Beverage maker Barfresh Food Group appointed Marko Matla its VP of supply chain and co-manufacturing, according to a May 1 press release.
Matla started his role in April, per his LinkedIn profile, and will oversee all supply chain operations for the CPG and focus on bringing on a new bottle co-manufacturer, according to the release. He will also collaborate with production partners to help launch new products and ensure ongoing supply.
“Barfresh is poised for significant growth across multiple categories and although things will surely develop over time we will be in high growth mode for some time to come, hence why we’ve brought in a seasoned professional to help us navigate these exciting times as we ramp up,” a company spokesperson told Supply Chain Dive in an email. They added that Matla is Barfresh’s first-ever VP of supply chain.
Along with managing relationships with production partners, Matla also will be responsible for optimizing costs and improving supply chain performance. Broadly, Matla has been tasked with operating inside Barfresh’s asset-light strategy — a setup that involves minimal operating expenses and grants flexibility and operating leverage, the spokesperson said.
“As a result, it requires a unique set of skills, experience and relationships to navigate, from sourcing, trialing, negotiating and all the way to ongoing management,” the spokesperson said.
The importance of these capabilities were highlighted during the pandemic and in light of other disruptions, they added. Barfresh reported disruptions in manufacturing and distribution to the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2020, as well as disruptions from inflation in 2022 and 2023.
Though the new VP position is tailored to Barfresh’s short-term co-manufacturing needs, the company said Matla’s appointment also has long-term implications, especially as the CPG aims for new partnerships and product launches.
“His leadership will be instrumental [in] improving supply chain flexibility, scalability and service levels for our customers. Marko’s strong relationships with co-manufacturers, food service customers and distributors developed over many years will also prove valuable,” CEO Riccardo Delle Coste said in the press release.
Matla has more than 25 years of experience in food manufacturing. According to LinkedIn, he previously worked at Mars as a purchasing, production planning and replenishment analyst, starting in 2000. He also served as a production planning manager at Nestlé and launched his own supply chain consultancy.
