Tasti D-Lite adds industry veteran in chief marketing role

By: Planet Smoothie | 8 Shares 397 Reads

November 05, 2008 // Franchising.com // (New York, NY) Tasti D-Lite, New York's favorite guilt-free indulgence, announced that they have hired Bill Zinke as their Chief Marketing Officer. He will oversee all marketing activities and spearhead its new product development efforts as the company is looking to capitalize on its recent brand re-launch and expand its franchise network across the country and throughout the world.

With over 20 years of career experience in marketing, primarily in the food industry, Zinke has spent six years in marketing for two franchised frozen treat businesses. From 2006 to 2008, he worked with Dippin' Dots to strengthen and grow its franchised business by building the company's new products program, introducing a variety of new products including three within a 12-month period, and establishing its first system-wide annual promotion plan. Earlier in his career, Zinke spent several years as Director of Marketing for Baskin-Robbins, now part of Dunkin Brands, Inc., during a period of renaissance for the brand. He helped reposition and contemporize the brand, introduced a new ad campaign and launched several new products and promotions that helped turn the chain's negative same store sales to positive. Zinke has also served as Chief Operating Officer of Plumgood Food, a Nashville, Tennessee-based start-up online grocery delivery business, and Vice President of Marketing for Ready Pac Produce of Irwindale, California, a pioneer in the packaged produce industry.

"Bill has excellent overall brand marketing experience and has had specific success helping to grow franchised businesses within the frozen dessert category," said Jim Amos, Chief Executive Officer of Tasti D-Lite. "His proven track record in introducing new products, executing national and local area marketing programs and partnering with franchisees make him a real asset as we expand the Tasti D-Lite franchise network to several hundred units in the coming years."

Zinke joined the Tasti D-Lite management team in September and is based out of the company's headquarters office in Franklin, Tennessee.

Tasti D-Lite offers great-tasting, good-for-you desserts served in a customer-focused environment. In 1987, the first official Tasti D-Lite serving swirled into history, and an unprecedented phenomenon was born. With Tasti D-Lite, shape-conscious New Yorkers could enjoy dessert with fewer calories. Less fat. And none of that pesky guilt. Today, Tasti D-Lite has become a daily delight with its creamy delicious, dairy dessert in more than 100 flavors.

With new Tasti centers now opening across the U.S. and around the world, Tasti D-Lite is building a 500-center franchise network. Lead by a world-class operating team, the company is undertaking a program of product innovation through science and nutrition, flavor innovation, and service excellence.

For more information about Tasti D-Lite, please log onto www.tastidlite.com.

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