Job Description

Position Summary

Deliver the planned annual top-line sales targets for the foodservice channel through the creation of sales leads, initiation of prospect calls, and establishment of ongoing rapport with existing and potential customers. Work with direct guidance from manager as it relates to business planning and customer strategy. Managing accounts that are sophisticated in terms of category management and complexity. Integrity, vision, and passion are essential for this role.

Responsibilities:

• Cold-call new customer prospects.
• Penetrate all targeted accounts and radiate sales from within client base.
• Maintain and expand the companys database of prospects.
• Handle inbound, unsolicited prospect calls and convert them into sales.
• Expand distribution of Grand River Foods multiple categories within the foodservice channel.
• Make outbound follow-up calls to prospective and existing customers via in-person meetings, virtual meetings, telephone conversations, and e-mail.
• Set up and deliver sales presentations, product/service demonstrations, and other sales actions.
• Present new product opportunities and innovations, emphasize product/service features and benefits, quote prices, discuss credit terms, and prepare sales order forms and/or reports.
• Ensuring new products are listed and distribution gaps are filled.
• Manage new product launches.
• Accurately forecasting sales volume.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to determine necessary strategic sales approaches.
• Negotiate annual agreements, price actions, quality issues, discontinued items with customer.
• Where necessary, support marketing efforts such as trade shows, exhibits, and other events.
• Overcome objections of prospective customers.
• Enter new customer data and update changes to existing accounts in the corporate database.
• Investigate and troubleshoot customer service issues.
• Attend periodic sales training where applicable.
• Appropriately communicate brand identity and corporate position.

Qualifications, Education & Experience:

• Post-secondary education in Business administration, Commerce or related field.
• 3-5+ years in food sales/foodservice key account management experience.
• Strong analytical skills and proficiency in MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word).
• Strong negotiation skills.
• Strong business and financial acumen: business analytics skills, customer P & L agility, ability to plan, track and evaluate.
• Strong attention to detail and accuracy of data entry.
• Strong technical, report running and analytical abilities.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Bilingual in French and English is an asset.
• Ability to troubleshoot problems.
• Ability to work within a matrix cross-functional organization.
• Ability to act with discretion, patience, and diplomacy.
• Drivers License and access to a vehicle; interprovince travel required.
• This is an office-based position.