Featherstone Foods, the Tri-State area’s leading bread and baked goods distributor, has added Lisa Saltzman to its sales team. The veteran baking executive will be integral in furthering and developing the sales footprint of the visionary Bronx based firm.
Saltzman brings a wealth of industry experience with over 20 years in sales management to her new post at Featherstone. A graduate of the University of Maryland, Saltzman began her career with Greyston Bakery specializing in making brownies for Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. “I had the opportunity to really learn the operations side of the business as well as working with my customers everyday,” Saltzman noted. “There’s no question in my mind that it gives me a unique perspective that most sales people simply don’t have
access to.”
Saltzman then went on to have extensive experience at industry startups including Jimmy the Baker and BNQ, a bread company in Brooklyn. Most recently, she served as a consultant at Bake Shop, a gluten-free bakery in Brooklyn.
“We are looking forward to adding Lisa’s expertise in both sales and operations to maximize the value we bring to our end-user customers everyday,” noted Featherstone Foods president Joel Schonfeld.
“Throughout the years, Eli Richman (Featherstone’s Vice President of Sales) and I have crossed paths several times,” Saltzman continued. “I had my first opportunity of meeting him when I was in the food industry more than 30 years ago. I was always impressed with how he treated his customers and the team that was supporting him. So when the opportunity came to meet Joel and the company’s executive staff I just knew it was an opportunity that I couldn’t help but grab.”
Saltzman sees Featherstone as being perfectly positioned to respond to the needs of the Tri-State’s most discerning customers. “Joel and Eli have enabled Featherstone Foods to create a truly unique one-stop shopping model,” Saltzman added. “I am going to be able to offer 4,000 items including gluten-free and organic specialties to my customers. So within that, you can find an item that matches the quality you’re looking for at the price that you are budgeted for. They offer an extensive collection of items. For the customer it eliminates having to move from one vendor to another in search of items. It’s a brand that
offers everything.”
Saltzman’s success through the years has been based on her ability to listen to the needs of her customer base. “For me it’s about asking the right questions and then listening carefully to find the best approach and plan. In some cases it may be the addition of a Sunday brunch at a country club or it could be the revamping of a dessert menu at a restaurant. It’s more about working with them closely and making customers see me as a partner rather than dictating what I think might be best.”
Saltzman is one of the rarest sales executives in the food industry, where she has helped a lot of startups and existing businesses survive the hurdles. In her over 20 years in the industry, Saltzman has learned a lot while on the job and from industry experts. “I’d say my biggest mentor was probably Julius Wall, the CEO and president at Grayson Bakery, with whom I worked with for 9 years. I learned from him how to think things through and why acting properly can often be a better choice than reacting quickly.”
“I’ve also learned through the years what makes people tick,” Saltzman continued. “My goal is to be consistent with people. I try to accomplish that by being clear with people, and treating people respectfully.”
Saltzman’s unique skill set is a perfect match for the Featherstone Foods approach. With more than 30 years in the business, Featherstone is the go-to shop for everything bread. The company has remained firm in its commitment to delivering the highest quality and freshest products to customers and business partners on a daily basis.
Featherstone’s 20,000 square foot warehouse in the Bronx has made the company instantly accessible to its customers in New York City and and throughout the Tri-State area including Philadelphia. The Schonfeld/Richman duo has also accessed the very latest in technology to simplify the ordering process and create a true one-stop shopping venue.
