Joe DeRubeis, a U.S. Foodservice vet, has worked his Altoona, PA territory for nearly 30 years and still uncovers new opportunities every day. “The one thing about this business is that things change constantly,” Joe says.
Joe has been inducted into AFDR’s Hall of Fame for February 2011. During this interview, he says he’s learned that long-term success means you have to be “an original.” Listen and respect everybody inside an account and they’ll become part of your sales team as you introduce new ideas. And, right now, being aggressive on suggesting alternative products is how he’s keeping his territory vibrant as operators grapple with food costs during a slow economy.
