on delivering strong customer partnerships, category expertise and supply chain management for retail and foodservice partners nationwide.
These new additions include Brian Porter, business development manager; Katie Vierra, marketing specialist; and Zachary Wakefield, sales account manager.
Porter previously worked at Safeway for nearly 40 years in a variety of positions, with the most recent as regional director of corporate produce. In this position, Porter generated double-digit annual sales and volume growth. He substantially increased department sales and profits by collaborating with senior management to develop and execute innovative programs and enhance policies.
Bako Sweet says Wakefield will focus on developing and strengthening relationships with retail and foodservice partners while identifying opportunities to expand sales in his new role as a sales account manager. He previously spent more than four years as an account executive for Wonderful Citrus, and prior to that as a field representative for Kern County. Wakefield graduated from California State University, Bakersfield.
Vierra will support brand initiatives, retail marketing programs and consumer engagement campaigns, including social media and influencer strategies. Prior to joining Bako Sweet, Vierra worked at Harris Ranch and Beef Company as a social media manager. Before that, Vierra was a social media director at Central Valley Meat Company and a sales and marketing specialist at Soil Basics Corporation. She also worked as a digital media specialist at Mendez Media Marketing, Inc. She is a graduate of California State University, Fresno, with a degree in agricultural communications and journalism.
“Bako Sweet continues to grow, and building the right team is essential to delivering on our promise to customers and consumers,” says Susan Noritake, vice president of sales and marketing at Bako Sweet. “Each of our talented professionals brings unique strengths that will help us continue to drive category growth and provide our retail partners with the unmatched customer service they’ve come to expect from us.”
