Sales Manager - Chocolate Gourmet Business Development (Open to Remote)

Cargill • Wayzata, MN

4d • Remote

About The Position

The Sales Manager will build and maintain strong relationships with key customers and distribution partners serving the Foodservice, Hospitality, Restaurant, and Bakery industries across the United States. The role drives growth for Cargill’s Gourmet portfolio, including cocoa and chocolate products, confectionery ingredients, and sugar decorations, featuring brands such as Veliche®, Leman Decorations®, and Smet®.

The position identifies new business opportunities, grows existing accounts, assesses customer needs, and delivers tailored product solutions that create value and support long-term partnerships. Success is measured by market share growth, customer acquisition, portfolio expansion, and achievement of sales and budget objectives. This is a remote position within the continental United States, with travel of up to 60%, including overnight travel.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, a related field, or equivalent experience.
• At least four years of food industry sales, business development, account management, or related professional culinary and pastry experience.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 60% of the time, including overnight travel.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in the Foodservice, Hotels, Restaurants, Bakery, and Casinos distribution industry.
• Experience with chocolate and pastry applications, including bakery, confectionery, or dessert-related products and solutions.
• Technical and commercial expertise, including customer engagement and sales negotiation experience.

Responsibilities

• Identify, develop, and typically close new sales, building a strong pipeline of opportunities through direct customer engagement.
• Create demand for products and services through product marketing strategies, new product launches, advertising campaigns, sales promotions, and brand development initiatives, including defining Marketing Operational Plans and associated tools.
• Monitor customer and competitor activity, industry trends, market opportunities, and performance data to support business growth and strategic decision-making.
• Participate in regular status and strategy meetings with customers’ senior management to understand and meet their needs, strengthen key account relationships, and foster communication and teamwork across regional and global customers.
• Execute sales plans to protect, grow, and diversify relationships with targeted customers, including identifying target segments, potential partners, and new geographic market opportunities, and launching brands through distributor networks, supply chain capabilities, and technical support.
• Work cross-functionally with Marketing, R&D, Operations, and Sales teams to develop market opportunities, support commercial execution, and establish policies, goals, objectives, and procedures aligned with business strategy.
• Independently handle complex issues with minimal supervision and escalate the most complex issues to appropriate staff.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefit program including medical and/or other benefits, dependent on the position offered and hours worked.
• Eligible for a discretionary incentive award dependent on company and personal performance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager