Phillip Pottratz
Minneapolis
Summary
Seasoned Senior Sourcing Manager with comprehensive background in procurement, vendor management, and contract negotiation. Demonstrates strong leadership skills to build high-performing teams and streamline operations for increased efficiency. Proven track record of successful price negotiations resulting in significant cost savings across various projects. Skilled at fostering productive relationships with suppliers while maintaining focus on quality assurance and compliance standards.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Sourcing Manager, Core Bakery
Starbucks
Seattle
08.2022 - Current
- Managed desk with over $400 million in spend, contributing to $1 billion in revenue
- Managed Bakery Spend of $400 million annually
- Lead Bakery RFP that delivered $23 million in overall savings by diversifying suppliers and delivering pricing reductions on incumbent suppliers
- Delivered $12M in targeted cost savings projects
- Renegotiated existing contracts to maximize value, delivering an additional $4 million annually
- Built category strategies for Starbuck’s legacy Cake Pop Platform and other Batters categories
- Coordinated cross-functional projects, including Pumpkin Loaf production relocation and Cake Pops production expansion, enhancing supply resiliency
- Guided and supported direct report in sourcing specialist role
- Engaged in interview panel to hire for multiple roles
Sourcing Business Leader – Canada (Associate Manager)
General Mills Inc.
Minneapolis
10.2021 - 08.2022
- Delivered $11M in year over year savings and surpassing fiscal financial savings targets
- Executed supplier negotiations with Westrock to enable internalization of packaging that resulted in $2M annual savings for Yoplait Canada.
- Designed and implemented sourcing strategies for Canadian technical and commercial projects
- Oversed metrics for sourcing financial reporting to enhance transparency and decision-making
- Guided Sourcing Buyers in skill development for increased responsibilities beyond Buyer role
Senior Buyer, Direct Materials, Flavors Seasonings and Spices
General Mills Inc.
Minneapolis
10.2019 - 09.2021
- Ownership of a desk covering $130M in spend
- Delivered $31M in savings between October 2019 and September 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic
- Project managed supply shortages that delivered $25M in cost avoidance for Fiscal 21 by eliminating plant shutdown of all US Yoplait and US Chex Mix production
- Project managed supplier/sourcing/R&D ideation sessions to foster innovation and achieve savings
- Partnered with cross functional teams and senior leadership to develop innovative savings strategies, driving growth and ensuring project completion
- Created category strategies leveraging market intelligence and benchmarking to inform internal stakeholders and senior leadership
Buyer II, Direct Materials, Functional Ingredients
General Mills Inc.
Minneapolis
04.2018 - 10.2019
- Negotiated supplier contracts, price sheets, global RFPs and e-auctions that generated $10M in savings over 18 months
- Managed $90M spend desk, ensuring cost-effective sourcing and supplier performance
- Implemented Project Rise, converting all Food Service production from crumbled yeast to liquid yeast, delivering $2.2M in annual savings
- Facilitated approval of CP Kelco as hydrocolloid supplier, establishing dual sources and competition, resulting in $250K savings for GMI’s organic portfolio
Sourcing Buyer, Indirect Sourcing, North American Plant Services
General Mills Inc.
Minneapolis
06.2015 - 04.2018
- Developed category strategy for North American Plant Services across 20 production facilities to align sourcing goals with operational needs
- Conducted RFPs to identify and evaluate key suppliers, ensuring alignment with business requirements
- Managed desk with $50 million in spend to optimize procurement processes
- Generated $2 million in annual savings across spend
Global Sourcing Specialist
Target Corporation
Minneapolis
06.2014 - 06.2015
- Facilitated communication between international vendors and corporate management to ensure alignment on sourcing strategies
- Executed vendor and order point setups to streamline sourcing processes
- Daily maintenance, tracking and setups of new items in Target’s Internal Management System
- Maintained and created business award commitments through collaborative efforts.
- Developed training materials for new system and procedure implementation to enhance team readiness
Education
Master of Arts - Counseling and Psychological Services
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN05-2014
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology/History
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN05-2005
Skills
- Sourcing strategy
- Strategic sourcing
- Supplier negotiation
- Negotiation expertise
- Supplier management
- Global sourcing
- Supplier evaluation
- Vendor relationship management
- Cost reduction
- Cost management
- Spend analysis
- Cost initiatives
- Value engineering
- Supply chain optimization
- Procurement expertise
- Procurement process
- Global procurement
- Procurement proposals
- Contract negotiation
- Data analysis and reporting
- Analytical skills
- Data collection
- Trend analysis
- Problem solving
- Problem-solving abilities
- Account management
- Project management
- Operations management
- Cross-functional leadership
- Team leadership
- Account management
- Goal setting
- Transition plans
- Strategic business relationships
- Relationship building
- Industry analysis
- Business savvy
- Adaptability to change
- Adaptability
- Initiative and innovation
- Resourcefulness
- Effective communication
- Mentorship and training
- Negotiation strategies
- Price negotiations
- Negotiate prices
- Track market changes
- Oversee vendors
- Policy improvements
- Profit and loss
- MS office
- Analytical thinking
- Team leadership
- Cross-functional leadership
- Resourcefulness
- Account management
- Procurement expertise
- Business acumen
Timeline
Senior Sourcing Manager, Core Bakery
Starbucks
08.2022 - Current
Sourcing Business Leader – Canada (Associate Manager)
General Mills Inc.
10.2021 - 08.2022
Senior Buyer, Direct Materials, Flavors Seasonings and Spices
General Mills Inc.
10.2019 - 09.2021
Buyer II, Direct Materials, Functional Ingredients
General Mills Inc.
04.2018 - 10.2019
Sourcing Buyer, Indirect Sourcing, North American Plant Services
General Mills Inc.
06.2015 - 04.2018
Global Sourcing Specialist
Target Corporation
06.2014 - 06.2015
Master of Arts - Counseling and Psychological Services
Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
Bachelor of Arts - Sociology/History
University of Minnesota