Food distribution
Sales professionals in Food distribution
These ten professionals have held sales and business development roles at food distribution companies. A reader can learn how distributors win restaurant, institutional and retail accounts, and how sales teams work with buying and operations to keep those customers supplied.
Professionals to explore
01—10Aaron Farmer
LinkedInExperience: Vice President of Sales · Performance Foodservice
Former Vice President of Sales at Performance Foodservice (2022–2025), and Director of New Business at US Foods since 2026. Other listed roles include Regional Sales Manager at Performance Foodservice Alabama (2025–2026), and Vice President of Sales (2022–2023) and Director of Sales (2021–2022) at Merchants Foodservice. His summary describes extensive sales leadership experience in foodservice.
Dana Green
LinkedInExperience: Director of Commercial Sales · Gordon Food Service
Director of Commercial Sales at Gordon Food Service since 2024, which the highlights place in the Allegheny Valley Division. Other listed Gordon Food Service roles include Regional Sales Manager (2021–2024 and 2017–2020), Business Developer (2020–2021) and Commercial Sales Manager Cleveland East - Erie (2015–2017).
Dante Franceschelli
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, Business Development · C&S Wholesale Grocers
Former Vice President, Business Development (2019–2024) and Vice President & General Manager (2022–2024) at C&S Wholesale Grocers, and Director at The Food Partners since 2025. Also listed is Director of Corporate Development & Strategy at C&S Wholesale Grocers (2016–2019). His headline describes a food industry executive in wholesale distribution, grocery retail and supply chain.
Gustavo Paguaga
LinkedInExperience: Director of International Sales & Logistics · G&C Food Distributors Inc
Director of International Sales & Logistics at G&C Food Distributors Inc since 2021, a sales-department role his highlights place in Miami, Florida, and former Buyer there (2019–2021). Other listed roles include Beef Buyer at Quirch Foods (2017–2019), and Head Buyer (2014–2016) and Senior Sales Professional (2014) at Cargill.
Jeff Lentz
LinkedInExperience: Director of Business Development · Performance Food Group
Director of Business Development at Performance Food Group since 2023, and former Regional Sales Manager there (2022–2023). Also listed is Regional Sales Manager at Sysco (2015–2020). His summary describes 23 years of sales experience in the food service wholesale/distribution industry.
Ray Young
LinkedInExperience: Commercial Sales Director · Gordon Food Service
Commercial Sales Director at Gordon Food Service since 2020, which his highlights place in the Carolinas Division, and former Regional Sales Manager at Gordon Food Service (2018–2020) in Central West Coast, Tampa - Florida. Also listed is Regional Sales Manager at US Foods (2004–2017).
Richard Deferia
LinkedInExperience: Region VP of Sales · Sysco
Former Region VP of Sales at Sysco (2020–2024), VP of Sales at Sysco Cleveland, Inc. (2019–2020) and Regional Sales Manager at Sysco Nashville, LLC (2017–2019). Chief Revenue Officer at Whetstone Distribution since 2025, and former Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) at Fortune Fish & Gourmet (2024–2025). His summary describes more than 20 years in food distribution and B2B sales organizations, most recently as CRO of a specialty food distributor.
Rukhsana Shamsuddin
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, Sales · KeHE Distributors
Vice President, Sales at KeHE Distributors since 2023. Other listed KeHE Distributors roles include Executive Director, Strategic Account Management (2022–2023), Senior Director, Strategic Account Management (2021–2022), Director of Account Management (2020–2021) and Director of Supply Chain (2018–2020). The summary describes more than 12 years leading supply chain operations, project management and account management.
Sandy Gilbert
LinkedInExperience: Director of New Business Development · Harvest Sherwood Food Distributors
Former Director of New Business Development (2020–2022) and Director of Sales Marketing (2022–2025) at Harvest Sherwood Food Distributors, and Business Development Manager at G&C Food Distributors Inc since 2026. Other listed roles include Key Account Manager at UNFI (2025–2026) and Director of Marc's Sales and Operations at Sherwood Food Distributors (1996–2020).
Steve Jokiel
LinkedInExperience: Director of Business Development - Lake Michigan Area · US Foods
Director of Business Development - Lake Michigan Area at US Foods since 2023. Other listed US Foods roles include Vice President of Sales (2022–2023), Senior Director Sales Effectiveness (2021–2022) and VP of Sales (2019–2021). His summary describes more than 15 years of experience in the food and beverage industry.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's customer segment and territory to your decision, since selling to independent restaurants, national chains, healthcare and education accounts or grocery retailers involves different terms and service models. Check whether their relevant role is current or past and whether it was a field sales, national account or business development role.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How do you win an independent restaurant account away from an incumbent distributor?
- 02Which service levels and pricing terms matter most to national chain customers?
- 03How do sales and operations work together when a key customer has delivery or fill-rate problems?
Reaching sales professionals in Food distribution
How can I contact one of these sales professionals in Food distribution?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 9 companies, including Performance Foodservice, Gordon Food Service and C&S Wholesale Grocers, based on profile data retrieved on October 1, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach sales professionals in Food distribution?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. It includes Instant Expert's 20% fee, so an offer that pays the person $100 costs you $125. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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