Food Service District Sales Professional, Utica NY AND Albany NY

We offer competitive wages and a generous benefit package that contributes a significant amount to your total compensation and your personal well-being. Additionally, there are opportunities to distinguish yourself and move up in our established company through excellent performance and by contributing to our company mission, vision, and values. We value each member of our diverse and talented team - because at Palmer Food Services, our associates are our unfair advantage.

What We Value:

• Honesty & Integrity
• Service & Excellence
• Collaboration & Teamwork
• Family & Community
• Dependability & Loyalty
• Compassion

Role and Responsibilities:

• Executes the Account Management Program including food sales planning, controls and sales reports consisting of:
  • Weekly business development plan and updates for District Sales Manager
  • Account list (core, target and prospect, grouped by “opportunity”)
  • Producing, maintaining and using an account management binder with new and existing account profile sheets and updating same. The account management binder should contain sales presentation materials, samples, customer records, forms etc.
  • Food Service Direct Sales Professional has the authority to manage their accounts in a fashion consistent with established company policies, ethics, and pricing.

• Establishes a personal planning calendar to manage your time:
  • 80 % direct sales in the field
  • 10 % phone sales to customers
  • 10 % administrative time (paperwork, pre call planning, invoices, expenses, emails, A/R etc).
• Takes responsibility for developing a complete understanding of each of our product lines including various applications and benefits. Conveys this knowledge to customers with a high degree of skill and proficiency.
• Works through proper company channels to complete all quotes and orders. Takes responsibility for learning company procedures concerning pricing, purchasing, credit and delivery. Understands his/her limits of authority and seeks approval where necessary.
• Works with the District Sales Manager to plan weekly activity so that the “core” accounts are maintained properly; the agreed “target” accounts are fully penetrated using a broad-line category management approach; and an ongoing “prospect” list is built up. Stays in regular contact with the key people in these accounts. Initiates and makes cold calls on a planned basis to enhance exposure to new situations and opportunities. Keeps management informed of all competitive activity.
• Makes customer calls as required. Also performs “Ride-withs” utilizing management, and or suppliers who may serve in a training capacity or assist in selling key accounts.
• Budgeting and measuring results, prepares unit and dollar forecast upon request with assumptions on activities to achieve forecasts.
• Attends all sales meetings, sales forums and trade shows as requested. Participates fully in all company promotions and contests.
• Responsible for all Accounts Receivable collections in their assigned area and schedules biweekly meetings with Credit Department to review status per account.
• Assists and cooperates with Customer Service personnel as workload requires or is requested.
• Overnight travel is required about 5% of the time for trainings, food service trade shows, etc.
• Performs other duties, as assigned by the Company management.

Minimum Sales Expectations:

• First Year - Finish with Approximately 10 Accounts averaging $2000 in sales. 1 to 1.5 million dollars annually in sales
• Second Year- 10 accounts averaging $2000 per week. 15-20 new customers averaging $2000 a week. 1.5 million to 2 million annually in sales.
• Third Year- 30 customers averaging $2500 per week. 3 million to 4 million annually in sales. Opening 6 new accounts per year. Or one every other month.

Qualifications:

• 3 years outside sales experience, preferably in a food sales organization or a business-to-business sales organization.
• High school diploma or GED, with some college experience preferred, but not required.
• Food service street sales or culinary experience is required.
• Clean driving record and a valid Driver license
• To be eligible for the auto reimbursement payments the vehicle used for work must be insured for a minimum of $500,000 single limit liability; and current vehicle registration must be maintained.
• Answers objections by removing emotional concerns.
• Closes business by building personal trust and loyalty.
• Provides service by empathizing with customer concerns.
• Makes strong and effective one on one sales presentations.
• Maximizes results by systematically managing an account plan.
• Penetrates accounts through customer base expansion (networks internally and externally)

Salary:

• $65,000-$100,000/ year

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by a District Sales Representative to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must be able to stand, walk, stoop, bend, kneel, sit, drive.
• Must be able to use hands to handle, feel, finger; reach with hands and arms, see, talk and hear.
• Must be able to regularly lift and carry up to 50 lbs; periodically lift and carry 80-100 lbs. must be able to walk up and down the stairs carrying products with weights described above.
• Possess normal vision with or without correction and able to distinguish colors
• Possess fluent speech in English, writing and communication skills necessary to effectively carry out job functions
• Must be able to read and comprehend work related materials, numerical data and diagrams.
• Must be able to sit and drive a car/truck for extended periods of time on a daily basis (4-5 hours on average).

Benefits of working Full-Time at Palmer Food Services:

• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Paid Benefit Time (PTO, Holiday and Sick)
• 401k Retirement Plan with Employer Matching
• Eligibility for Annual Profit-Sharing Bonus
• 15% Employee Discount on Retail Grocery Items (Includes Fresh Meat & Seafood)
• Associate Discounts on Warehouse Food Products
• Employee Appreciation Events
• And much more