Business Manager

Acosta•Richmond, VA

About The Position

The Business Manager manages assigned customer business within a defined marketing area and helps drive company success by achieving business objectives and building strong customer relationships. The role focuses on increasing sales and market share for represented brands while earning a profit for manufacturers and Acosta. The Business Manager works with principals, customers, and internal sales and marketing teams to meet sales goals, support in-store execution, and improve business performance.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
Proven track record in sales.
Strong interpersonal, organizational, presentation, negotiation, and sales skills.
Ability to analyze sales and marketing information to make effective sales presentations.
Proficiency with a variety of software packages used to support the sales function.
Willingness to travel.

Nice To Haves

Sales experience with a food broker or national company.
Experience working with grocery and/or military channels.

Responsibilities

Deliver principals’ volume, share, and sales fundamental goals—including merchandising, assortment, pricing, and shelving—at the lowest possible cost while maximizing company revenue through brokerage, commissions, bonuses, and contest earnings.
Communicate principals’ priorities to Retail Sales Managers, Sales Technology Managers (IT), Marketing Managers, Business Managers, and the retail selling organization to support in-store presence and business objectives.
Report to the General Manager or Team Leader and manage or participate in the development, design, and presentation of Acosta introductions to new principals.
Develop and maintain strong relationships with principals and customers, proactively communicating with key principals to foster collaboration and success.
Coordinate ongoing communication between General Managers and key principals.
Collaborate with Retail Sales Managers on major retail initiatives, including new product introductions, selling drives, and contests.
Coordinate principals’ market visits and key account calls, applying knowledge of customers, markets, and principals to sell principals’ programs and initiatives.
Use insights from the Senior Vice President, General Manager, Team Leaders, and Senior Business Managers to develop conceptual sales presentations that deliver principals’ objectives.
Provide feedback to principals and the General Manager on the effectiveness of strategies, selling programs, and initiatives, and suggest ways to build organizational capacity and improve the business.
Maintain current account distribution information, review market pricing reports for accuracy and competitive activity, and collect and report competitive activity.
Manage personal skill development and share customer and manufacturer information with team members to help build organizational capacity.
Follow client procedures and policies, develop expertise in client proprietary systems for managing promotional plans and fund balances, and monitor financial management matters such as deductions, taking corrective action as needed.
Perform other duties as assigned to support the overall success of the business.