Business Development Manager

Business Development Manager (West Region) - Kenny's Candy & Confections

*Remote Position: Candidate in this role must be located in our West region which includes Washington, Montana, Oregon, Idaho, California, Nevada, and Utah. Candidate will be within 1 hour max of a major airport.*

Our Story

KLN Family Brands is a 3rd generation family-owned business that started in 1964 with its corporate headquarters located in Perham, MN, in the heart of MN lakes country. Together, our companies manufacture a diverse and expanding range of high-quality human and pet food products.

At KLN Family Brands, our vision is that “We are a proud people-first company. We are successful because of trust-based relationships and first-rate products for our families and friends. We better the world by caring for others. We challenge. We grow. We inspire.”

Some companies have to “fudge the story” a little. Some need the extra “spin” to shine a positive light on themselves. That’s not who we are at KLN Family Brands, and that’s not what we do. We tell the story of our brand – our people, the quality of our products, our spirit & moxie, our tradition, and the way we treat our community & beyond. We do it in a genuine way because we genuinely believe we’re a pretty amazing company.

We’re now adding a Business Development Manager to assist us in expanding our reach and distribution in the West Region of the United States! If you love sales, developing relationships with brokers & customers, and have been looking for a place that inspires you, then keep reading. You may have just stumbled upon the perfect role!

The Opportunity

We operate in an extremely dynamic and competitive space. In this environment, customers are incredibly discerning and want to know the whole story – the company’s culture, core beliefs and vision for the future. Our customers do their homework, and in today’s market, they want to know that they’ll be buying from a company with a purpose and a structure to provide the support that they need.

As a Business Development Manager for Kenny's Candy & Confections, you’ll work closely with our VP of Sales to execute corporate strategy and expand distribution to achieve profitability and sales goals. You’ll need to understand our customers and their expectations and they will need to understand ours. You’ll also need to have an intimate understanding of our industry and competitive landscape – who we are, whom we’re up against, and how we win. 

Business travel is required with this position and you can plan on approximately 35-40% of your time being spent on the road.

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Executes corporate strategy with regard to brand and private label development to achieve annual business plan 
• Sets SMART Goals for Broker Partners and monitors performance ongoing 
• Provides direction/leadership to broker personnel and internal trade development team 
• Demonstrates leadership and complete understanding of the annual planning process; focuses on both core distribution gains and key innovation 
• Utilizes available tools to manage entire trade plan and provide accurate sales forecasts 
• Comprehends and works with appropriate business tools to identify opportunities, build sales presentations and achieve sales targets 
• Collects sales data, understands merchandising/category management, delivery requirements and investigates and resolves customer problems/complaints. 
• Works with Credit Department to resolve issues and meet requirements. 
• Researches market conditions for each customer to identify new opportunities 
• Analyzes competitive pricing, promotions, marketing strategies and reports accurately 
• Composes appropriate written sales correspondence for all levels 
• Represents the company in a positive and professional manner 
• Establishes key customer visits often to ensure broker progress. 
• At a minimum, establishes monthly communication with all brokers and visits key customers semi-annually. 
• Provides detailed weekly updates to the Director of Branded and Bulk Sales 
• Attends all necessary trade and customer shows. 
• Submits expense reports within 30 days of expenditure.

Qualifications

• 2-year associates degree, preferably in business 
• Sales background, preferably in the confection or snacks industry 
• Excellent verbal & written communication and leadership skills 
• Well organized
• Must be a team player and able to work in a fluid environment 
• Excellent judgment and reasoning abilities 
• Self-motivator 
• Proficient computer skills (email, internet, Outlook, Excel, Word, Powerpoint, Teams, some CRM Systems, etc.)