Victor Covo

Strategic procurement and commodity sourcing professional with 10+ years of experience managing agricultural and food ingredient categories across North American and global markets. Proven track record developing sourcing strategies, negotiating commercial agreements, managing supplier relationships, forecasting demand and supply, and optimizing total cost across complex, high-value portfolios. Experienced in end-to-end supplier lifecycle management, including supplier selection, onboarding, contract negotiation, performance management, risk mitigation, and supply continuity.

Strong cross-functional partner to Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Quality, Finance, Operations, and Sales teams, with hands-on experience supporting commercialization, inventory planning, product availability, and cost improvement initiatives. Brings deep expertise in market intelligence, seasonal supply dynamics, pricing, logistics, and commodity risk management. Bilingual in English and Spanish.

Senior Supplier Relationship Manager - CROFTER'S ORGANIC - Seguin, Ontario, Canada

(2024-01)

• Lead sourcing and supplier relationship management for global growers, processors, brokers, and ingredient suppliers supporting a leading North American organic fruit spread manufacturer.
• Manage strategic sourcing across IQF fruits, fruit purées, juice concentrates, sweeteners, and specialty ingredients, balancing cost, quality, supply reliability, and production requirements.
• Develop and execute sourcing approaches based on market conditions, crop forecasts, seasonal availability, supplier capabilities, pricing trends, and business requirements.
• Serve as primary commercial relationship manager for a diverse domestic and international supplier portfolio, ensuring supplier performance, continuity of supply, competitive pricing, and issue resolution.
• Negotiate pricing, commercial terms, and supply agreements to optimize procurement economics while protecting quality and service requirements.
• Manage supplier relationships through the commercial lifecycle, including sourcing, negotiations, performance monitoring, risk mitigation, and ongoing strategic development.
• Partner with the VP of Supply Chain to align sourcing decisions with production requirements, supply planning, inventory needs, and longer-term procurement objectives.
• Provide senior leadership with market intelligence covering crop conditions, harvest forecasts, global supply-demand dynamics, seasonal availability, and pricing trends to support proactive procurement decisions.
• Monitor agricultural markets and weather-related risks to identify potential supply disruptions and implement mitigation strategies supporting uninterrupted production.
• Collaborate with Quality Assurance and Logistics to ensure suppliers meet product specifications, food safety requirements, cold-chain standards, and delivery expectations.
• Identify opportunities to improve sourcing economics and supplier performance through market analysis, commercial negotiations, and proactive supply planning.

Agricultural Commodity Trader – Coffee - OLAM - Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada

(2021-01 - 2024-01)

• Managed a high-value, multi-origin commodity portfolio, with end-to-end accountability for sourcing, supplier performance, commercial execution, logistics, and supply continuity.
• Developed sourcing strategies by analyzing global supply-demand fundamentals, market conditions, production forecasts, pricing trends, and geopolitical and supply risks.
• Led complex negotiations with international producers, processors, traders, and brokers, securing supply agreements and optimizing pricing and commercial terms.
• Managed supplier relationships across multiple geographies, balancing cost, quality, availability, service, and risk considerations.
• Forecasted demand and coordinated replenishment activities to maintain product availability while managing working capital and supply exposure.
• Directed end-to-end logistics involving ocean freight, containers, transload facilities, and warehousing, identifying opportunities to improve transportation economics and reduce disruption.
• Partnered with Quality Assurance, Finance, Operations, Sales, and Manufacturing to align procurement decisions with quality, regulatory, operational, financial, and customer requirements.
• Monitored supplier and market conditions to identify emerging risks and proactively adjust sourcing and purchasing strategies.
• Managed contract execution and commercial obligations throughout the procurement lifecycle, ensuring alignment between supplier commitments, customer requirements, and operational plans.

Senior Procurement Manager, Special Crops & Grains - GLOBEWAYS CANADA INC. - Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

(2018-08 - 2020-12)

• Directed procurement activities supporting five processing plants, with responsibility for supplier selection, strategic sourcing, price negotiation, contract management, and inventory planning.
• Developed and managed a diversified supplier network of growers, elevators, brokers, and processors to strengthen supply resilience and cost competitiveness.
• Evaluated commodity markets, crop conditions, production forecasts, and supplier capabilities to identify sourcing opportunities and mitigate price and supply risk.
• Negotiated commercial agreements and transportation arrangements across trucking, rail, transload, and shipping, balancing total delivered cost with service and supply requirements.
• Managed the complete procurement contract lifecycle from supplier engagement and negotiation through delivery execution, quality verification, issue resolution, and closeout.
• Coordinated procurement and inventory planning activities to align raw material availability with processing requirements across multiple facilities.
• Maintained active supplier relationships and resolved commercial, quality, logistics, and delivery issues to protect production continuity.
• Used market and supply intelligence to support purchasing decisions and manage exposure to commodity price volatility.

Grain Buyer & Originator - CERES GLOBAL AG CORP - Saskatchewan, Canada

(2015-03 - 2018-05)

• Built and managed producer relationships across the Canadian Prairies, sourcing wheat, durum, oats, soybeans, and canola directly from growers.
• Negotiated grain procurement agreements and commercial terms while balancing market pricing, quality, logistics, supply availability, and margin objectives.
• Used futures, basis contracts, and options to manage commodity price volatility and procurement risk.
• Expanded supplier origination territories through direct producer engagement, workshops, industry events, and relationship development.
• Monitored crop conditions, production forecasts, market fundamentals, and regional supply dynamics to identify purchasing opportunities and mitigate supply risk.

Bachelor of Business Administration - Polytechnic Gran Colombiano

Post-Graduate Diploma - Financial Management - UTB

Certified International Trade Professional (CITP) - Centennial College

Financial Risk Management Certificate - FC Stone Financial Risk Academy Canada

NGFA Trade Rules Certificate - National Grain and Feed Association