The Oppenheimer Group has announced that Rachel Pagano, sales representative in the group's Seattle office, has been elevated to the role of category manager for organics.
Pagano joined Oppenheimer in 2005 as a sales assistant, and was promoted to a sales representative role two years later, establishing herself as the company’s top organic sales person, according to the Canada-based group.
'The organic lifestyle choice was important to me long before I joined the produce industry,' said Pagano. 'I’ve naturally been drawn to Oppenheimer's highly skilled organic growers, as well as the wholesalers and retailers in the organic sector who are truly passionate about bringing the best organics to their customers. I found myself focusing on Oppenheimer organics and realising how much room we had to grow.'
Pagano said that Oppenheimer’s current organic category is modest, representing roughly five per cent of the company's annual inventory, with key products including OriginO tomatoes and cucumbers, Zespri organic kiwifruit, Enza organic apples, Divemex organic Fair Trade Certified peppers and organically grown pears, mangoes and grapes.
'Organics represent a strategic opportunity for us,' she added. 'With organic produce showing double-digit growth, the time is right for us to explore new programmes and initiatives.
'I am excited to bring that same level of passion, integrity and commitment I have for my organic customers and our growers to the larger organic community. By embedding Oppenheimer more deeply there, we can build distribution and supply, serving both our growers and our customers better.'
