Schwan Food Co

Sales Director - Costco

Schwan Food Co$120K — $200K *
Food & Beverages
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience, with 10+ years in sales or commercial leadership roles, preferably in CPG or food and beverage sectors.
  • Direct experience managing major retail customers, particularly Costco, with a proven record of revenue and profit growth.
  • In-depth understanding of Costco's business model and merchandising strategies, including promotions and customer engagement.
  • Exceptional relationship-building and negotiation skills, able to influence senior stakeholders effectively.
  • Strong financial acumen with experience in P&L management, forecasting, and translating strategies into profitable growth.
  • Proven experience in cross-functional leadership, particularly in managing brokers and executing complex initiatives.

Responsibilities

  • Own and lead the annual Costco business plan to achieve sales, profit, market share, and distribution goals.
  • Develop and implement long-term growth strategies aligned with Costco's merchandising standards.
  • Build and nurture relationships with Costco Buyers and decision-makers across various departments.
  • Manage broker relationships to ensure alignment and effective execution of business priorities.
  • Identify and secure opportunities for distribution gains and promotional innovations to accelerate growth.
  • Utilize consumer insights and financial analysis to inform strategic business recommendations.
  • Conduct customer business reviews and take actions to improve performance and exceed targets.
  • Collaborate with internal teams such as Marketing and Supply Chain to ensure exceptional service delivery.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health benefits package.
  • Time off programs to support work-life balance.
  • Retirement savings and financial offerings.
  • Eligibility for an annual incentive bonus based on performance.
Full Job Description
We are seeking an experienced Director of Sales to lead and grow a high-impact Costco business with responsibility for driving sales, profitability, and long-term customer growth. In this role, you'll shape and execute strategies that strengthen our partnership with Costco, expand distribution, improve item productivity, and unlock new growth opportunities across the warehouse club channel.

If you are a strategic, customer-focused leader who understands Costco's business and knows how to turn strong customer relationships into results and thrives in a high-impact role, enjoy influencing across teams, and are energized by building winning customer partnerships, we'd love to hear from you!

What You Will Do:
  • Own and lead the annual Costco business plan, delivering revenue, profit, market share, distribution, and trade investment objectives.
  • Develop and execute long-term growth strategies aligned with Costco's merchandising philosophy and member value proposition.
  • Build and maintain relationships with Costco Buyers and key decision-makers across multiple Departments.
  • Serve as the senior leader managing broker relationships, ensuring alignment and flawless execution of business priorities.
  • Identify and secure distribution gains, innovation placements, and promotional opportunities to accelerate growth.
  • Leverage consumer insights, syndicated data, category trends, and financial analysis to develop strategic business recommendations.
  • Lead customer business reviews, monitor performance, and implement actions to close gaps and exceed objectives.
  • Partner cross-functionally with Marketing, Finance, Innovation, Supply Chain, Demand Planning, and Customer Service to deliver exceptional execution and service levels.
  • Manage and optimize trade investments to maximize ROI and profitable growth.


What We Look For:
  • Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience, with 10+ years of progressive sales, account management, or commercial leadership experience, preferably in CPG, food, beverage, or consumer products.
  • Proven success managing major retail customers, with direct Costco Wholesale experience preferred, and a track record of delivering revenue, profit, and category growth.
  • Strong understanding of Costco's business and merchandising model, including member value, promotions, item introductions, and customer-specific strategies.
  • Exceptional customer leadership and relationship-building skills, with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and lead complex negotiations and presentations.
  • Strong financial and business acumen, including P&L management, forecasting, and the ability to translate customer strategies into profitable growth.
  • Proven cross-functional leadership experience, including broker management and execution of complex customer initiatives, with strong proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, and sales analytics tools.

What We Offer:

The base salary range for this position is $120,000 to $200,000 annually, with eligibility for a 30% annual incentive bonus based on organizational performance and car allowance. The range reflects factors such as experience, skills, education, certifications, and location, and starting salary may fall anywhere within the stated range.

Beyond base salary, we offer a competitive Total Rewards package designed to support your overall well-being, including comprehensive health benefits, time off programs, and retirement and financial offerings.

About Schwan Food Co

The Schwan Food Company is a privately held company that manufactures and markets frozen foods. The company sells frozen foods from home delivery trucks, in grocery store freezers, by mail, and to the food service industry. The company produces, markets, and distributes products developed under brands such as Red Baron, Freschetta, Tony's, Mrs. Smith's, Edwards, Pagoda Express, and Larry's. The company was founded in 1952 and is headquartered in Marshall, Minnesota.
Learn more about Schwan Food Co
Size
12,000 employees
Industry
Founded
1952

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