Asian Beverage Portfolio Manager - Kent, WA

Primary Responsibilities

• Manage and develop the state based Asian alcohol portfolio, specializing in Japanese sake and shochu.
• Provide strategic sales support to internal sales teams and key account managers.
• Build and maintain headquarters-level relationships with major Asian grocery chains and retail partners.
• Conduct regular business development meetings with Asian retail and restaurant accounts to drive growth.
• Lead sake education and training programs for sales teams, restaurant staff, and retail professionals.
• Act as the primary liaison between suppliers and the distributor, overseeing portfolio management, pricing strategies, and purchasing.
• Plan and execute consumer tastings, trade seminars, and promotional events to increase brand awareness and engagement with premium sake.

Portfolio & Commercial Execution

• Develop and execute portfolio strategies aligned to brand objectives, market opportunities, and customer needs.
• Translate supplier goals into actionable commercial priorities for Sales, Merchandising, and Account Management teams.
• Monitor portfolio performance and identify growth opportunities across channels (onpremise, offpremise, specialty accounts).
• Support new product launches, distribution expansion, and menu or shelf placement initiatives.

Supplier Partnership & Market Representation

• Serve as a primary point of contact for assigned supplier partners, ensuring consistent communication, alignment on goals, and visibility into execution.
• Represent the company and portfolio at supplier meetings, customer presentations, tastings, and industry events.
• Aid in preparing accounts and teams for supplier visits to ensure professional execution and followthrough.

Sales Enablement & Activation Support

• Collaborate with Sales teams to prioritize key accounts, programs, and opportunities aligned with portfolio goals.
• Design and deliver culturally relevant sales education, tastings, and buyer meetings to increase brand knowledge and engagement.
• Support targeted activations (e.g., seasonal programs, cultural holidays, emerging trends) to drive trial and velocity.

CrossFunctional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Brand Development, Sales Leadership, Marketing, and Operations to ensure cohesive execution.
• Communicate portfolio priorities clearly and consistently across internal teams.
• Provide feedback to internal partners and suppliers on market trends, customer insights, and execution gaps.