In a move to grow Canadian sales, Vancouver, British Columbia-based Oppy has promoted David Wazny to sales manager of the team based in the company’s Vancouver headquarters and Colbert Rahal to a newly created role of sales manager of eastern Canada.

The pair has followed a parallel career path at Oppy, both being promoted to senior sales representative early last year. Their experience has situated them aptly for their new managerial roles which will bring a fresh perspective to the sales strategy, according to Walt Breeden, Oppy’s vice president of Canadian sales.

“We’re going through a significant growth period in Canada as a whole, but especially in the east. As we evolve into new areas, I know we’ll have the right guys on our side. Their deep knowledge of our products and relationships they’ve made within the past decade will take us far,” Breeden says.

Getting his start in produce at retailers Urban Fare and Overwaitea in Vancouver and its vicinity, Wazny joined Oppy in 2012 as a sales representative. He has since taken a significant role with Oppy’s kiwifruit partner Zespri and established a strong rapport with customers.

Rahal will guide the Toronto team, directing strategy and development initiatives to expand retail sales for Canada’s East Coast. First stepping into the industry as produce marketing coordinator at Gordon Food Service in Vancouver’s lower mainland, he worked at Costco in Ottawa, Ontario, as inventory control specialist for almost three years where he built a robust understanding of the eastern Canadian market.