Product Specialist

Shamrock Foods•Commerce City, CO

44d•$70,000 - $80,000•Onsite

About The Position

Shamrock Foods Company is seeking a Product Specialist to coordinate activities with sales and sales support teams to increase sales and Gross Profit (GP) in a specified market. This role involves working with vendors and sales teams to educate, support, and drive sales within a specific category. The Product Specialist will also train customers and the sales team on product lines and collaborate with the Business Review team to ensure comprehensive customer support. The position requires daily and weekly communication regarding the Specialty category, constant updating of the Specialty catalog, and daily work with District Sales Representatives (DSRs) to drive sales growth. The role also includes attending various sales meetings, proactively identifying and qualifying leads, prospecting new customers, and working with purchasing to ensure proper product stocking and cost management. The Product Specialist will track progress, manage vendors, source products, stay current with industry trends, and develop strategies for product additions and removals. Additionally, the role involves working with the Marketing Department to drive point-of-sale (POS) and promotions, coordinate new item launches, develop marketing materials, and ensure timely catalog maintenance.

Requirements

3-year minimum Foodservice Sales or related experience in the Specialty category field
Current driver’s license and auto insurance required
Must have extensive Specialty category and general foodservice knowledge
Mathematic Skills: must be able to calculate amounts such as discounts, commissions, proportions, percentages
Ability to read and interpret; ability to write routine reports and correspondence; ability to communicate effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.
Must live in or near to assigned territory or be willing to relocate

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s Degree from a four-year university preferred

Responsibilities

Coordinates activities with sales and sales support teams to increase sales and GP in specified market.
Works with vendors and sales to educate, support and increase sales in specified category.
Trains and educates customers and sales team on product lines.
Works with the Business Review team to ensure that customers are fully supported.
Compiles lists of prospective customers for use as sales leads.
Promotes growth in sales/revenues in assigned category.
Coordinates activities with production/purchasing to ensure proper execution of customers specifications.
Displays or demonstrates product, using samples or catalog, and emphasizes salable features.
Attends required customer and company scheduled meetings.
Trains new sales representatives on all aspects of assigned category.
Participates in Food Shows/Expos and represents the company at trade association meetings to promote product.
Effectively interacts with customer base and performs customer tours as needed.
Provides daily and weekly communication to sales by e-mail, phone messages, flyers, etc… for the Specialty category.
Arranges and updates Specialty catalog for both DSRs and customers to utilize.
Works with DSRs daily on customer calls to help drive the Specialty category in case and sales growth.
Attends multiple District Sales Meetings per month.
Attends and participates in all General Sales Meetings.
Proactively identifies and qualifies 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.
Works with purchasing daily to ensure proper products are stocked at the right cost from the correct vendors.
Tracks updates on progress and measures/evaluates performance.
Manages Specialty Vendors/Brokers/Manufacturers.
Sources product from right vendors to help drive Specialty category.
Reviews lines to keep current with Specialty category industry trends.
Develops strategy to work with brokers and PLC committee to add and/or remove Specialty products.
Works with Vendors to ensure success at all EXPO’s and Regional Vendor Fairs.
Works with Shamrock Marketing Department to help drive POS and promotions of Specialty category.
Coordinates all New Item launch for Specialty category.
Works with Marketing to help develop all marketing material pertaining to the Specialty category.
Works with Marketing to ensure proper and timely Catalog maintenance.
Performs other duties as assigned.