Food distribution
10 US Foods merchandising leaders
These ten current and former US Foods merchandising leaders have held chief merchandising officer, senior vice president, vice president and senior director roles in merchandising and category management at the foodservice distributor. A reader can learn how merchandising leaders work at US Foods from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
01—10David Poe
LinkedInExperience: Executive Vice President, Chief Merchandising Officer · US Foods
Executive Vice President, Chief Merchandising Officer at US Foods since October 2023, after serving as SVP Category Management there (2015–2023), a role based in Rosemont, Illinois. Their profile also lists VP Category Management at US Foods (1997–2013) and VP of Sourcing at Premier Inc. (2013–2015).
Eric Hennen
LinkedInExperience: VP Category Management & National Sales Merchandising · US Foods
VP Category Management & National Sales Merchandising at US Foods since March 2025, based in Charlotte. Earlier at US Foods they were VP Merchandising Excellence (2024–2025), VP Commercial Excellence for Center of Plate, Grocery and Non-Foods (2023–2024) and Sr. Director Category Management - Poultry (2019–2021).
Gifford Wright
LinkedInExperience: VP Category Management Grocery, Dairy & Non-Foods · US Foods
Former VP Category Management Grocery, Dairy & Non-Foods at US Foods (2023–2025), and Vice President of Merchandising there since April 2025, a role in which their profile says they led a team overseeing $1B+ in annual sales. Earlier at US Foods they were Region VP Merchandising & Marketing - Northeast (2022–2023) and Corporate Senior Director Center of the Plate (2019–2021).
John Fosselman
LinkedInExperience: Area Vice President of Merchandising and Marketing · US Foods
Area Vice President of Merchandising and Marketing at US Foods since October 2015, where their profile says they lead the merchandising and marketing team for the Western Pennsylvania / West Virginia area. Earlier at US Foods they were Regional Category Manager (2012–2015), Director of Category Management Deployment (2010–2012) and Director of Brands Merchandising Non Foods & Beverage (1999–2010).
Josh Waters
LinkedInExperience: SVP, Category Management - Produce · US Foods
SVP, Category Management - Produce at US Foods since October 2020. Their profile also lists Vice President, Category Management - Produce at US Foods (2012–2015) and VP & General Manager CHEF'STORE (2014–2020). At Safeway they were Vice President & General Manager, Produce Business Unit (2011–2012) and Vice President, Corporate Pricing (2008–2011).
Julianne (Juli) O'Flaherty
LinkedInExperience: Sr Director Category Management - Seafood · US Foods
Sr Director Category Management - Seafood at US Foods since July 2023, after serving as Area Vice President Merchandising and Marketing for the Lake Michigan Area at US Foods (2020–2023). Before US Foods they were Director Of Merchandising at Sysco (2018–2020).
Karen Anderson
LinkedInExperience: Sr. Director, Category Management: Pork & Poultry · US Foods
Former Sr. Director, Category Management: Pork & Poultry at US Foods (2011–2019) and former Director, Category Managment: Pork & Beef there (2006–2011). They have been Area Vice President, Merchandising & Marketing at US Foods since 2019. Their profile cites over 20 years of category management, purchasing and supply chain experience.
Scott Hodgson
LinkedInExperience: Sr. Director of Category Mgt. · US Foods
Sr. Director of Category Mgt. at US Foods since January 2013, a Director-level role based in Rosemont, Illinois. Earlier at US Foods they were Director of Category Mgt. Dairy Cheese (2012–2013) and VP Marketing Category Management (1994–2012). Their profile cites experience in merchandising, category management, negotiations and assortment management.
Stacy Foster
LinkedInExperience: VP Category Management · US Foods
VP Category Management at US Foods since November 2021, based in Rosemont, Illinois. Earlier at US Foods they were VP Merchandising & Marketing - Field Leader Central Region (2021), Area Vice President of Merchandising & Marketing (2018–2021), Region Category Manager (2012–2020) and Category Manager Buyer (2005–2012).
Teri Guthrie
LinkedInExperience: Vice President of Merchandising · US Foods
Vice President of Merchandising at US Foods since October 2024, where their profile says they develop and execute category and go-to-market strategies across the product portfolio. Earlier at US Foods they were Vice President National Sales Excellence (2021–2024) and Vice President National Sales Transformation (2017–2021).
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's scope to your question, since national category management and area merchandising and marketing roles see different parts of the business. Check the category they led and whether the role is current or past, because produce, protein and grocery teams work in different ways.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How is category management at a national foodservice distributor split between corporate teams and local areas?
- 02How do category leaders at a foodservice distributor think about assortment for different kinds of restaurant customers?
- 03What does an area merchandising and marketing vice president at a distributor spend most of their time on?
Reaching US Foods merchandising leaders
How can I contact one of these US Foods merchandising leaders?
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 1 company: US Foods, based on profile data retrieved on October 10, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach US Foods merchandising leaders?
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.
Can an AI agent ask one of these US Foods merchandising leaders a question?
Yes. An agent with a USDC wallet on Base can ask one question without an Instant Expert account. It names the person, for example by the LinkedIn URL on this page, and pays per ask over x402 (HTTP 402). The person answers in writing or by voice note, and if nobody answers within 7 days, the payment goes back to the wallet automatically. x402 docs
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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