SEBASTIAN RAMETTA
Staten Island NY
646-773-7618 ♦ SebbyNYC@gmail.com
OBJECTIVE
To obtain a strategic sales and business development role in an innovative, industry leading planet responsible organization that will utilize my proven track record of sales success, operational experience and passion in an environment that promotes continued professional development, rewards performance and helps save our planet.
SUMMARY
I am a well-rounded, strategic thinking executive with over 30 years of operational expertise in retail and wholesale food sales, manufacturing and restaurant operations. A visionary with unique ability to automatically know how to partner ideas, products and people to maximize success. An energetic, self-starter account executive with industry relationships and customer knowledge with superior skills in prospecting, presentation, negotiation, customer relations who lives for the closing; Skilled in team/customer training and development; Successful in customer acquisition and retention through understanding how my products meet consumer needs, customer specific requirements/philosophy, and focus on prompt and accurate service; Creative troubleshooting and crisis management with excellent problem solving skills; Strong and effective communication abilities; Ambitious, determined and driven.
EXPERIENCE
Bagelicious Hot Bagels stores, New York City
Operating Partner and Developer, 1985 – 1995
Designed, negotiated leases, and built 12 retail bagel stores in Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and Manhattan.
Baked bagels on-premises in all stores from frozen dough produced in off-premise location
All stores had full delicatessen menu serving hot and cold meals and sandwiches
All day service: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and late night menus
Stores open 24 hours, 7 days a week
Arnie’s Bagelicious Bagels. Brooklyn, NY and Nebraska City, NE
Co-Founder Partner and Executive Vice President, 1991- August 1994
Responsible for the negotiation, due diligence and $37 million sale of Arnie’s Bagelicious to The Quaker Oats Co
Sales increased from $2 million in 1991 to over $20 million in 1994
Head of National Sales for Key accounts including McDonald’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, Subway and Disney World
Managed Dunkin’ Donuts account to commitment for all store and $60 million 1996 sales forecasted
Developed and implemented customer specific programs to bake fresh bagels in those accounts
Oversaw design/build of new manufacturing in Brooklyn and Nebraska with $60 million capacity
Worked with University of Nebraska College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources and Cargill R&D to be certain the Nebraska made bagel was a “duplicate” of our famous NY Bagel
Forecasted production and budgets to keep inventory to fulfill customer demand
Managed logistics for all shipments to national accounts
Supported the Adam Walsh Foundation as our charity of choice
Quaker Oat Company, Staten Island NY
SVP In-Store Bakery Division, August 1994 – December 1995
Oversaw design/build of new state-of-the art Bagel Manufacturing facility with $50 million in additional capacity in Staten Island NY
Oversaw design/build of freezer storage facility for frozen Quaker products in Northeast
Created frozen logistic plan to save $5 million per year in shipping/warehouse costs with new storage freezer at Staten Island bagel plant property
Oversaw production, quality control and forecasting of bagels at Staten Island facility
Oversaw logistics for all bagel shipments to national accounts
Ranch*1 Group Inc. New York, NY
Partner and Executive Vice President, July 1996 to December 1997
Responsible for negotiation, due diligence and acquisition of the Ranch*1 concept from founders
Partnered with George A. Naddaff, the founder of Boston Market, to acquire Ranch*1 concept
Identified Naddaff as the chicken franchise guru and negotiated with him to become a partner, CEO and investor the in Ranch*1 concept
Refined Ranch*1 restaurant operating system to serve customers high quality food in 45 seconds
New system improved unit economics to average restaurant EBITDA to over 22% and COGS of 24%
Developed a Ranch*1 proprietary frozen French fry with Lamb Weston for consistency with quality to exceed the taste and quality of the famous thin-cut, skin on, dark golden brown Ranch*1 fry
Developed pre-packed proprietary Ranch*1 sauces with Naturally Fresh foods
Developed pre-sliced chicken breast with Frank and Jim Purdue of Purdue Farms which is still mainstream product for Purdue in grocery stores across America
Responsible for 4 Ranch*1 restaurants in Madison Square Garden NYC on cross marketing deal
Responsible for Marketing Program with Shock Jock Howard Stern that increased store sales 35%
Responsible for design/build of 6 Ranch*1 restaurants
Responsible for approval to begin franchising new Ranch*1 stores
Ranch*1 Group Inc. New York, NY
Partner and CEO, June 1998 – June 2001
Responsible for overseeing sales of over 50 Ranch*1 franchises deals
Responsible for Ranch*1 deals with HMS Hosts and Focus Brands in airports and malls
Developed initial program with Shock Jocks Opie and Anthony for Whip-it-out Wednesday that increased restaurant sales over 15%
Ranch*1 system grew to 58 stores and system-wide sales of approximately $70 million
Supported the Boy Scouts of America and Multiple Sclerosis Foundation as our charities of choice
Was Honored as “Boy Scout of the Year” in 2000 for the charity work with BSA
Selected along with George Naddaff as “Entrepreneur of the Year” by Ernst & Young for Ranch*1
Manhattan Soupchef, New York, NY
Co-Founder and CEO, October 2001 to June 2004
Negotiated a contract with SoupChef Fouad known as the Soup Nutsy from 46 Street NYC for his recipes
Had his soup recipes co-packed in bulk for food service and grocery stores accounts
Created and implemented the Manhattan Soupchef in over 30 Giant Supermarkets in PA serving 8 hot soups daily
Implemented the Manhattan Soupchef in the King Kullen Supermarket chain in Long Island NY
Negotiated a Manhattan Soupchef licensee soup store in Penn Station NYC
Packaged Refrigerated Manhattan Soupchef soups in all Gristedes and Food Emporium stores
Implemented Manhattan Soupchef hot soup program in Villa Pizza locations
Implemented Manhattan Soupchef hot soup program in Sbarros restaurants
Soup Nutsy was a knock-off of the legendary Soupman Al Yeganeh
Original Soupman, New York, NY
Founder, Head of National Sales and Development, June 2004 to September 2017
Soup Kitchen International, was Al Yeganeh’s original soup store located at W 55th St & 8th Ave. in NYC and was the inspiration for the famous Seinfeld “Soup Nazi” No Soup for You! episode. Soup Kitchen continues to ladle Al’s Famous Soup today to New Yorkers and Tourist from around the World.
Negotiated a licensing contract with legendary NYC Soupman Al Yeganeh for the rights to his recipes, name and likeness in perpetuity in June 2004
Responsible for Original Soupman Tetra Pak soup sales to Kroger, Publix, HEB, Shoprite, Wegmans, Safeway, Meijers’, Walmart, Costco, Fairway, Price Chopper and many more.
Negotiated contract co-packing of Al’s recipes and oversaw the R&D and mass production of the soups in frozen bulk pack for ‘heat n serve’ at all Original Soupman stores and select locations
Negotiated contract co-packing of Al’s recipes and oversaw the R&D and mass production of the soups in Tetra Pak shelf stable cartons for ‘heat n serve’ at supermarkets and clubs stores
Created custom “heat and serve” plant-based bean meals for NYC School system that were low sodium, low fat and high in dietary fiber for vegetarian students K to 12 throughout NYC
Created the Original Soupman restaurant operating system and full menu and its Famous Lobster Roll
Implemented Original Soupman soups to be served at Madison Square Garden and MetLife Stadium
Successfully tested Original Soupman in Subway stores in NY & CT with 800% same stores sales increase over historical same store soup sales and worked directly with Fred Deluca, Subway founder
Negotiated and signed contract with Shaquille O’Neal to be a Brand Champion and Partner
Negotiated and signed contract with Reggie Jackson, “Mr. October”, as Strategic Advisor, Brand Champion and Partner
Negotiated and signed contract with Jason Alexander, “George”, to be a Brand Champion and Partner
Negotiated and signed contract with Outback Co-Founder and Chef, Tim Gannon to be on Board Of Directors and assist in Culinary R & D.
Negotiated and signed contract with Larry Thomas, Seinfeld’s Soup Nazi actor, to promote company
Made deals for Original Soupman restaurants in Mohegan Sun Casino CT and Resorts Casino in AC
“Al Feeds the Hungry Foundation” donated and served soup to Food Bank of NY and NJ, Stephen Siller Tunnel to Tower Foundation, Veteran programs, local soup kitchens and charity events in communities throughout the United States where our soups were sold.
PSD Brand Developers Inc. Staten Island, NY
CEO August 2015 – Present
PSD is a strategic advisory and sales consulting company which focuses mainly on the food industry. Its work includes long-term sales and account management and limited-time strategic advisory consulting.
CRG Homes, New York NY
Partner, October 2017 – Present
CRG Homes is a real estate business that is focused on renovating distressed residential properties in New Jersey and New York.
CRGHomes.net
EDUCATION
Pace University, New York City Campus, Finance major