Business Manager

Responsible for the management of the assigned principals’ business in a defined marketing area.  Primary responsibility includes increasing sales and market share of the brands represented, while earning a profit for our manufacturers and Acosta.

• Deliver principals’ volume, share and sales fundamental goals (merchandising, assortment, pricing, and shelving) at the lowest possible cost.
• Achieve fundamental goals and results at the lowest possible selling cost while maximizing company revenue (to include brokerage, commissions, and bonuses, contest earnings, etc.).
• Communicate principals’ priorities to Retail Sales Managers, Sales Technology Managers (IT), Marketing Managers, Business Managers, and the retail selling organization to deliver in-store presence and business objectives.
• Report directly to the General Manager or Team Leader.  
• Manage and participate in the development, design, and presentation of Acosta introduction to new principals.
• Develop relationships with principals and customers.  Pro-actively communicate with key principals.
• Effectively function as a team player.
• Coordinate on-going communication between the General Managers and key principals, and between principals and other Managers.
• Collaborate with Retail Sales Managers on all major retail initiatives (new product introductions, selling drives, contests, etc.).
• Coordinate principals’ market visits and key account calls.
• Effectively use knowledge of customer, market, and principal to successfully sell principals’ specific programs and initiatives as well as Company objectives and initiatives – involve Marketing, Technology, and Sales Support resources as needed to accomplish the objectives.
• Utilize Senior Vice President, General Manager, Team Leaders, and Senior Business Managers to understand and leverage customer strategies, and to develop conceptual sales presentations that can deliver principals’ objectives.
• Provide feedback on the effectiveness of principals’ strategies, selling programs, and initiatives to the principal and the General Manager.
• Provide timely information, principals’ expertise and selling priorities, along with retail-ready selling tools (organizers, surveys, etc.) to the Retail Sales Manager, and shared resources (Marketing, Technology, and Sales Support).
• Maintain current account distribution information.
• Review all market pricing reports on a regular basis for accuracy and competitive activity.   Collect and report all competitive activity.
• Provide feedback to the General Manager on how to build organizational capacity and improve our business.
• Pro-actively share customer/manufacturer information with other team members to help build organization capacity.
• Pro-actively manage personal skill development plan.
• Ensures all client procedures and policies are followed.
• May be required to achieve client proprietary system expertise to manage promotional plans and fund balances.
• Monitors and takes corrective action as necessary in financial management, i.e. deductions.
• Meeting the physical requirements – listed below.
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's Degree or equivalent work experience.

A proven track-record in sales; preferably with a food broker or national company.

Strong interpersonal, organizational, presentation, negotiation, and sales skills.

Ability to analyze sales and marketing information needed to make effective sales presentations.

Proficient in a variety of software packages used to support the sales function.

Willing to travel.