About Us
Upon graduating from the University of Minnesota, I began my 36-year food service career as a buyer at a Food Service distributor. Little did I know at the time, my career would take many twists and turns. At every turn I would learn a new skill and every twist brought new knowledge of the food service industry. Although it has been a long road, these twists and turns have made J. Zilka & Associates the successful company it is today.
After my two years as a buyer, I realized that sales was where the action was, which led me to the food manufacturing side of the business. Where I was able to not only continue my sales career, but also gain a more comprehensive understanding of plant manufacturing, operation, and packaging. Soon after that, I went to work for my first large scale coffee roasting company, where I gained experience in the coffee and tea business. Ten years ago, when I was faced with signing a non-compete contract, I made the bold decision to launch J. Zilka & Associates. A choice that was made in order to better reflect our company’s core vision, capabilities and markets. Just recently we added the next generation of Zilka leadership to the company. Bringing youth, bright eyes, and energy to our company.
Thank you for taking the time to read our story. I look forward to working with you in the near future and bringing your company its next beverage solution.
James Zilka
CEO – J. Zilka & Associates