• 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.