Welcome to our "A Day in the Life" series, where we spotlight the professionals managing excess inventory in the CPG industry. In this installment, we caught up with Jim Jordan, Regional Sales Manager at Hormel Foods, and his colleague Maria Carranza, Sales Solution Specialist at Hormel Foods. Together, they tackle the challenges of selling excess inventory with grit, humor, and a deep understanding of the value they bring to the business.
Every Week is a New Puzzle: The Job in a Nutshell
Jim Jordan’s job is simple on paper but complex in execution: get excess inventory sold and out of the warehouse by Friday. “It’s like Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates,” Jim says. “Every Monday, I open that box, and I don’t know what I’m going to get—sometimes caramel nuggets, sometimes the creams nobody wants.”
It’s a high-pressure role, especially when you consider the stakes. Letting inventory sit in the warehouse isn’t an option. “The warehouse teams don’t want to keep moving it around,” Jim explains. “They have to separate it from regular orders and constantly adjust to keep things organized. Getting it sold saves everyone time, space, and headaches.”
From PDFs to Platforms: Modernizing the Process
Managing distressed inventory used to be, as Jim puts it, “a long, arduous process.” The old workflow was a mix of PDFs, pencils, and manual effort. “We’d get a PDF file, manually write corrections, and then fax or scan it to customers. They’d send back bids, which I’d print, compare manually, and piece together into a master list,” Jim recalls. “By the end of the day, I’d be up until 9 PM, still trying to make sense of it all.”
The introduction of Spoiler Alert marked a shift to a more modern way of working. Transitioning from the old methods wasn’t without its challenges. “I was skeptical at first,” Jim admits. “Learning a new system felt like one more thing on my plate. But now, I can’t imagine going back. The auto-award feature alone saves me hours every week.”
This new approach gave him the tools to work more efficiently without the late-night scrambling. Maria, who supports Jim in his role, adds, “The technology has made things so much simpler. It’s taken a lot of the manual labor out and lets us focus on the important stuff.”
The Art of Negotiation
Before Spoiler Alert, Jim’s job was all about speed—which left little room for negotiation. “It became more about getting it done fast than getting the best results,” he explains. The acquisition of the PLANTERS® branded business only added to the workload, underscoring the need for a more efficient system.
With Spoiler Alert, the game has changed. “Now, it’s a lot easier to decide on building trucks and finding the right price,” Jim says. The platform not only provides more clarity but also empowers him to make smarter decisions—ones that feel less like a compromise and more like a win.
From Panic to Planning
Jim has gotten so good at managing excess inventory that brand managers are starting to loop him in earlier when they see potential surpluses. Recently, a manager reached out about a limited-time holiday product with overestimated demand. “I haven’t sold it yet,” Jim says. “But I have more buyers I can work with now, and by listing it earlier, I’m able to recover more.”
This approach means Jim isn’t just moving product; he’s turning what used to be a fire drill into a calculated win for Hormel.
Jim’s Advice
Jim’s advice for embracing new technology is simple: “Work with it. It’s going to make your life easier.” He highlights Hormel’s broader shift toward modernization, including AI-powered bots for order processing, which reduce errors and free up time for strategic work. “It’s all about embracing change and recognizing how these tools make us better at what we do.”
Despite the challenges, Jim finds his work rewarding. “I haven’t lost my edge,” he says. “Every week is an adventure. There’s nothing like solving a tough problem and seeing the results by Friday.”
Conclusion
Jim Jordan’s story is a testament to the resilience, adaptability, and creativity required in the CPG industry. From tackling the unexpected to embracing the tools that make it all possible, he and Maria embody the dedication and innovation that drive success in managing excess inventory. Stay tuned for more stories in our "A Day in the Life" series.
