Small Biz: Chattanooga consultants cut food bills

photo Co-owners of AVA Consulting Joel Hines, left, and Tyler Brown.

• Name: AVA Consulting LLC

• Owners: Tyler Brown, a fifth generation food sales rep, and his brother-in-law Joel Hines, a former distribution marketing executive

• Service: Food supply consultants for independent and small regional restaurants

• Started: July, 2014

• Location: The owners came to Chattanooga from Kansas City where they worked in other food service jobs and, for now, are working their consulting business out of their homes.

• Strategy: The consultants aim to save 5 percent of the food costs for the typical restaurant through better contracts with distributors and other vendors. AVA will make its fees from a portion of those savings.

"I always felt that the most rewarding part of my job as a sales rep was my ability to help the local and independent operators regain valuable hours of their lives while spending less money doing so," Brown said.

• Market: Chattanooga has four national food brokers and other suppliers to create a competitive market. But Hines said many restaurateurs now purchase from multiple distributors so their overall costs are higher than they would be with the right negotiated arrangement from a single distributor. AVA will help restaurateurs save both time and money with their purchases, Brown said.

• First year goal: $200,000 in revenues

• Contact: 423-321-9876 or info@avaconsultingllc.com

Compiled by Business Editor Dave Flessner who may be reached at dflessner@timesfreepress.com or at 4230757-6340.

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