What I Do
Amazing People
About Me
What I Do       Amazing People       About Me
What I Do      Amazing People      About Me
Monica Gelinas helps food organizations grow sustainably with realistic operations strategies.
Guided by her comprehensive background in food systems, Monica has worked and advised on every step of the supply chain—agriculture, product development, manufacturing, distribution, and retail. Â
Whether you’re a start-up or legacy brand, Monica can translate your vision and values into practical next steps. While chefs create food and marketers create content, Monica’s leadership capabilities connect the dots, converting big food ideas into road maps for success. Sourcing, procurement, 3PL negotiations, and setting up responsible infrastructure may never show up on your social media feed, but these are the crucial issues that matter when it comes to quality product and culture.  Â
From QSR/fast casual concepts and CPG brands to community-based organizations, Monica’s wide-ranging expertise can facilitate your journey from farm to shelf.
About Me
Starting my bio with childhood memories of my grandmother’s cooking would be lovely, but it would also be untrue. The real story is that my interest in food began with eating in hometown Jersey diners and “following” my high school boyfriend to his college, where I received my BS at the Cornell Hotel School. From there, my food journey has been inspired by teachers and mentors where I have learned from some of the best visionaries in natural and organic foods.
What I Do
Simply Put, I Build Bridges from Farm to Shelf
For more than twenty years, I’ve been fostering trust across an intergenerational, culturally diverse supply chain that spans rural and urban settings. Rolling up my sleeves and working from the ground up, I bring true grit between the field and the boardroom—uniting people throughout the supplier community.
When it comes to developing local-artisan and global-commodity networks, I know firsthand just how much food distribution relies on physical labor and individual efforts. With my steadfast commitment and unique skill set, I help streamline these efforts to get the job done.
Organization and Process Management
Team Mentoring + Organizational Guidance
Interim COO or Interim VP of Purchasing
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) Team BuildingÂ
Stakeholder FacilitationÂ
Board Member Engagement
Sustainably Scaling Operations
Strategic Sourcing and Supply Chain
Farm-to-Shelf Procurement
Supply Risk Analysis
COGs Optimization
Ethical Supplier Partnerships
Omnichannel Logistics Design (DTC, etc.)
Product Design
New Product Development (NPD) Lead
Commissary + Ghost Kitchen Strategies
Holistic R&D with Marketing + Sales
Concept-to-Market Strategy
Formula for Success =
Good Food + Patience + Amazing People
