Acosta Expands Foodservice Division, Acquires Texas Rep Firm

Acosta Sales & Marketing, the Jacksonville, Fla.-based outsourcer of sales, marketing and retail merchandising services, has acquired Howard and Associates. Acosta will integrate the Carrollton, Texas, manufacturer’s rep firm with its foodservice division, expanding Acosta Cornerstone’s non-foods coverage in the Texas and Oklahoma sales region.

Acosta Foodservice provides integrated sales and marketing solutions for major food and non-food manufacturers, distributors and operators; Acosta Cornerstone offers a non-foods team dedicated solely to disposables, equipment and supplies.

“Howard and Associates is one of the leading foodservice supplies agencies in Texas and Oklahoma with an impressive track record and strong local relationships,” said Mark Hayden, president, Acosta Foodservice. “Our expanded Acosta Cornerstone team will be able to provide unmatched personalized service to manufacturers, distributors and operators in the central region.”

“We are aligning ourselves with experienced foodservice industry experts and providing best-in-class training opportunities for our associates,” commented Charlotte Howard, principal, Howard and Associates. “By joining forces with Acosta, we will be able to provide our clients with new resources to drive growth and sales.”