Craig Forrest
About Craig Forrest
Craig Forrest serves as the Director of Sales and Business Development at Hodo, where he has contributed to a significant increase in market growth. With extensive experience in the food industry, he has held various leadership roles at several companies over the past two decades.
Work at Hodo
Craig Forrest has served as the Director of Sales and Business Development at Hodo since 2021. In this role, he has been instrumental in driving the company's growth in the national retail and foodservice markets. Under his leadership, Hodo's market growth increased from $24 million to $27 million. He has also prepared yearly budgets and developed go-to-market strategies to enhance the company's sales performance.
Previous Experience in Sales
Before joining Hodo, Craig Forrest held several key positions in sales and business development. He worked as the Director of Branded & Specialty Sales at Superior Foods from 2019 to 2021. Prior to that, he served as Vice President of Sales at Sweet Earth Natural Foods for five years, from 2013 to 2018. His earlier roles include National Foodservice Director of Sales at Mi Rancho Tortilla and Wrap Company and National Business Development Manager of Sales at Amy's Kitchen.
Education and Expertise
Craig Forrest studied at the University of California, Santa Cruz, where he focused on English and Creative Writing, achieving a degree in Literature. His educational background complements his extensive experience in sales, where he has developed expertise in managing US broker networks and establishing key distributor relationships with companies such as UNFI, Kehe, DPI, and C&S.
Sales Strategies and Initiatives
In his sales roles, Craig Forrest has pioneered new sales channels and curated major national sales calls with prominent retailers, including Target, Kroger, Whole Foods Market, Albertsons/Safeway, Sprouts, and INFRA and NCG. He has established sales training programs, promotions, and trade spend initiatives to enhance market presence and drive sales growth.