This position is in our Food Enterprise where we are committed to serving food manufacturers, food service customers, and retailers with a complete range of innovative ingredients and branded products. Our portfolio includes poultry, beef, egg, alternative protein, salt, oils, starches, sweeteners, cocoa and chocolate.
Job Purpose and ImpactThe Sales Manager - Gourmet Business Development (Open to Remote) will build and maintain strong relationships with key customers and distribution partners serving the Foodservice, Hospitality, Restaurant, Bakery industries across the United States. In this role, you will drive growth for Cargill's Gourmet portfolio, including cocoa and chocolate products, confectionery ingredients, and sugar decorations, featuring brands such as Velicheae, Leman Decorationsae, and Smetae.
You will identify new business opportunities, grow existing accounts, assess customer needs, and deliver tailored product solutions that drive value and long-term partnerships. Success in this role will be measured by market share growth, customer acquisition, portfolio expansion, and achievement of sales and budget objectives.
Key Accountabilities- Help identify, develop and typically close new sales, building a strong pipeline of business opportunities through direct customer engagement.
- Create demand for products and services by raising their profile with customers through product marketing strategies, new product launches, advertising campaigns, sales promotions, and brand development initiatives, including the definition of Marketing Operational Plans and associated tools.
- Monitor customer and competitor activity, industry trends, market opportunities, and performance data to support business growth and strategic decision making.
- Participate in regular status and strategy meetings with customers' senior management to understand and meet their needs while strengthening key account relationship and fostering communication and teamwork across regional and global customers.
- Execute sales plans with strategies to protect, grow and diversify relationships with targeted customers including identifying target segments, potential partners, and new geographic market opportunities, and launching brands through distributor networks, supply chain capabilities, and technical support.
- Work cross-functionally with Marketing, R&D, Operations, and Sales teams to develop market opportunities, support commercial execution, and establish policies, goals, objectives, and procedures aligned with business strategy to drive performance, productivity, and sustainable growth.
- Independently handle complex issues with minimal supervision, while escalating only the most complex issues to appropriate staff.
- Other duties as assigned.
QualificationsMinimum Qualifications- Bachelor's degree in Business Management, a related field or equivalent experience
- Minimum of four years of food industry sales, business development, account management, or related professional culinary and pastry experience.
- Ability and willingness to travel up to 60% of the time, including overnight
Preferred Qualifications- Experience in the Foodservice, Hotels, Restaurants, Bakery and Casinos distribution industry
- Experience with chocolate and pastry applications, including bakery, confectionery, or dessert-related products and solutions.
- Technical and commercial expertise with customer engagement and sales negotiation experience
Position Information- This is a remote position within Continental US only
- The expected salary for this position is $97,000 - 120,000. Compensation varies depending on a wide array of factors including but not limited to the specific location, certifications, education, and level of experience. The disclosed range estimate may be adjusted for any applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled. This position is eligible for a discretionary incentive award. The incentive award amount is dependent upon company performance and your personal performance.
- At Cargill we put people first. As part of your overall rewards, we offer a comprehensive benefit program including medical and/or other benefits dependent on the position offered and hours worked. Visit: https://www.cargill.com/page/my-health/mh-health-and-wellness to learn more (subject to certain collective bargaining agreements for Union positions).
