Tampa food brokerage leader steps down, son takes on CEO role

After nearly 33 years at the helm of Tampa-based retail grocery and food brokerage company Bay Food Brokerage, CEO and founder Cammie Chatterton announced Wednesday she has moved into a new role as chairwoman of the advisory board. 

The CEO is now her son, Chris Chatterton, who previously served as president and co-owner of the business his mother founded in 1993.

As of Jan. 1, Chris Chatterton is now full owner of Bay Food Brokerage, which has grown to one of the largest retail food brokerage companies serving Florida and the Southeast. It’s the result of a multi-year succession plan designed to ensure “continuity and confidence” in the company’s clients and partners, a release says. 

Chris Chatterton has filled key roles in the company since 2011, the release says, taking on jobs in operations, strategy and growth initiatives that have resulted in strong revenue growth, team expansion and long-term client success. 

Within five years of Chris’ return to Bay Foods he helped grow the company's revenue from $1.5 million to $2.9 million, up 93.3%. By 2024, Bay Food had more than doubled its staff and quadrupled its annual revenue to $15.96 million.

Chris has spearheaded initiatives to expand the company's Center Store Division, grow its staff and enhance technological capabilities. Most recently, he oversaw a major renovation when the company moved its headquarters to a new Tampa office space. 

“It is an honor to step into this role and continue building on the foundation my mom built,” Chris Chatterton says in the release. “Our focus remains exactly where it has always been — delivering consistent results, trusted execution and exceptional service for our clients and retail partners.”

Cammie Chatterton was the first woman in the country to own a retail food brokerage company, and under her leadership Bay Food Brokerage established a strong reputation for integrity, performance and personalized service, the release says.

“Leading Bay Food Brokerage has been one of the greatest privileges of my life,” Cammie Chatterton says in the release.