We spoke with one of our manufacturer reps on the west coast to get an inside look at his experience as a Foodservice Manufacturers' Representative.
Josh Blitstein
President, The Action Group, Inc.
Foodservice Territory: 17
Service Ideas Sales Recognitions
President's Award, 2018
Quota Buster, 2018
Significant Contributor of the West, 2018
Significant Contributor of the West, 2017
Q: How did you get your start in the foodservice industry?
A: My first job out of college was with Libbey, Inc. I had never planned on working in foodservice – my father owned a rep firm for about 25 years and sold it while I was at UCLA. During a conversation prior to my graduation he let me know that Libbey was looking to hire someone with industry experience to be a factory rep in Northern California. Not knowing what I wanted to do with my life, even with no experience, I gave it a shot and ended up being hired. The rest is history…
Q: Can you give a brief history of The Action Group as well as your history with the company?
A: I started The Action Group when I recognized a need for a young, dynamic rep organization in foodservice that focused on proactivity. The business started out of my garage. Three years in, I had the opportunity to purchase a competitive rep firm and we’ve evolved into a tabletop and buffet-centric organization representing leading manufacturers in every category. We operate out of a large showroom and office in Berkeley, California and look forward to celebrating a decade in business soon!
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: I am extremely passionate about this industry. Cooking, experiencing restaurants, and working with chefs and food and beverage personnel all feed my imagination when it comes to tabletop. I love that there is always something to learn, and that no day is ever the same. There are always new people to work with, new problems to solve, and infinite opportunities to help our customers. It truly is an opportunity to be dynamic daily.
Q: What does your typical day look like?
A: Because we are situated on the west coast, and many of our factories are on the east coast or in Europe, my day starts early. Usually around 5AM. I begin to communicate with our factories to make sure that they are able to support our current efforts and customers. I’ll then see customers throughout the day either on-site or at our large showroom in Berkeley, CA. Late afternoon typically consists of follow up and making sure that the rest of the next couple weeks is as full of appointments as possible to keep our pipeline loaded with opportunities.
Q: What does your typical customer look like?
A: Our customer base ranges from the independent restaurateur to hotels, universities, tech companies, casinos, and more. Anyone that has a commercial foodservice operation. We work with men and women dedicated to the pursuit of hospitality, and do everything in our power to help them run their businesses successfully. We take pride in our relationships with people at large venues and small business owners alike.
Q: What types of products do you sell the most of?
A: The Action Group focuses on tableware (dinnerware, flatware, glassware), buffetware, and catering products. Basically, any quality product that enhances the presentation of food.
Q: What foodservice sales territory do you cover?
A: We represent our entire portfolio in Northern California and Northern Nevada, and a select group of brands in Hawaii.
Q: What are your all-time favorite Service Ideas products?
A: I’m definitely a coffee addict, and I take pride in the fact that our vacuum-sealed products can keep coffee hot and delicious for hours. More is always better, so I’d have to say our Flame-Free™ Thermo-Urns™ that hold up to 5 gallons of coffee are my favorite!
Q: What is your favorite new 2020 Service Ideas product?
A: I love the Metallic Elements and Natural Elements series of products and am pleased
with their expansion. These lines embody current trends of rusticity and modern metals
elegantly and functionally. Service Ideas' products occupy an important category in
both the tabletop and buffet spectrums, and our PVD metallic and Hydro-Dipped
products add another dimension to any aesthetic. And of course, we do not sacrifice
any of our technology used to maintain beverage integrity!
Website: theactiongroup.net
Phone: (800) 670-9TAG (9824)
Fax: (925) 957-6256
Showroom Address:
2608 9th St. Suite 201
Berkeley, CA 94710
For General Inquiries:
info@theactiongroup.net