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Los Angeles, CA, USA

Andrew R.

Strategic Partner for Operational Excellence and Sustainable Growth.

With a rich blend of over 25 years in operations, financial planning, and leadership within the commercial real estate, CPG, Food Tech, and flexible industrial space sector, Andrew Runnette stands out as a strategic partner to businesses aiming for growth. Andrew's journey from the front lines at Whole Foods to the strategic helm at Pod Foods & Portal Warehousing showcases his adept ability in structuring operations for scalability, executing financial strategies for sustainability, and cultivating teams for success. His role at Portal Warehousing, marked by expansive US growth and innovative co-warehousing solutions, underscores his expertise in steering companies through expansion with a hands-on approach to management and strategy. Beyond the boardroom, Andrew finds joy in golf, family time, and sports, embodying a well-rounded leader.

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Andrew R.

Experience

May 2022 — Present
Portal Warehousing

Portal Warehousing

Chief Operations Officer

Portal Warehousing offers flexible warehouse spaces across the US, catering to small businesses and e-commerce merchants.

  • Led strategic growth planning, resulting in the successful expansion of co-warehousing services nationwide.
  • Implemented standardized operational procedures, enhancing overall productivity and customer service quality.
  • Increased brand visibility through targeted marketing and digital campaigns, optimizing ROI.
  • Established financial operations to ensure accurate reporting and compliance, improving investor relations.
Sep 2016 — Present
Natural Food Solutions

Natural Food Solutions

Independent Consultant

Natural Food Solutions provides specialized consulting services for food and beverage CPG brands.

Jun 2022 — Dec 2025
Portal Warehousing

Portal Warehousing

COO

Portal Warehousing provides high-quality small warehouse spaces with the flexibility and simplicity growing businesses need. We offer turn-key, move-in-ready units without long-term leases, along with coworking amenities and a vibrant community of businesses. Our mission is to let you focus on growing your business while we reimagine what a warehouse can be. In short, we’re redefining what a warehouse can be for startups, e-commerce brands, enterprise companies, and creatives.

  • Built core operational and financial systems for multi-site operations, including accounting workflows and automated reporting.
  • Managed P&L, bookkeeping, accounting, budgets, payroll coordination, and investor reporting while leading operations, facilities, and member success teams.
  • Designed SOPs and onboarding systems that standardized service delivery across locations as the company scaled nationally.
  • Implemented automation and dashboards to shorten reporting cycles and improve cash-flow visibility.
  • Scaled the company from $0 to $600K MRR and 0 to over 400 members under my leadership. Opened 7 locations with two more opening in early 2026.
Jun 2022 — Jul 2023
Portal Warehousing

Portal Warehousing

Director Of Operations

  • Developed and executed infrastructure and financial strategies for nationwide expansion of co-warehousing services.
  • Managed daily operations of Community Managers across multiple facilities, improving workflow efficiency.
Aug 2021 — May 2022
Pod Foods

Pod Foods

Director of Logistics Operations

Pod is a B2B distribution platform connecting emerging food brands with grocery buyers through innovative logistics solutions.

  • Managed logistics and operations across six major cities, directly contributing to a 10% month-over-month revenue growth.
  • Implemented service level agreements in six warehouses, maintaining expenses while increasing operational efficiency.
  • Led strategic growth planning to support nationwide expansion efforts, aligning operations with company goals.
Jun 2021 — Aug 2021
Pod Foods

Pod Foods

Operations Manager

May 2021 — Jun 2022
Pod Foods

Pod Foods

Director of Logistics & Operations

Pod is the leading solution for omni-channel sales representation for CPG brands at every stage of growth.

  • Spearheaded the national rollout from 2 to 7 warehouses, handling site expansion planning, financial modeling, and systems automation.
  • Directly managed the logistics and inventory team, overseeing day-to-day operations and data analysis for a high-growth food & beverage startup.
  • Implemented comprehensive SLAs that drove a consistent 10% monthly increase in outbound revenue while maintaining strict expense discipline.
  • Grew the team from myself to 4 team members in Logistics and Operations.
Mar 2021 — Jun 2021
KnowCap Interactive

KnowCap Interactive

Business Development Consultant

KnowCap Interactive assists entrepreneurs in transforming ideas into successful businesses through community support.

Mar 2018 — May 2021

Valiant Sheet Metal & Construction

Chief Operating Officer

Valiant Sheet Metal & Construction specializes in customized sheet metal fabrications and construction solutions.

  • Led growth strategy, increasing business revenue from $275K to $1.8M in 2020.
  • Developed and implemented new operational policies, enhancing operational efficiency and compliance.
  • Oversaw sales and bidding processes, ensuring quality and timely project delivery.
  • Managed a team, fostering professional growth and productivity.
Feb 2018 — May 2021
Valiant Sheet Metal & Construction

Valiant Sheet Metal & Construction

Fractional COO

Subcontractor in the custom homes industry doing sheet metal, roofing and some general construction.

  • Scaled annual revenue from $275K to $1.8M through operational restructuring and process improvements.
  • Established financial reporting, scheduling, and compliance processes; led sales/bidding and supply chain initiatives.
  • Hired and developed cross-functional teams to support growth and project delivery.
Oct 2016 — Jun 2017

Metta Culture

Chief Operating Officer

Metta Culture provides holistic support to professional athletes and entrepreneurs, focusing on lifestyle transformations.

  • Developed operational strategies to deliver healthy meals to Major League Baseball players during the season.
  • Coordinated logistics and vendor partnerships to ensure timely meal deliveries nationwide.
Aug 2007 — Oct 2014
Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods Market

Associate Prepared Foods Coordinator

  • Supervised the Prepared Foods Department for 55 stores, enhancing culinary direction and training programs.
  • Led expansion efforts, designing and opening 35 new locations and 12 in-store restaurants/bars.
  • Drove sales growth through innovative purchasing and strategizing initiatives.
May 2003 — Oct 2016
Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods Market

Store Team Leader & Regional Prepared Foods Coordinator

Whole Food Market is a national organic grocery retailer.

  • Led 400+ team members across two flagship high-volume stores, managing a complex P&L and generating a combined $115M+ in annual revenue.
  • Opened 37 Prepared Foods departments and 12 in-store restaurants across multiple U.S. regions (SoCal, HI, AZ, NV), managing capital expenditures, hiring pipelines, and critical path timelines.
  • Facilitated regional operational training for 6,000+ team members in 55 stores, standardizing SOPs for food safety, production efficiency, and guest service.
  • Oversaw a $300M+ annualized regional business unit, driving profitability through rigorous labor forecasting, margin control, and shrinkage reduction strategies.
  • Pioneered the "Grocerant" concept rollout, transforming traditional grocery service counters into full-service hospitality venues, significantly increasing prepared foods margins.
  • Served as a strategic partner to global leadership, piloting new operational initiatives in the Southern California region before national implementation.
  • Developed and executed regional menu strategies, balancing culinary innovation with supply chain feasibility to maximize gross margin and customer engagement.
  • Built high-performance culture in high-turnover environments, achieving some of the region's highest internal promotion and retention rates through mentorship and development programs.
May 2003 — Aug 2016
Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods Market

Associate Store Team Leader

Whole Foods Market is a leading food retailer known for organic and natural produce, emphasizing sustainability.

  • Managed day-to-day operations of a high-traffic store, serving over 30,000 customers weekly.
  • Oversaw 400+ team members, optimizing team performance and store efficiency.
  • Improved perishable goods management, enhancing product quality and customer satisfaction.
May 2001 — May 2003

Uno’s Chicago Pizzeria

Senior Sous Chef

Uno’s Chicago Pizzeria is renowned for its iconic deep-dish pizza and diverse menu offerings.