SPAIN FOOD NATION SUMMIT USA 2025

September 30 2025

Speakers

FOOD ADVISORY COUNCIL PANELISTS

Luke Abbott (Moderator) - Founder and CEO of Vdriven, Former President of KeHE Monterrey Provision, and Jimbo’s Naturally

Luke Abbott, Founder and CEO of Vdriven, is a serial entrepreneur, consultant and leading voice of innovation in the food industry. As the former President of Monterey Provision, a national food distributor, he scaled the company’s revenue from $32 million to over $250 million while successfully launching three startups. Luke’s teaching contributions as a Professor of Supply Chain at the University of San Diego have helped equip the next generation of business leaders with practical insights and real-world experience. Today, he leverages his deep expertise and industry connections to help emerging brands scale and succeed in the retail market.

Andrea Berti - President, Cheese Importers Association of America (CIAA)
Senior Director, Atalanta Corporation

Andrea Berti serves as President of the Cheese Importers Association of America (CIAA) and as Senior Director at Atalanta Corporation, where he leads the Cheese & Deli Imports division. Andrea began his career in the food business at a young age in Italy, working in his family’s specialty food store. After moving to the United States, he entered the import business in 2006 and has since built a distinguished career in international food trade. At Atalanta, Andrea has expanded the company’s Spanish portfolio—from Manchego cheese to Jamón Ibérico and Spanish octopus – across both retail and foodservice channels.

Patty Dicarlo - Former Deli Category Manager at Sprouts Farmers Market

Patty Dicarlo is a transformationalvleader with 30+ years of success driving growth, innovation, and profitability across the specialty food industry including retail, manufacturing, distribution, and brokerage. She is known for building high-performing teams, forging strategic vendor partnerships, and delivering category strategies that scale nationally. Patty is recognized for advancing specialty deli and cheese programs into growth engines by blending consumer insight with disciplined P&L management. She is skilled at curating assortments and anticipating trends that connect with today’s shoppers while shaping tomorrow’s retail and foodservice landscape.

Alejandro Espinal - President, AF International Inc.

Alejandro Espinal is a global business strategist with over 25 years of experience in marketing, strategic planning, business development, and market intelligence. He specializes in helping international companies structure compelling value propositions and navigate go-to-market strategies—particularly for entry and expansion into the U.S. market and their core regional territories. As founder and president of AF International in Miami, Alejandro has led more than 1,700 projects across North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia, and the Caribbean.

John Lawson - Forager at Whole Foods Market

John Lawson is a Local Forager at Whole Foods Market, with more than two decades of experience in sourcing, purchasing, and supplier partnerships. In his current role, John specializes in identifying and promoting high-quality local and emerging food and beverage brands, particularly within the New York and Boston metro markets. In addition to his role at Whole Foods Market, John is a board member for Naturally New York. His work on the board centers on an ongoing endeavor to support, grow, and build leadership in the natural, organic, and sustainable CPG industry in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut.

Alex Raij - New York Restaurant Operator, Txikito

Alex Raij is a first generation Argentine-American who grew up in the Midwest, attended culinary school, and lived in Milan and the Pacific Northwest before falling in love with Basque chef Eder Montero. Together they have opened five restaurants. Alex and Eder are six-time James Beard Award Semifinalists for Best Chef: New York City and Finalists in the 2019 Outstanding Restaurateur category. The Basque Book: A Love Story in Recipes from the Kitchen of Txikito, is Alex’s deeply personal writer’s debut inspired by home cooking traditions of the Basque country.

Brian Scott - CEO, Gourmet Foods International (GFI)

Brian Scott has served as President and CEO of Gourmet Foods International (GFI) since 2017, following a steady rise through sales leadership roles since joining the company in 2002. With prior experience at Hormel Foods, Brian has driven GFI’s rapid growth in Retail and Foodservice Distribution. He oversees a national network of 12 distribution centers, leading initiatives in marketing, operations, and value-added services. Under his leadership, GFI has embraced a mission to change lives through good food, while advancing digital transformation and supply chain efficiency. His strategic focus includes predictive analytics, compressed supply chains, and building meaningful customer relationships in both B2B and B2C channels.

Jennifer Sussman - VP of Category Management, The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc.

Jennifer Sussman brings 25 years of expertise in the specialty food industry and currently serves as Vice President of Category Management at The Chefs’ Warehouse. A premier distributor, The Chefs’ Warehouse partners with restaurants, hotels, country clubs, and fine food retailers across North America and abroad. Importing products from all over the world, and with access to over 3,000 suppliers and nearly 100,000 SKUs, Jennifer’s leadership ensures the company delivers world-class ingredients and products while upholding the highest standards of quality, service, and innovation.

Summit Food Roundtable Panelists

Dan Portnoy - Former Chief Merchandising Officer at the Fresh Market

Dan has 40+ years of experience in leading transformative change in the food
& beverage industries. He currently is an operating partner for both Shore Capital Partners and Ronin Equity Partners. Most recently, Dan was the CMO for The Fresh Market and led branding, merchandising and marketing efforts. Prior to this, Dan was the Chief Merchandising & Marketing Officer for Winn Dixie, and was President & CEO of Kings / Balducci’s, a division of Marks & Spencer. He was SVP Sales & Marketing for Cott Corp in Toronto and a Group Vice President for Daymon Worldwide, the leading private label marketing firm. He now is active in advisory work, specializing in sales & marketing opportunities in the retail-CPG space.

Pere Selles - Branded Products Manager at José Andrés Group

Pere Selles was born in Barcelona and has lived in the US for the last 35 years. In 1998 he founded the specialty food import company Power-Selles Imports (Culinary Collective) that specializes in importing food products from Spain. He created the brand “Matiz” for the US Market. Over 26 years the Company became a leader in importing Spanish food
products. Culinary Collective was sold to a Canadian Corporation in 2021. In 2021, he created Olo Foods, a consulting firm for several Spanish Manufacturers. In 2023, he was hired by Chef Jose Andres to lead the branded product portfolio of Jose Andres Foods.

Luke Abbott - Founder and CEO of Vdriven, Former President of KeHE Monterrey Provision,
and Jimbo’s Naturally

(See above)

John Lawson - Forager at Whole Foods Market

(See above)

Jennifer Sussman - VP of Category Management, The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc.

(See above)

WINE ADVISORY COUNCIL PANELISTS

Jen Schenker (Moderator) - Former Director of Loyalty Programs, Total Wine & More

Jennifer Schenker brings together a lifelong passion for wine and hospitality with a career devoted to creating memorable customer experiences. At Total Wine & More, she designed and launched the company’s loyalty program, giving millions of wine lovers access to rare allocations, private tastings, and intimate events that deepened their connection to wine culture. She also worked at American Express, where she helped shape dining and hospitality partnerships, connecting cardmembers to exceptional restaurants and culinary experiences. Jennifer thrives at the intersection of wine, food, and community, and she is especially inspired by the role Spanish wines play in celebrating tradition, culture, and shared tables.

Annalise Friedel - Manager of Spain, Portugal, and Australia/NZ Wines at Total Wine

Annalise Friedel is a wine retail professional with nearly 10 years of experience in category management, supplier partnerships, and strategic sourcing. As Buyer for Spanish and Portuguese imports at Total Wine & More, she curates assortments that reflect both market trends and the rich stories behind each bottle. With a passion for wine history, travel, and winemaking traditions, Annalise focuses on connecting the care and legacy of winemaking families to the customer experience.

Alex Joerger - WIne.com

Alex Joerger is the Chief Merchandising Officer at Wine.com, the leading online wine and spirits retailer in the USA. His wine industry experience spans over 20 years, having started at boutique NYC-based retailer Best Cellars, in 2002 as a Wine Buyer. In 2007, Alex joined the A&P Supermarket chain as Director of Wine Beer & Spirits before moving to California in 2014 to take over as Director & Divisional Merchandise Manager of Wine, Beer & Spirits at World Market until 2020.

Susan Kilgore - SVP of Marketing at Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits

Susan Kilgore is a seasoned marketing executive with over 25 years of experience
driving brand growth and innovation in the CPG and wine & spirits industries. As Senior Vice President of Commercial Marketing at Deutsch Family Wine and Spirits, she led transformative initiatives—from launching award-winning products to building the company’s first shopper marketing function. Her strategic leadership has consistently delivered higher ROI, stronger brand equity, and breakthrough campaigns. Susan is also a dedicated mentor and advocate for talent development, known for blending data-driven insights with creative vision.

Melanie Mann - Principal Category Merchant at Whole Foods Market

Melanie Mann, is the Senior Team Leader for Wine Category Merchants at Whole Foods Market. With a relentless dedication to sourcing wines that weave compelling narratives and uphold impeccable quality, Melanie stands at the forefront of crafting a wine selection that resonates with the values of Whole Foods Market's discerning customers. In her role as the leader of the team responsible for curating all wines stocked in over 450 stores across the United States, Melanie's passion for her work shines through in the diversity of wines available at Whole Foods Market . A pivotal focus for Melanie and her team are production practices including organic an biodynamic practices worker responsibility, social responsibility initiatives, environmental impact, and more.

Patrick Mata - Distributor

Patrick Mata is the co-founder of Olé & Obrigado, a leading importer of artisanal wines from Spain and Portugal. Born in Málaga, Spain into a winemaking family, Mata launched the company in 1999 while still in college. What began with one winery has grown into a portfolio of over 75 producers, all selected for their regional authenticity, sustainable practices, and quality. Recognized as a driving force in the U.S. wine industry, Mata was named a “40 Under 40 Tastemaker” by Wine Enthusiast and “Personality of the Year” by The Wine Advocate. Food & Wine also included him among the top 10 importers of Spanish wine.

Clay Risen - Writer and Author at The New York Times

Clay Risen is a reporter for The New York Times with two decades of experience covering the spirits industry. He is the author of six books on whiskey, including "Bourbon: The Story of Kentucky Whiskey," "Single Malt: A Guide to the Whiskies of Scotland," and "American Whiskey, Bourbon and Rye," which has sold more than 125,000 copies across two editions.

Lily Volpe - Head of Marketing & Brand Strategist at MGX

Lily Volpe is a brand strategist and independent consultant with over 25 years of experience in the wine & spirits industry. She began her career at Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits, first leading the U.S. launch and brand strategy for [yellow tail], and later serving on the executive team with responsibility for new product development, company strategy, and consumer research. More recently, as MGX’s first Head of Marketing, she spearheaded the company’s rebranding and repositioning, building the foundation for its next phase of growth and unifying its divisions under a cohesive identity as a trusted logistics partner to the industry. Today, she helps brands of all sizes translate strategy into meaningful growth.

Summit Wine Roundtable Panelists

Susan Kilgore - SVP of Marketing at Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits

Julie Wagner - Director of European Wine (excluding France) and Oceania at Total Wine & More

Julie Wagner has over eight years of experience in the wine industry and is as Director of Wine at Total Wine & More, the leading wine retailer in the United States. She oversees the European portfolio, along with Australia, New Zealand, and Japan, managing categories, assortment, and supplier partnerships. Having spent six years living in Germany and Italy, Julie brings a global perspective and deep appreciation for the families and traditions behind the wines she curates. She is passionate about translating those stories into meaningful experiences for customers and inspiring them to discover new favorites.

Susan Kilgore - SVP of Marketing at Deutsch

(See above)

Patrick Mata - Spanish Wine Distributor

(See above)

Clay Risen - Writer and Author at The New York Times

(See above)

Where we are

Trade Commission of Spain in New York (Embassy of Spain)

405 Lexington Ave, 47th Floor (New York, NY 10174)

(+1) 212-661-4959 / (+34) 91-732-4135

nuevayork@comercio.mineco.es

Speakers

FOOD ADVISORY COUNCIL PANELISTS

Summit Food Roundtable Panelists

WINE ADVISORY COUNCIL PANELISTS

Summit Wine Roundtable Panelists

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