Italian Specialist

Sysco•Plympton, MA

About The Position

This is a professional sales position responsible for growing new business within the Italian ethnic segment and achieving assigned business goals while enhancing the customer experience. The role involves maintaining industry- and category-specific certification and knowledge, and directly selling to customers in the Italian segment. Specialists prioritize time, targets, and team-selling efforts using market insights and data analytics. The territory for this opportunity is Massachusetts along the 495 Corridor. The role also engages Italian-segment manufacturers and brokers, and uses the Greco and Sons Italian Platform and its exclusive brands to differentiate Sysco and guide sales strategies.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
At least 3 years of sales experience in a retail, broker, wholesale, or distribution environment, with deep technical expertise in Italian categories.
Proficiency in Italian product knowledge, culture, category usage, and trends; internal and external certification may be required.
Analytical problem-solving skills, including familiarity with analyzing reports and deriving insights from data.
Ability to express information in terms of profit and loss, food cost, and expense ratio.
Strong financial acumen and ability to plan and execute business plans.
Flexibility, openness to change, and receptiveness to new ideas.
Track record of success in consultative selling, networking, and negotiations.
Proficient communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to work with and influence a variety of key stakeholders.
Experience building trust with prospective customers and securing new business.
Strong business and restaurant operations acumen to manage sophisticated customers.
Ability to learn proprietary CRM tools for planning and forecasting sales growth.
Proficiency in Microsoft Applications Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Proactive and self-directed, with the ability to structure a weekly schedule for success.
Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines and produce accurate, thorough, high-quality results.
Excellent organizational and project management skills, including the ability to execute multiple initiatives at the same time.
Understanding of marketing principles, product lines, ordering procedures, and Sysco’s credit terms.
Excellent interpersonal, communication, business writing, grammar, and verbal communication skills.
Must be currently authorized to work in the United States.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent educational level.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute targeted Italian segment sales strategies to achieve regional and individual annual business goals and grow profitable sales and penetration across the segment and Sysco brand.
Identify customer and prospect needs and assemble product mixes that provide solutions and support business objectives.
Use data analytics to prioritize segment opportunities.
Seek, qualify, and support conversion of top prospects to Sysco.
Stay informed about market conditions, product innovations, and competitors’ products, prices, and sales; share relevant information with sales team members and customers as a value-added service.
Track activities and results, collaborate on opportunities, and champion team selling through Salesforce, Sysco’s CRM tool.
Use sampling in a solutions-oriented manner to close sales.
Provide feedback to specialty companies and merchandising on product quality, product integrity, product mix, customer satisfaction, perceived value, and competition.
Develop and maintain relationships with customers, specialists, and sales team members.
Support prioritized sales strategies through direct selling and engagement with customers and prospects at Sysco events, including food shows and industry events.
Research product discounts, product services information, special offers, and company promotions, and use the information in sales activities to increase profitability and customer satisfaction.
Attend scheduled sales meetings and participate in other activities as requested.
Report on industry and market competition as requested and assist with reviewing inventory levels.
Engage and manage relationships with Italian segment manufacturers and the broker community.
Use the Greco and Sons Italian Platform and its exclusive brands to differentiate Sysco and effectively strategize sales efforts.