Experienced culinary expert specializing in food innovation and marketing, with over 30 years in the foodservice industry driving trends and creativity.
Dan Follese
US 
Bio
Dan is a veteran of Foodservice with over 30 years of experience in cooking up new ideas that delight the masses. As a classically trained chef, he leads Food Trend Translator, a food innovation marketing firm that goes beyond passion. Dan and his team work with food manufacturers and restaurant operators, offering innovation, results, and connections. They specialize in understanding the complexities of creating innovative foods that drive crave-ability and sales.
With a belief in simple, unique innovations and advantages that inspire tons of flavor and expand food beyond its typical use, Dan is the go-to person if you're looking to unleash the potential of your food. He believes in delivering smart, strategic ideas that draw new customers and is adept at connecting with the right people to bring your next big idea to life.
Dan's impressive experience includes being the host of Trends Translated LIVE, the only live streaming B2B food product show on LinkedIn that features the most current innovation in food trends. He encourages collaboration between food manufacturers and culinary teams, presenting actionable applications for the Food Service channel of business. Dan has also served as a Sr. Manager of Culinary at CSM Bakery Solutions and as a Corporate Chef at Schreiber Foods, where he broadened the perspective of the product line through best culinary practices and created conceptual menu items utilizing dairy products.
Prior to that, Dan owned and operated Follese Culinary Consulting, where he was a culinary resource for marketing and advertising agencies nationwide. His responsibilities included menu and recipe development, recipe testing, researching and translating food and beverage trends, and performing food styling for film/photography.
With Dan's wealth of experience and expertise, he is the ideal collaborator for anyone seeking to innovate and elevate their food offerings.
Experience
Food Trend Translator - FCC
supporting brands, private label & national restaurants with culinary, marketing, and trend analysis
Chief Culinary Translator
CSM Bakery Solutions
an international leader in the baking industry, producing one of the industry’s broadest ranges of products for customers in more than 100 countries
Senior Manager of Culinary - Food Service
Schreiber Foods
a dairy company which produces and distributes natural cheese, process cheese, cream cheese and yogurt
Corporate Chef - Food Service
- Supported Internal/External R&D, Marketing, Co-Man, Vendors, Sourcing, Distributors, Retail & Chain Sales while broadening the perspective of the product line through best culinary practices.
- Created conceptual menu items with use of Dairy, while focusing on the use of Cheese, Yogurt and Cream Cheese.
Follese Culinary Consulting
a Culinary resource for marketing and advertising agencies nationwide
Owner - Corporate Chef/Director of Product Development
- Menu & recipe development, recipe testing, conducted research for new products, menu trends, recipe ideas, ingredients, and new product evaluations, created recipes for consumer cooking equipment, and coordinated meetings with vendors, chefs, category managers, & art directors. Performed food styling for film/photography, set design & private cooking lessons.
- Researching and translating food and beverage trends in a compelling and relevant manner that moves the needle.
HospitalityStaff
a national full service placement agency, specializing in the supply of well groomed, experienced temporary and permanent staff to the hospitality industry
Division Manager
- Managed a staff of over 200
- Opened new territory of Palm Beach County
- Increased sales by 40% with network marketing
- Achieved NRA ServeSafe Instructor Status & trained staff in food safety handling.
Sunbeam
Food Styling, Recipe Testing, Recipe Challenging, Food Safety & Equipment Comparative Analysis
Consultant
Whole Foods Market
an American foods supermarket chain specializing in organic food
Chef/Deli Manager
- Exceeded quarterly sales for 4 consecutive periods.
- Achieved expertise within Organic products, green initiatives & vegetarian cooking/lifestyle
- Increased safety awareness with team members through sanitation, timing & temperatures.
Shirttail Charlies
a rustic seafood restaurant on the south bank of the New River
Executive Chef/Operations Manager
- Responsible to develop menus, recipes, manage culinary & wait staff for two specialty seafood restaurants that offered full service, dockside, cabana/poolside dining, banquet facility, seafood market with gourmet prepared foods including a wine & cigar boutique.
- Managed activities of 34 cooks & wait staff, purchasing, sourcing / costing all food items.
Long John Silver's, LLC
America’s Fish Fry
Assistant Manager
- Coordinated Staff for lunch & dinner shifts
- Ensured food preparation and line set up was properly prepared
- Upheld high standards of expected leadership to guest and staff for a positive experience.
Shells Seafood Restaurant Inc.
a great casual seafood restaurant
Kitchen Manager
- Operated all aspects of the back of the house for receivership, food prep, staff scheduling, opening and closing procedures to the property.
- Led the kitchen staff through high volume service with high success creating strong local support of guests.
Olive Garden
Kitchen Manager
- Awarded "Employee of the Month"
- Created all fresh pasta for the property
- Performed tasks in all capacities (Busser, Prep Cook, Appetizer Station, Server, Host)