Multi-Unit Regional Chain Specialist (Food Broker)

Bridge To Success

The Affinity Group is one of the fastest-growing food sales and marketing agencies in North America and Canada. Our focus is to increase market demand and drive market penetration for our clients within the food service and retail fresh food verticals. Our agency provides a consultative selling approach for the customers that we represent.

Why Our People Love Affinity Group

Position Summary

Your Bridge to Success:

The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 3 years of wholesale food manufacturer experience, preferably at the national level. Culinary experience is a plus, but outside sales account management is a must-have for this opportunity.

This position will report to the market Executive Vice President and must have prior experience within any of the following: outside sales (preferred), account management, relationship management, direct/indirect sales, business development, or business-to-business.

This individual will also be responsible for developing and executing a customized business selling strategy for assigned multi-unit chain restaurant accounts. The right candidate is very collaborative but can also operate independently and prioritize their day, with minimal oversight. A savvy, consultative selling approach that enables trust with our clients is critical to success in this role.

Responsibilities

• Manage key distributors
• Work with merchandising and marketing departments to ensure our client’s needs are met.
• Work with the distributor’s sales force to make sure they are effectively selling Affinity Group products. Includes:
• Scheduling and leading sales meetings
• Work with’s
• Product training
• Food shows
• Complete ad hoc projects in a timely fashion.
• Enter details of Sales Calls into CRM and business plans into CRM daily.
• Attend industry events as determined by sales management.
• Responsible for gathering information for manufacturer and distributor reviews by the requested due dates.
  
  

Competencies

• Establish relationships and show a strong consultative selling approach to key stakeholders and decision-makers of multi-unit chain restaurant professionals.
• Prospect and hunt for new business within a defined territory of
• accounts with support from Marketing and a Business Intelligence resource.
• Influence without authority key decision-makers and develop trust with multi-unit restaurant chains.
• Maintain a strong understanding of key differentiators and the competitive landscape.
• Develop creative solutions for restaurant chef/culinarians and on-site restaurant operators.
• Work closely with local market leadership and cross-functional sales support teams to execute an ambitious market penetration strategy.
• Update every action within our CRM to help us understand what is and isn't working.
• Manage pipeline and sales activity with an ability to accurately forecast.
• Ability to prepare or learn how to properly cook food products and design menu combinations in support of the selling cycle.
  
  

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years foodservice experience required
• Sales/Business Development: Experience calling on key accounts, market prospecting, and sales pipeline management.
• Discipline: Ability to develop, execute, and follow a sales plan.
• Influence Without Authority: Communicator that can influence change in others.
• Relationships: Positive professional with a pro-active attitude that connects.
• Teamwork: Ability to partner with diverse teams and the teachability to learn from others
• Driver’s License: Position requires daily travel by personal vehicle. A current/active license with a clean Motor Vehicle Record is required.
  
  

Physical Requirements

• While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands and fingers.
• The employee must be able to lift and /or move up to 25-50 pounds.
  
  

The Affinity Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.