National Foodservice Sales & Business Development Manager

National Foodservice Sales & Business Development Manager

A longstanding, well-established grower/shipper with a high-quality product line / brand, and strong consistent growth seeks an energetic foodservice sales expert who has demonstrated success in working with a wide array of national accounts. The Foodservice National Account Manager manages assigned customers in the foodservice channel and prospects new accounts to provide excellent service, and to continue moving this important business sector forward.

Position can be based out of the salesperson’s home office within proximity to a major airport. National travel required. 

Accountabilities and Responsibilities

• Establishes and maintains Professional sales relationships with assigned customer accounts and prospective new foodservice accounts.
• Develop and execute a business plan to increase overall foodservice business.
• Conducts sales calls, schedules promotional volumes and prices, monitors sales to identify opportunities in accordance with sales plan.
• Proposes customer visit schedule with meeting purpose and agendas to advance relationship.
• Prepares and proposes annual sales plan/budget by account by product for review and agreement with manager. Includes quantity by product, price objectives, volume and price objectives, budget customer visits, special programs or marketing tactics planned to earn loyalty and achieve goals.
• Executes against the sales plan and weekly sales goals.
• Works in conjunction with marketing to develop programs to increase product penetration and overall consumption in foodservice channel.
• Presents and effectively executes agreed upon foodservice contracts in a timely manner.
• Provides no less than quarterly evaluations of customer to manager with recommendations for actions to improve business.
• Reviews pricing and volume requests with manager for approval prior to offering customer, and coordinates to assure smooth and effective product flow.
• Needs to be the content expert in foodservice and identify opportunities for growth and recommend tactics to achieve goals and/or prospective new accounts to manager.
• Accountable for communication and coordination with sales team for proper order entry and monitoring those orders until delivery.
• Must promptly (within six hours) handle rejections by assigned foodservice accounts issuing proper notification, department required documentation and provide customer support to sustain relationship.
• Expected to be aware of the competitive environment and report to manager and team on a real time basis to achieve market leadership.
• Responsible to respond to unexpected supply changes, both long and short, as a team player and to best achieve excellent service and optimal grower returns.
• Expected to participate in department meetings and conference calls.
• Responsible to cooperate with accounting department to assure prompt collection of assigned account receivables, and ultimately responsible for the collection of all funds.
• Actions and activity fosters excellent service in customer relationships and market leadership

Qualifications and Skills Required

• Bachelor’s degree or related field with 5 years minimum produce industry.
• Needs to have prior foodservice sales experience with value added products
• Ability to act independently and make competent decisions without supervision.
• Must have excellent computer skills with knowledge of MS Office, Outlook, and SAP helpful
• Individual must be detail oriented and an effective communicator to others
• Team player striving for the benefit of the team
• Available after hours

Please contact Jennifer, jennifer@producecareers.com