Acosta’s Chartrand Authors New Book

SN STAFF

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Acosta Sales & Marketing’s rise from a local food broker employing 12 workers to an international corporation with a force of 17,000 is chronicled in a new book by Gary Chartrand, its founder, executive chairman and former chief executive officer. Titled “Unreasonable Leadership,” the book reveals the management philosophy that helped drive Acosta’s success amid the vast consolidation of the food brokerage industry, a 12-year period during which Acosta’s sales climbed from $3 billion to $60 billion.

“Unreasonable Leadership” draws its title from a remark by playwright George Bernard Shaw: “All progress comes from unreasonable people.” Chartrand said he defines “unreasonable leadership” as having the courage and conviction to change the status quo.