Key Account Manager

Sigma Foods

• $80K — $95K *
Food & Beverages
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 4+ years of CPG food sales experience focused on new business development.
  • Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Sales, or related field preferred.
  • Established relationships with regional grocery and specialty chain buyers.
  • Knowledge of contract terms, pricing strategies, and procurement processes.
  • Experience in building or managing field teams or demo programs.

Responsibilities

  • Execute a whitespace map targeting underrepresented accounts in grocery and specialty chains.
  • Identify new business opportunities and assess product-market fit for target accounts.
  • Negotiate trading terms and distribution agreements with retail partners.
  • Manage a structured pipeline from outreach to contract execution and scale-up.
  • Refine go-to-market strategies based on sales data and market performance.

Benefits

  • 401(k)
  • Dental insurance
  • Employee assistance program
  • Health insurance
  • Paid time off
  • Vision insurance
Full Job Description
Essential Job Functions
  • Execute against a defined whitespace map prioritizing underrepresented accounts within the regional mainstream grocery and specialty chain landscape.
  • Identify new business opportunities and assess product-market fit for target accounts by evaluating shopper demographics, store format, category dynamics, and competitive landscape.
  • Negotiate trading terms, promotional commitments, and distribution agreements with new retail partners.
  • Build and manage a structured pipeline from initial outreach through sell-in, contract execution, first shipment, and scale-up.
  • Manage the post-launch incubation period by driving velocity, expanding assortment and distribution, and establishing promotional cadence.
  • Refine go-to-market strategies based on sales data, shopper feedback, and market performance.
  • Develop store-level execution playbooks covering shelf standards, display priorities, and sampling protocols.
  • Monitor competitive activity and shelf conditions to identify threats and opportunities.
  • Build, train, and manage store-level field teams responsible for merchandising, sampling, and in-store sales activity.
  • Build and maintain relationships with regional buying teams, category managers, and store-level decision makers.
  • Partner with broker and distributor networks to accelerate new account activation.
  • Maintain pipeline, account tracking, and territory performance reporting.
  • Track field team performance using store-level data and retail audits.
  • Contribute to quarterly business planning, forecasting, trade investment alignment, and new account revenue projections.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications
  • Four years of CPG food sales experience with a focus on new business development within regional mainstream grocery and specialty retail.

Preferred Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Sales, or a related field.
  • Bilingual a plus.
  • Established relationships with regional grocery and specialty chain buyers and category managers.
  • Knowledge of contract terms, pricing strategies, and procurement processes.
  • Experience meeting or exceeding sales targets in a competitive environment.
  • Experience building or managing field teams, demo programs, or outsourced merchandising agencies.
  • Familiarity with broker and distributor management in regional markets.
  • Experience with regional mainstream grocery banners and specialty chains.


Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
  • Ability to assess product-market fit and tailor commercial strategies to market demographics and shopper profiles.
  • Working knowledge of syndicated data tools (IRI/Circana, Nielsen) and category management principles.
  • Strong communication and presentation skills.
  • Strong organization and pipeline management skills
  • Collaboration, facilitation, and negotiation skills.
  • Ability to build and maintain strong relationships.
  • Commercial awareness.
  • Troubleshooting, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
  • Ability to work effectively under pressure and meet deadlines.
  • Customer-focused mindset.
  • Experience in sales, negotiation, or customer-facing roles.
  • Results-driven mindset and strong closing skills.
  • Ability to work independently and manage multiple opportunities simultaneously.
  • Proficiency with CRM systems and sales reporting tools.

Physical Requirements
  • Usual office environment with frequent sitting, walking, and standing.
  • Occasional climbing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and balancing.
  • Regular use of hands and arms to handle objects, tools, and controls.
  • Oral and auditory capacity for interpersonal communication and telephone use.
  • Ability to reach, talk, hear, and climb stairs.

Ability to occasionally lift or move office products and supplies up to 20 pounds.

Benefits
  • 401(k)
  • Dental insurance
  • Employee assistance program
  • Health insurance
  • Paid time off
  • Vision insurance
  • And more......


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