The Faces of KeHE: Mike Weger
As we celebrate KeHE’s 70th anniversary this year, we want to highlight the contributions of our employees that make KeHE such a great company to work for and with. Throughout the years, our employees have grown alongside the company and are central to our success in the industry. Mike Weger, Senior Director of Sales, is one of our valued long-time employees who has had a considerable impact on KeHE’s development and growth as a company.
We sat down with Mike to hear about his 35 years of experience at KeHE.
Q: What brought you to KeHE? How long have you been with the company and what is your role now?
A: I previously worked at Tree of Life (TOL) as a key account manager on the independent natural products channel. Then in 2010, KeHE acquired Tree of Life, and that’s when I joined KeHE. I am now a senior director of sales and manage independent stores, including natural food and independent supermarket stores in the Midwest.
Q: How has KeHE fostered your growth within the company?
A: KeHE has invested in infrastructures and platforms that have helped our employees learn and grow to better serve our customers. I have been supported during my time at KeHE and have received all the necessary resources and tools to be the best that I can be.
Q: What are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen during your tenure with KeHE?
A: Since joining KeHE, I have seen the company grow rapidly with numerous distribution center openings. KeHE has also expanded its product category offerings to include fresh products, in addition to expanding the assortments in every other product category. This growth has come with its own challenges, which we have addressed by improving efficiency and developing streamlined processes.
Q: During your time with KeHE, what milestones are you most proud to have been a part of?
A: When KeHE bought TOL, we were able to keep over 95% of our previous business, so this introduced KeHE into the business of distributing to natural food stores. Along with this conversion came the decision to combine independent natural and grocery channel teams to act as one. In addition, our team managed the business transition in the distribution center in Bloomington, IN to Ellettsville, IN with very little disruption to our customers.
Q: What legacy do you hope to leave behind with KeHE?
A:During my time at KeHE, I have developed many valuable relationships with retailers and suppliers. I’m proud that KeHE is a distributor that does more than just move boxes from point A to point B – we are partnering with our customers to help make them better retailers so that grocery store consumers can enjoy a reliable and satisfactory shopping experience. We’re working hard to have a positive impact on our retailers and suppliers, to make their lives better.
We’re hugely proud to have employees like Mike who make it possible for KeHE to meet — and exceed — the expectations of our retailers and suppliers. As we continue to celebrate our 70th anniversary throughout 2023, it’s especially gratifying to reflect on how far we’ve come with the help of our dedicated team. At the end of the day, it’s the relationships we cultivate that make doing business so rewarding!
If you are interested in how KeHE can help your business succeed, please visit https://www.kehe.com/contact-us/.