Circle The Wagons Group Purchasing Organization is committed to saving independent grocery retailers time and money.
We founded Circle the Wagons Group Purchasing Organization (CTW) in 2018, understanding that grocery retailers are under more pressure than ever. We wanted to protect the profitability and viability of independent retailers by delivering lower costs and expenses for Not For Resale services and commodities. We don’t believe in expensive membership fees where you have to consider the benefit of our vendors versus your ROI. Instead, we get you the best deals through the combined purchasing power of the members of CTW. Our expert team has decades of experience in the grocery industry, specifically with cost reduction, purchase evaluation, and loss prevention areas. CTW is here for you.
Barton Howard,
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Randall “Barton” Howard is an entrepreneur, retail expert, and former head of loss prevention. Barton was deputized at 19 years old by the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office and served as a law enforcement Investigator in Mississippi until 2010. Howard was recruited to work as a Security Manager at Rouses Market, the 7th largest independent grocer in the United States where he rose through the ranks serving as Vice President of Asset and Profit Protection until July of 2021. <br><br>In early 2021, Barton partnered with Rocky Patel Premium Cigars to create Tubeaux by Rocky Patel, thus bringing his invention to the global, retail marketplace in partnership with one of the largest manufacturers of premium cigars in the world. Tubeaux is a global patent pending tech-enabled turnkey humidor service. Recognizing underserved needs for independent grocers, Barton Co-Founded Circle the Wagons (CTW) Group Purchasing Organization in 2018 to serve independent grocery retailers across the US and Canada. Barton is a serial entrepreneur, works closely with Callais Capital which have backed two of his ventures and is associated with several other well-known brands such as Gatr Coolers, Beast Brands, Mallard Bay, and Brewsy Products. He continues to serve on the Advisory Board of Emergency and Security Studies at Tulane University.
Brian Shillinglaw, Chief Operating Officer
Brian Shillinglaw has over 23 years in the grocery and big box retail space. He’s led organizations, teams and billons in annual revenue. He experienced has landed him in roles within operations, merchandising and talent management in fortune 25 companies. He also owns a restaurant group and is a entrepreneur at his core.
Heather Russell,
Director of Administration & Finance
Heather graduated from Nicholls University with her bachelors in Accounting. She has 10 years of experience in industry accounting where majority of her focus was in oil and gas and grocery industries.
She has held many different roles in not only accounting and finance but also human resources and business development, where she received state wide commission to be a notary in the state of Louisiana.
