Product Specialist

About the Role

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinates activities with sales and sales support teams to increase sales and gross profit in the specified market.
• Work with vendors and sales to educate, support, and increase sales in the specified category.
• Train and educate customers and sales team on product lines.
• Compile lists of prospective customers for use as sales leads based on various resources.
• Promote growth in sales and revenues in the assigned category.
• Coordinate activities with production and purchasing to ensure proper execution of customer specifications.
• Display or demonstrate products using samples or catalogs, emphasizing salable features.
• Attend customer and company scheduled meetings.
• Train new sales representatives on all aspects of the assigned category.
• Participate in food shows, expos, and trade association meetings to promote products.
• Interact effectively with the customer base and perform customer tours as needed.
• Maintain and update the Specialty catalog for DSRs and customers.
• Work with DSRs daily on customer calls to drive the Specialty category's growth.
• Attend multiple district and general sales meetings per month.
• Identify and qualify new and lost business leads with input from sales managers.
• Develop profitable new and lost customer prospects systematically.
• Work with purchasing daily to ensure proper product stocking at the right cost from vendors.
• Track progress, measure, and evaluate performance.
• Manage Specialty vendors, brokers, and manufacturers.
• Source products from vendors to drive the Specialty category.
• Review product lines to stay current with industry trends.
• Develop strategies with brokers and PLC committees to add or remove products.
• Coordinate with vendors to ensure success at expos and vendor fairs.
• Assist the marketing department with POS, promotions, and new item launches.
• Help develop marketing materials for the Specialty category.
• Ensure proper and timely catalog maintenance.

Requirements

• Minimum of 3 years of foodservice sales or related experience in the Specialty category.
• Bachelor's Degree from a four-year university preferred.
• Current driver's license and auto insurance required.
• Extensive knowledge of the Specialty category and general foodservice industry.
• Mathematic skills to calculate discounts, commissions, proportions, and percentages.
• Ability to read, interpret, and write routine reports and correspondence.
• Effective communication skills for groups of customers or employees.
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.
• Willingness to live in or near the assigned territory or relocate.

Nice to Have

• Experience with developing marketing materials and coordinating product launches.
• Experience working with brokers and vendor relationships.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree (preferred).
• 3+ years of foodservice sales or related experience in the Specialty category.
• Current driver's license and auto insurance.

Benefits & Perks

• Health insurance paid for by Shamrock Foods.
• 401(k) Savings Plan.
• Profit Sharing.
• Paid Time Off.
• Growth opportunities and continued education.
• Wellness programs.