Sales Representative
About The Position
At CJ Schwan’s, we don’t just make food — we help create moments that matter. From kids devouring pizza after soccer practice, to students laughing over dumplings in a cafeteria, to families enjoying pie during the holidays, our team members play an important role in bringing those everyday moments to life. Our portfolio includes iconic pizzas, global flavors and timeless desserts from brands like Red Baron®, bibigo®, Tony’s®, Big Daddy’s®, Freschetta®, Pagoda®, Edwards® and Mrs. Smith’s®. Enjoyed in homes, schools, restaurants and just about everywhere people shop and eat, our products reflect a commitment to quality, innovation and the power of food to bring people together. We are hiring an early career Operator (Customer) Sales Representative who will be responsible for driving incremental volume growth and sustaining existing volume in foodservice accounts in the central/western region of Illinois, as well as the Chicago suburbs. Work from home office in the south/west Chicagoland area such as Naperville, Aurora, or Joliet. If you are a go-getter, enjoy getting in front of customers and love eating and being around food this is your dream job!
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree or Culinary Arts degree and 1 year of experience including internships in the food service industry
- PASSION for food!
- Must be a self-starter, possess a high bias for action, and be comfortable working autonomously
- Proficiency with computer applications, including Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook) and sales CRM system
- Demonstrated ability to build business relationships with strong written and verbal communication skills
- Solid analytical and problem-solving skills with a strategic mindset
- Ability to travel for training needs and within territory
- Home office is required
- Acts with integrity and accepts coaching direction
- Comfortable presenting information in group settings to a wide variety of audiences
Nice To Haves
- Foodservice sales experience
- Previous experience conducting sales calls in commercial kitchens and preparing food as part of the sales process
- Current relationships in foodservice sales with distribution and/or operators
- Culinary experience preferred. You WILL be conducting sales calls in commercial kitchens and preparing food as partof the sales process
Responsibilities
- Maximize Commercial and Non-Commercial sales (Healthcare, College & University, Recreation, Business & Industry, and K-12 Schools foodservice operators/Bids) for approximately 60+ accounts in assigned territory by effectively penetrating accounts, driving contract compliance, and increasing sales
- Collaborate with Regional Sales Manager and Territory Sales Reps within the designated zone to coordinate sales activities at the customer account level
- Develop operator business plans in conjunction with market plans
- Support and executes product presentations and demonstrations in commercial foodservice kitchens
- Attend Sales Meetings, Training Sessions, Food Shows, and industry events to network with prospective accounts
- Ensure accurate operator sales activity is recorded via centralized reporting system, Salesforce.com
- Follow sales process that includes gathering information, uncovering needs, presenting features and benefits, providing solutions, and closing sale with focus on approximately 60+ assigned operators
- Travel required in assigned territory at least four days per week
- Support distributor and operator events in the surrounding area
- Overnight Travel is up to 20% in assigned market area.
Benefits
- Beyond base salary, we offer a competitive Total Rewards package focusing on your overall well-being. We are proud to offer a strong foundation of health benefits, retirement and financial wellbeing, time off programs, wellbeing support programs.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Number of Employees
5,001-10,000 employees
