The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA) has appointed Bob Plata, Bunzl Vice President of Mid-Atlantic Market, to its Board of Directors.
Plata takes the seat previously held by Rick Maier. In his current role, Plata is responsible for
overseeing distribution centers in Baltimore, Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and York. Bunzl, a multinational
distribution and outsourcing company, sells disposable packaging to supermarkets,
convenience stores, and food processors.
Plata has worked his entire 33-year career at Bunzl. His goal has always been “to help our
customers sell more food,” he said.
“We are pleased to welcome Bob to our Board,” PFMA President & CEO Alex Baloga said. “His
wealth of knowledge from decades of working with food merchants will prove valuable to our
organization and the industry as a whole.”
PFMA thanks Maier for his service to the Board and wishes him well in his new role as Senior
Vice President of Bunzl’s East Region.
After graduating from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, Plata joined Bunzl as a Sales
Representative in 1985 and worked his way up to a Supermarket Sales Manager. He was
promoted to a General Manager in 1994 before becoming Vice President of Mid-Atlantic Market
in October 2018.
Plata has been married to his wife Kathy for 31 years and the couple has five children – four
sons, Graham, Matthew, Luke, Robbie, and a daughter, Lauren, as well as a pair of yellow
Labradors, Blitz and Buzz.
