Tom Close

Tom Close has over 15 years of experience in sales management within the food industry, currently serving as Director of Sales for Kroger at Smithfield Foods since October 2010. Previous roles at Smithfield include Senior National Account Manager, Senior Business Manager, Senior Regional Sales Manager, and Regional Sales Manager. Prior experience includes an Area Sales Manager position at Farmland Foods, where Tom implemented sales tactics for high volume fresh pork sales, and a Sales Merchandiser role at Carando Italian Meat Company, focusing on gaining shelf space and managing store relationships. Tom began a career with an internship at Imperial Beverage Company, gaining foundational skills in product management. Educational qualifications include a B.B.A in Food and CPG Marketing from Western Michigan University.