Matthew Finger
Director, Sr Manager Supply Chain and Category Management @Whataburger
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WORK HISTORY
Director, Sr Manager Supply Chain and Category Management @Whataburger
San Antonio, TX, US
Held multiple progressive leadership roles with responsibility for food and packaging procurement, category management,supplier strategy, food safety & quality systems, and cross-functional innovation execution.• Led food and packaging procurement strategy across protein and operational categories supporting the brand.• Owned $400MM+ annual spend across chicken, beef, pork, eggs, dairy, and select packaging categories, balancing cost,service, quality, and supply risk.• Developed and executed category sourcing strategies, including RFx processes, supplier evaluations (SRM), and contractnegotiations.• Negotiated multi-year supply and distribution agreements, securing cost-plus and indexed pricing structures that reducedvolatility and preserved margin.• Delivered $800K+ in annual savings through supplier reformulation & alternate sourcing strategies.• Established two new regional production facilities, expanding supply capacity to support 85% of new restaurant growthwhile reducing freight and risk exposure.• Led COVID-era supply continuity governance across food, packaging, and equipment categories for 850+ restaurants,ensuring uninterrupted operations.• Built and executed category roadmaps and innovation pipelines aligned with supplier capability and distributor execution,delivering $62MM+ incremental sales.• Developed internal tracking tools to monitor pricing compliance, cost drivers, and supplier performance.• Rebuild the enterprise stage-gate and leadership alignment process, improving transparency, decision clarity, and cycle speed across R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing, and Ops.• Reduced commercialization timeline 40% through redesigned workflows, standardized scale-up protocols, and cross-functional governance.• Modernized commercialization and specification processes to improve lifecycle.• Build and led a high performing team of 8 R&D and commercialization professionals, closing technical skill gaps and mentoring emerging leaders.
EDUCATION
Rutgers Business School
International Executive MBA, International Business
Wharton Executive Education
Certificate , Global Supply Chain
Texas A&M University
Life Science, Poultry Science
SKILLS
ABOUT MATTHEW FINGER
I’m a global food industry leader with experience driving innovation, strategy, and execution across proteins and restaurant growth platforms. I specialize in building scalable category strategies for QSR and foodservice brands seeking growth through insights-led product development and world-class supply chains.At Whataburger, I led the development and execution of chicken and beef category strategies, aligning and delivering plans according to company goals and core values.I’ve led cross-functional teams across the U.S. and Asia (Tyson, OSI, Danone), managing strategy, operations, FSQA, and supplier relationships. I’ve worked closely with McDonald’s as a supplier, served on their APMEA Produce Council, and understand the strategic levers that drive category success in a global QSR business.I’m passionate about fusing data, creativity, and disciplined execution to grow iconic food categories. Let’s connect if you\'re building the future of food.Specialties: Category Strategy, Chicken Innovation, Menu Development, Cross-functional Leadership, Global QSR, Procurement, Supplier Management, FSQA, Insights-led Execution, P&L Responsibility.
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