Area Sales Manager_Auburn AL/Lagrange GA

Merchants Foodservice - Auburn, AL

Full-time - Entry Level

Auburn, AL

Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods

About the position

As an Area Sales Manager for Performance Foodservice, you will play a crucial role in the development of independent account business, focusing on overall profitability through both new sales and account penetration. Your primary responsibility will be to promote and sell company-branded products while meeting brand sales objectives. This position may also involve supporting customer service activities for regional and/or national chain customers, thereby increasing the visibility of the company in the marketplace and maximizing market share. You will function as a team member within the department and organization, performing any duty assigned to best serve the company. In this role, you will generate additional business by analyzing your sales territory and individual customers. You will sample products with existing and potential customers, plan your general sales strategy including time and territory management, and conduct effective sales presentations. Your goal will be to grow sales and profit margins on an ongoing basis to meet established sales and margin goals. You will also be responsible for setting up new customer accounts, determining pricing, and working with the Credit Department for initial authorization, as well as coordinating with other center personnel for scheduling order-taking and deliveries. Customer satisfaction is paramount, and you will ensure this by providing an exemplary level of service. This includes working closely with other center personnel to coordinate efforts to prevent and resolve customer problems. In emergency situations, you may be personally responsible for making deliveries. Additionally, you will build additional business with current customers through product penetration to maximize the profitability of individual accounts. Monitoring accounts for compliance with credit terms will also be part of your responsibilities to minimize accounts receivable problems. Staying aware of pricing trends within your sales territory, particularly on market-driven or commodity products, will be essential to ensure competitive pricing. You may also be assigned other related duties as needed.

Responsibilities

• Generate additional business through analyzing sales territory and individual customers.
• Sample products with existing and potential customers.
• Plan general sales strategy including time and territory management.
• Plan sales approach with individual customers and conduct effective sales presentations.
• Grow sales and profit margins on an ongoing basis to meet established sales and margin goals.
• Set up new customer accounts by determining pricing and working with the Credit Department for initial authorization.
• Perform initial follow-up work with customers ensuring delivery and product satisfaction.
• Ensure customer satisfaction by providing exemplary service and coordinating efforts to prevent and resolve customer problems.
• Build additional business with current customers through product penetration to maximize profitability of individual accounts.
• Minimize accounts receivable problems by monitoring accounts for compliance with credit terms and following up on any issues.
• Maintain awareness of pricing trends within sales territory, particularly on market-driven/commodity products.

Requirements

• High School Diploma/GED or Equivalent
• 6-12 months outside sales/marketing and/or restaurant experience
• Valid Drivers License

Nice-to-haves

• Bachelors Degree in Business Management, Sales/Marketing, or related area
• 1-2 years foodservice sales/marketing and/or restaurant experience

Benefits

• Day 1 Health & Wellness Benefits
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• 401K Employer Matching
• Education Assistance
• Paid Time Off