Sales Representative

Sales Representative

Columbus Vegetable Oils is a leading provider of oils, fats, dressings, dips and sauces to food service, ingredient manufacturers, retail and provide label markets. We are seeking a highly motivated, sales and customer focused individual to service existing customers and expand our customer base to achieve sales and profitability goals.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Understand and represent Columbus’ entire line of products and capabilities to identify and create opportunities within all product lines
• Contact regular and prospective customers to explain product features and solicit orders
• Recommend products to customers, based on customers’ needs and interests
• Answer customers’ questions about products, prices, availability, product uses and credit terms
• Estimate or quote prices, credit or contract terms and delivery dates
• Consult with clients after sales to resolve problems and to provide ongoing support
• Identify prospective customers by using business directories, following leads from existing clients, participating in organizations, networking, and attending trade shows and conferences
• Monitor market conditions, product innovations, and competitors’ products, prices and sales
• Prepare sales contracts and order forms
• Negotiate details of contracts and order forms
• Negotiate with retail merchants to improve product exposure, such as shelf positioning
• Performs other duties as assigned

Preferred Experience and Skills

• Bachelor’s degree preferred in sales, marketing, or business
• 2 years of related work experience, preferably within the food industry
• Ability to work independently and in a team environment
• Proficient with Microsoft Suite
• Moderate travel for customer visits and trade shows. Some overnight travel required.

Benefits

• BlueCross BlueShield of IL PPO and HMO
• CIGNA Dental PPO and HMO
• Company paid VSP vision, basic life and AD&D insurance
• Paid time off and holidays
• Additional voluntary life insurance and long-term disability available
• 401k with 2% company match and 3% safe harbor yearly contribution

Compensation

Starting base salary $65k-$70k plus monthly commission based on customer invoiced dollars

About Columbus Vegetable Oils

Oil of some kind touches almost everything. For nearly 90 years, Columbus Vegetable Oils has been providing oil to the food industry from commodity oils to high-end specialty blends. Columbus services industrial B2B, Food Service (restaurants) and Retail (grocery and c-stores) predominantly, but also has a great presence in the Soap industry. Columbus is focused on providing customers with second to none service flexibility that not many others can provide.

With our present 330,000 sq. ft. headquarters in Des Plaines, IL and 112,500 sq. ft. distribution center in Reno that reaches West Coast customers, Columbus is certified by The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council and has remained family-owned and operated with an ongoing commitment to consistent high quality and immediate service.