HOUSTON, TX — Bread Man Baking Co., a Houston-based producer of handcrafted and naturally fermented artisan breads, has hired Ron Katarzynski as its national sales director.
In this role, he will be responsible for national distribution for large grocery, foodservice, and national and regional chains. This new hire is the first step of Bread Man’s founder Tasos Katsaounis’ plans to kickstart the company’s strategic growth for 2022.
“Ron is a seasoned sales professional with decades of experience in the industry delivering leadership and excellence,” Katsaounis said. “He creates opportunities through relationships and dedication. We share the same passion for customer service and high-quality artisan breads. He’s exactly who we want representing our brand on a national scale.”
Katarzynski said that Bread Man piqued his professional interest both because of the quality of its products and the company’s forward-thinking social media strategy.
“I’ve worked for many bakeries in the past,” Katarzynski said. “Bread Man initially caught my attention because they are cutting edge in social media and marketing. It’s the first artisan bakery I’ve seen that utilizes the current social media platforms. I actually discovered them on Instagram first.”
One of Katarzynski’s most recent role was as VP of sales for Buttercrumb Bakery, where he spearheaded all the sales processes and established relationships with stakeholders including Sodexo, Trader Joe’s, Levy and Albertson’s. He worked with Trader Joe’s to bring Buttercrumb to their shelves under its own label, the only product that was sold that way, and aspires to replicate that success for Bread Man in the Texas market.
“[The company] is already placed to grow with all the right pieces in place,” he said. “They have the space and the equipment now, and they’re poised for growth. It’s an exciting time to join the company.”
