Business Development Specialist

Halperns Steak and Seafood•Kalamazoo, MI

9h•Onsite

About The Position

Provides strategic business development of current and prospect accounts by assessing opportunities, risks, developing key customer relationships, and initiating account strategies that build loyalty and satisfaction with Halperns’ Steak & Seafood customers.

Requirements

Must have industry and segment knowledge and be able to analyze and interpret data and aggressively develop new business.
Must be a strategic thinker in order to build relationships, network, and link resources to plan and execute business practices and achieve business goals.
Meat and/or Seafood industry experience required
Must have the ability to multitask, prioritize and be able to work independently or within a team environment.
Must have excellent written, verbal, organizational and communication skills as well as problem solving capabilities
Demonstrate the ability to prepare and deliver presentations and speak to customers both internal and external as a department representative.

Nice To Haves

Broadline sales experience preferred.
Experience with commodity markets and forecasting models; and ability to translate those to make decisions is ideal.

Responsibilities

Conduct product knowledge training for the GFS sales teams and on the importance of selling COP, identifying USDA grades, recognizing product, understanding custom cut specs on meat, veal, lamb, pork and seafood.
Perform ride along with broadline sales reps to prospect and penetrate accounts that are not purchasing Specialty companies products.
Consult with customers on new items and menu ideas that can generate additional profit vs savings.
Help sales identify what products the customers are purchasing from the competitors.
Study the markets and identify product mix needed to gain market share.
Maintain and develop CDS and customer relations.
Work with both Halperns and GFS sales team on partnering for referrals.
Attend food shows as needed
Track weekly sales, identify lost sales and work with Sales and Market Managers to understand the loss and put an action plan in place to regain the business
Identify large volume opportunities and work with the Halperns division General Manager on special pricing or deviations.
Daily communication with cut shop manager on JIT orders for the day, identifying possible substitutions.
Creating and implementing new items.
Advising GFS on items that should be stocked vs. JIT.
Oversee and communicate usages to buyers and cut shop on large volume business.
Working closely with the warehouse and shipping team to ensure the orders are filled and finding substitutes for out of stocks.
Have the ability to analyze and execute in circumstances where it may require immediate action on orders to be recovered on the same day for unforeseen reasons.
Must be self motivated and work under very minimum supervision.
Ability to work in a very fast paced environment and under pressure while working on several projects and meeting short deadlines.
Performs other duties as assigned.