Armin Kakas

Revenue Growth Analytics advisor to executives in charge of growing Net Revenue, Gross Profit, and Sales Productivity | Posts and articles about Revenue Management + Machine Learning insights, methods, and processes.

As the founder of Revology Analytics, I have the privilege of offering mid-market businesses unparalleled expertise in advanced Revenue Growth Analytics & Management, focusing on three core advisory areas: Pricing & Revenue Management, Sales & Marketing Enablement and Commercial Analytics Transformation efforts. 

Beyond my advisory work, I am the creator of the Revology Analytics Insider, a bi-weekly newsletter offering readers unique insights into the world of Revenue Growth Analytics. You can catch the latest issues on LinkedIn and our website, revologyanalytics.com/articles-insights.

To learn more, please visit revologyanalytics.com

Founder | Managing Partner

Revology Analytics is a Revenue Growth Analytics consultancy for middle-market companies in the Manufacturing, Retail, and Distribution industries.

We are an impact- and execution-oriented advisory firm founded on Outcome-Based Analytics™, with focused specializations in AI/ML-enabled Margin Analytics & Optimization, Sales & Customer Growth Analytics and Promotion Effectiveness & Optimization.

Buzzballz, LLC / Southern Champion

- Develop and maintain strong relationships with national account buyers and distributor chain leaders to drive sales of BuzzBallz products, focusing on distribution, promotion, pricing, product placement, and merchandising.
- Facilitate customized consumer-focused selling efforts in key chain retailers to enhance brand visibility and sales for BuzzBallz
- Execute short- and long-term strategies consistent with company objectives, resulting in revenue growth and market expansion for BuzzBallz
- Lead and develop a team of national account Directors for BuzzBallz, ensuring high levels of success, consistent expectations and accountability
- Communicate chain activity and initiatives to both BuzzBallz regional sales team and distributor sales team, garnering support and alignment
- Conduct market surveys with BuzzBallz sales team and distributor chain managers to identify opportunities and gain insights into market dynamics
- Establish monthly, quarterly, and annual chain assessments, goals, and priorities to drive growth in BuzzBallz chain business
- Maintain budgetary compliance while achieving sales growth, profit, and volume targets for BuzzBallz
- Utilize strong communication and negotiation skills to build compelling sales presentations and collaborate effectively with Sales, Marketing, and Consumer Insights teams for BuzzBallz

Vice President Sales - National Accounts

Beam Suntory

• Manage a team of Regional Chain Managers to support $200MM annual sales depletions across 11 states, 7 primary regional accounts & execution within Centralized NAHQ call points (Walmart, Kroger, Costco, Sam’s Club, Meijer, Target, Total Wine, Albertson’s LLC, Target, Walgreens, CVS, HyVee, Big Red, Schnucks, Dierbergs, Coborns, Festival Foods, & Spartan – Nash)
• Responsible for assessing, assisting and guiding team in the development and management of the sales strategy for seven specific accounts in the Central Region
• Develop “Ways of Working” across the Central Region to ensure National Account program implementation & execution is a priority within these markets
• Garner share of mind internally within brand + financial stakeholders to drive success in Central Region NAHQ
• Support the team to execute strategy to deliver: demand creation, PODs, buyer share of mind, programming execution, cadence & clarity from the field + state management team
• Influence all stakeholders within Beam Suntory and wholesalers to ensure alignment and execution on NAHQ programming, commitments, and initiatives across Central Region.
• Responsible for overseeing and managing BI/EG budgets for the team and ensuring they stay within allotment.
RESULTS: Champion’s Club Award Winners; Sales plan achievement (2021)

Director - Central Region Chains, National Accounts

• Exceed KPI’s, sales target; met and exceeded monthly, quarterly & annual measurable growth targets across both sales & profit objectives two consecutive years in a row
• Manage own P&L; high exposure & elevated responsibility regarding financial management
• Champion’s Club Award winner: First place in Net Sales Volume Rate; Effen Award Winner; Jim Beam Award Winner; Big Things to Small Sizes (2018)
• Manage strategic partnership with retailer to secure optimal promotion planning & investment
• Partner with the broker to achieve & exceed sales target on key brands 
• Mitigated a trade overspend while staying within financial parameters & still growing sales 
• 2019 House of Suntory award winner (Tier 2 States)
RESULTS: Exceed sales targets & KPI’s multiple years In a row, Champion’s Club award winner

National Account Manager

• Direct & consistent interaction with multiple military buyers & DMMs at corporate headquarters
• Maintain a pipeline of fact based actionable consumer and shopper insights by utilizing the consumer insights team, internal retailer data, Nielsen, Spectra & additional sources
• Shifted and adjusted entire planogram process to streamline from an efficiency standpoint based on an internal Beam study 	
• Exceeded target goals for key Beam items & category trends overall
• Consistently increased points of distribution within domestic & international planograms 
RESULTS: Consistent sales & share growth outpacing overall Spirits category trends

Category Manager - Military

MillerCoors

- Directly advise and support two Walmart beer buyers with daily communication and bi-weekly one on one meetings to create category solutions and insights
- Provide category management reports, trend analysis, customized regional reports and ad-hoc work directly to Walmart buyers and MillerCoors Category & Sales team utilizing Retail Link, Nielsen, & internal data systems
- Perform specific competitive analysis by category, brand and package to identify trends and opportunities for both Walmart & Sam's Club driving the retailer's goals and objectives
- Assess opportunities including out of stocks, Comac execution, display opportunities, and store of the community packages
- Attend category management round table discussions and new item sessions with Walmart buying teams, co-captains, and competitors to adjust criteria and evaluate new opportunities
- Incorporate consumer/shopper insights and behavior into retailer & category specific analysis and insights 
- Synthesize insights into business reviews & retailer partnered buying decisions & ultimately track & record results or next steps

Category Manager (previously Category Analyst)

Diamond Foods, Inc.

- Responsible for reporting, trend analysis, and proactive but calculated suggestions to improve or maintain sales
- High usage of Retail Link and advanced Excel techniques
- Direct interaction with Walmart both at corporate and on a store level
- Manage multiple aspects of processing including Sales Trends, Replenishment, and Inventory Management
- Support data trending from Walmart, Sam's Club, walmart.com, samsclub.com, Walmart International, BJ's & Costco

Walmart Sales Analyst

General Mills

- Projects entail in depth data analysis of category trends, key drivers, and unique opportunities for growth
- Responsible for every division of GMI (Meals, Snacks, Big G Cereal, Pillsbury, Green Giant, Betty Crocker, etc)
- Diverse range of experience from working with the retailers Schnucks, AWG, & Unified Northwest

Business Management Associate

University of Arkansas

- Graduated with Honors from the Sam M Walton School of Business
- Selected for competitive study abroad in India
- Marketing Honors colloquium course working directly with Walmart to present opportunities with social media for Gen Y moms

Student

• Thorough analysis of data processing and mining
 • Presentations to Kroger category management & senior management of General Mills 
 • Diversification of knowledge of CPG industry, particularly in regards to the Kroger region
RESULTS: Extensive use of Dunnhumby & Nielsen to produce strategy & data analysis

Business Management Associate Intern

Tyson Foods

• Manage own projects and products to be exported
 • Construct presentations given to CEOs internationally 
 • Administer the International website
RESULTS: Successfully use Retail Link to develop and produce accurate weekly reports based on domestic and international Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club sales for use by upper management

International Marketing Intern

VP Sales | Dynamic Sales Leader | 17 Years CPG | People First | Consumer-Centric Strategist | Efficiency Maven | Revenue Management Specialist | Data Obsessed | Insatiable Learner

As Vice President - Sales at BuzzBallz, I orchestrate a high-performing team of Regional Account Directors, driving sales exceeding $300 million with double-digit growth across the US. Spearheading key account leadership for major retailers like Total Wine, 7-Eleven, Walmart, and Kroger, I implement tailored strategies to boost brand visibility and drive sales growth.

Previously, at Beam Suntory, I led Regional Chain Managers to support $200+ million in annual sales across 11 states, fostering strategic partnerships with major retailers such as Walmart and Costco. My adept leadership garnered multiple Champion's Club Awards and exceeded sales targets consistently & annually across my career. 

With a proven track record in category management and strategic planning at MillerCoors, I provided actionable insights to drive growth in the Walmart beer category. My commitment to excellence and drive for results make me a valuable asset to any organization.

I am a high performer motivated by relationships & winning & believe you can excel at both with intent & sincerity.

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Armin Kakas

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