Fred founded Strategic Purchasing in 1994 to provide senior level purchasing and distribution expertise to emerging chains in foodservice. He has more than 30 years of experience in the industry with major chains and food companies. Fred was Director of Food Procurement for the Pillsbury Restaurant Group (Burger King, Steak & Ale, Bennigan’s and Godfather’s Pizza) and Vice President of Purchasing & Distribution for A & W Restaurants. He held numerous supply-chain management positions including Director of International Procurement - Del Monte Corporation.

SPS has provided outsource and contracting services to multi-unit operators engaged in QSR, Contract Management, Hotels, Restaurants, and in 2007 introduced "The Group Buying Program" for large independant and local food service operators. An early innovator in commodity price managment, Fred has managed purchasing priorities for more than 5,000 restaurants worldwide for employers and clients contracting more than $7 billion.

A graduate of Dowling College, Oakdale, New York, and an accredited Certified Purchasing Manager by the National Association of Purchasing Management (1987) and the American Purchasing Society, Fred is highly skilled in the contracting of commodities, equipment, supplies, distribution, and service provider agreements.

Fred Favole, the leader in charge of the consulting team, along with Mike Klein, Jere Lehr and Ron Bay continue to provide cost-effective programs and are well known in the foodservice industry as experienced senior managers. Fred's recent article on “Chain Negotiations” was a featured editorial of foodservice.com. He has chaired the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA), Supply Chain Purchasing Conference and has been panel moderator at the American Purchasing Society seminar.

Under his direction the SPS management team has substantially reduced the purchasing, freight, and distribution costs for more than 30 foodservice chains documenting total savings exceeding $100 million.

Ronald Bay is responsible for business development and as senior consultant works directly with chains and independent restaurants. He also acts as project manager for company distribution services (bids, program assessments and audits) programs.

Prior to joining SPS in 2007, Ron served as President of the U.S. Food Service branch in Pompano Beach, FL, where he managed broad line food sales and purchasing. He was responsible for establishing an innovative and profitable export business and initiated a “in-house” beef cutting program that lowered prices for restaurant and hotel customers. At Moore Food Distributors, St. Louis, he utilized his expertise in produce and broadline distributor to expand the business and improve customer service. Ron’s other executive assignments include; Vice President, Sysco Food Services and General Manager, Clark Foodservice, St. Louis, MO.

Ron’s extensive industry experience enhances the effectiveness of SPS client programs in a wide variety of food and distribution areas. He is a valuable new member of the consulting management team. Ron is a graduate of the University of Missouri, St. Louis, MO.

Jere Lehr, former Senior Vice President with Marriott Distribution Services, specializes in purchasing department and distribtion supply assessments The early years of his career were spent in the Supermarket industry, while attending York College of Pennsylvania. After leaving the supermarkets, Jere held various full-time Buyer positions.

From these early beginnings, Jere accepted a Purchasing position with the Southland Corporation, and spent the next 21 years in Purchasing, Purchasing Management, General Management, Account Management and Business Development. The most rewarding time spent at Southland was executing the implementation of the corporate decision to enter the chain restaurant foodservice distribution business. The venture began in 1980 with no customers and no staff, and ended in 1991 with major customers such as TGI Friday’s, S&A Restaurants, Showbiz Pizza, Bombay Bicycle Club, Ponderosa Steak House, and Krystal Hamburgers generating nearly $500 million in total annual volume.

Jere became SVP - Sales & Marketing, and for nearly eight years was one of the primary “drivers” in moving Marriott Distribution Services (MDS) from an “in-house” support center to a complete Systems Distributor in the chain restaurant industry. During this time MDS grew sales from approximately $600 million to nearly $1.8 billion. Major new customers secured during this time were Darden Restaurants, TGI Friday’s, Boston Markets, Sizzler Restaurants, Einstein Noah Bagel Corp, Nathan’s/Miami Subs, Manhattan Bagel Co., and CKE Restaurants. Distribution centers grew from six to thirteen during that same time period. Jere’s team eventually included three Sales VPs, three Directors of National Accounts, seven National Account managers and two Inventory Managers.

Purchasing, Account Management and Distribution, the essence of Supply Chain Management, have been the backbone of Jere’s career and he has continue to use his vast experience through his affiliation with Strategic Purchasing Services.