Marley Coffee, a sustainably grown, ethically farmed and artisan roasted gourmet coffee, has named Chris Hopkins as SVP of national accounts. In his new role, Hopkins, who has more than 20 years of food and beverage sales experience, will be responsible for continuing to expand distribution of Marley Coffee through supermarkets, specialty retailers and convenience stores throughout the U.S.
Prior to joining Marley Coffee, Hopkins paved the way for Marley Beverages as SVP of national accounts, securing distributions and partnerships with 80 of the top 100 retail outlets, including 7-Eleven, Kroger and Wegmans, which helped drive Marley’s Mellow Mood first year sales of one million cases, which has grown to nearly three million cases after two years in the market.
“I saw Chris’ dedication and passion to see a brand grow, and grow quickly, through his tireless work to introduce Marley’s Mellow Mood,” said Rohan Marley, founder of Marley Coffee. “I’m happy we were able to convince Chris to join our team at Marley Coffee as we continue to build our retail distribution in the U.S. and beyond.”
“With Chris’ proven track record in the food and beverage industry, and more recently with Marley Beverages, we’re thrilled to have him join the Marley Coffee team,” said Brent Toevs, CEO of Marley Coffee. “A huge opportunity to expand nationally lies with Chris, and after seeing him engage with buyers at National Products Expo East in Baltimore, we are confident in his ability to secure partnerships that make sense for the brand’s growth.”
In addition to his work with Marley Beverages, Hopkins spent 13 years at Dr Pepper Snapple Group (previously Cadbury Beverages), where he helped start and develop their category management team within their distribution network, and eventually into top national accounts. He also secured several, first ever, strategic partnerships with Kroger, Safeway, Target, Food Lion, and Meijer, where he placed teams on-site with retailers to help drive significant sales through translating consumer insights into action on shelving, pricing, innovation, and promotional strategies for most beverage categories. Hopkins has also worked with Fleming Foods and Kellogg Sales Co.
“I’m thrilled to be a part of the Marley Coffee movement, and expect to be able to take this brand to the next level nationally,” said Hopkins. “I really believe in Marley Coffee’s products and values, and I believe retailers will understand and appreciate the opportunity to carry Marley Coffee in their stores.”
All Marley Coffee products live up to the Rastafari standards of ITAL, standing for all things Pure, True and Vital, according to a news release. A portion of all sales of Marley Coffee supports Kicks for Cause and 1Love.org. Started by Marley Coffee, Kicks for Cause aims to build playable soccer fields and soccer camps for children of coffee-producing communities in Jamaica.
