Being an Account Manager at Gillco Ingredients is no easy feat. Not only are they managing existing customer accounts, they are technical specialists for the ingredients we sell (and we sell a LOT of ingredients!). Matt Berry, Senior Account Manager, has a visible passion for the ingredient industry. His knowledge about Gillco’s product offerings paired with his ability to connect on a personal level with those he works with makes him an incredibly valuable asset to the company.
Learn more about Matt Berry’s background and how his path led him to Gillco!
Give us a little background on yourself. Where are you from? Hobbies? What did you do before Gillco?
I’m from rural Vermont, had a wonderful but humble upbringing in a small house on a dirt road with a woodstove being the only heat source. Needless to say I learned the value of hard work at a young age, haha. We grew our own vegetables, produced maple syrup from the trees on our property and I helped out on a local dairy farm. I didn’t realize it at the time but the food industry would be a natural career choice, with a growing interest in business as a teenager I watched local Vermont food companies like Ben and Jerry’s, Cabot and Green Mountain Coffee explode with growth and success. I love all things outdoors, skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, fishing, finding a place to explore and get my 4×4 stuck 😊. I’ve had a number of jobs over the years, was a ski instructor during the Winters throughout high school and college and ran my own house painting business during the Summers. After going to college in Colorado I moved to San Diego and spent 3 years cutting my teeth with a car rental company managing an off-airport branch and doing outside sales.
How long have you been at the company?
I’ve been in food ingredient sales now for 15 years, 11 of them with Gillco.
What does your position at Gillco Ingredients entail?
I’m responsible for sales and account management in the greater Northeast.
What does a typical day look like for you?
There aren’t too many typical days, one of the things I love about working here! But a typical day might be in my home office following up on customer projects and working on new opportunities or the other typical day might be on the road meeting customers and new prospects in person.
What are some of the challenges for you in this role?
Competition is always a challenge in business and the food industry in the Northeast is no exception. Many of the ingredients Gillco provides are highly technical in nature and thus the sales process can take some time through R&D and validation work requiring a lot of support along the way. But overcoming both of these challenges is extremely rewarding and Gillco makes it easier by having perhaps the best customer service and technical support in the industry.
What is the best part of your role/why do you like working at Gillco?
That’s easy, it’s the blend of work/life experience that comes from the job. I’ve spent most of my adult life traveling for work visiting countless places, meeting countless people and forging lasting relationships along the way. At Gillco our customers range from small family businesses to huge corporations to everything in between and in each of these unique organizations you work with people at various levels from all backgrounds and walks of life. Over the years I’ve come to appreciate this rich and diverse experience and the perspective gained from it, an invaluable journey!