Matt Merson

Matt is a senior sales and marketing executive having spent the last 30+ years in the premium food and beverage space on both the foodservice and retail channels with Dannon Yogurt, Sara Lee, Glaceau Vitaminwater, Coca-Cola, Aramark, ZICO Coconut Water, Tio Gazpacho and Simulate NUGGS. His current role is Head of Sales and Strategy and Sales for Once Upon A Coconut, makers of premium coconut water that brings new users into the category. 

For the last two decades, Matt has specialized in the start up space for emerging brands that are disrupting the norm or creating entirely new categories. He thrives on framing out teams, strategic channel plans, price sloping, route to market strategy and trade spend that bring brands to life across all channels of sales. He has expertise in all functional areas including global sales, operations, finance, and marketing, and human resources. His thinking is rooted in the customer experience, executing at retail, and data.

 Matt has a BA in Communications from the State University of New York at Albany and an MBA in Marketing Management from the Lubin Graduate Business School at Pace University in New York.

 Matt has served on the Board of Directors at the Society for Hospitality and Foodservice Management was Chairperson for the Society’s Foundation. Matt also sits on the advisory boards of several food and beverage start up organizations, and is an active investor in many emerging brands.