Richard Poye

Retail Advisor/Chief Insight Officer at Food Trends Think Tank

Speaker

Richard is a convenience retail executive, bringing over a decade of leadership excellence to prominent positions at RaceTrac, Mapco, and Circle K. His expertise spans Food Service, Merchandise, Category Management, Operations, and Product Innovation, showcasing a dynamic ability to drive sales growth and profitability. Prior to convenience, Richard served as the Director of Food Service Strategy at HEB, led food innovation and global digital initiatives at Unilever, and honed his culinary skills as Chef de Cuisine for The Ritz-Carlton Hotel.

As a US Navy Veteran with degrees in Business Management and Culinary Arts, Richard brings a holistic approach to retail leadership, balancing financial acumen with operational and creative innovation. As founder of the Food Trends Think Tank in 2009, a non-profit global network mentoring emerging culinarians and supporting food start-ups, Richard exemplifies a commitment to fostering innovation in the food industry. In 2023, he expanded this initiative and established a food and beverage consultancy to advise retailers on menu development and optimization, innovation deployment, and customer segmentation.

A versatile executive, Richard's thought leadership and extensive management experience span the convenience retail, grocery, consumer-packaged goods, and hospitality sectors. His strategic vision is informed by a rich blend of regional, national, and global leadership roles. These collective experiences and dedication to excellence in the food industry solidifies his reputation as an innovative authority and influential voice in the convenience sector.