EAGLE, Idaho-The Idaho Potato Commission has announced the hiring of produce veteran Armand Lobato to the position of Western Foodservice Promotion Director.
As Promotion Director, Lobato will distribute merchandising and educational materials, as well as seek out promotional opportunities for Idaho Potatoes with foodservice distributors, full-line produce houses and restaurant chains in the Western part of the U.S.
His territory includes Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
Lobato has been in the produce business for more than 30 years. He began his career on the retail side with King Soopers where he worked for 21 years. He worked for Wild Oats Markets in Boulder, Colorado, for three years and helped open several Sun Flower Farmers Markets in Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. On the foodservice side, Lobato held the position of Produce Buyer/Quality Control Inspector for US Foodservice in Englewood, Colorado, for six years.
He completed a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from the University of Phoenix - Denver in June 2008. Lobato writes a weekly motivational column for The Packer.
He has been married 26 years and has a daughter and a son.
Lobato replaces Al Saddoris who retired from the IPC in November after eight years of service.