Product Specialist

Essential Duties

• Compiles lists of prospective customers for use as sales leads, based on information from newspapers, business directories, and other resources
• Promote growth in sales/revenues in assigned category
• Coordinate activities with production/purchasing to ensure proper execution of customers specifications
• Displays or demonstrates product, using samples or catalog, and emphasizes salable features
• Attend required customer and company scheduled meetings
• Train new sales representatives on all aspects of assigned category
• Participation in Food Shows/Expos and represent the company at trade association meetings to promote product
• Effectively interact with customer base and perform customer tours as needed
• Other duties as assigned

Specialty Category

• Specialty Category Daily and weekly communication to sales by e-mail, phone messages, flyers, etc… for the Specialty category
• Constantly arranging and updating Specialty catalog for both DSRs and customers to utilize
• Work with DSRs daily on customer calls to help drive the Specialty category in case and sales growth
• Attend multiple District Sales Meetings per month
• Attend and participate in all General Sales Meetings
• Proactively identify and qualify new & lost business leads with input from DSRs, District Sales Managers and Regional Sales Managers
• Prospects and develops profitable new & lost customers using a systematic approach which includes customer potential / stratification
• Work with purchasing daily to ensure proper products are stocked at the right cost from the correct vendors
• Track updates on progress and measure/evaluate performance
• Manage Specialty Vendors/Brokers/Manufacturers
• Source product from right vendors to help drive Specialty category
• Develop strategy to work with brokers and PLC committee to add and/or remove Specialty products
• Attend EXPO’s and Regional Vendor Fairs
• Work with Marketing to help drive POS and promotions of Specialty category
• Help coordinate all New Item launches for Specialty category
• Work with Marketing to help develop all marketing material pertaining to the Specialty category
• Work with Marketing to ensure proper and timely Catalog maintenance

Qualifications

• 3-year minimum Foodservice Sales or related experience in the Specialty category field
• Bachelor’s Degree from a four-year university preferred
• Current driver’s license and auto insurance required
• Must have extensive Specialty category and general foodservice knowledge
• Must be flexible and willing to work the demands of the department which are subject to evenings, weekends, and holidays
• Must live in or near to assigned territory or be willing to relocate

Pay

$70,000 to $80,000 with annual bonus potential depending on competency, experience, qualifications and skills.

Schedule

N/A