Schwan Food Co

Senior Sales Director - Kroger Team

Schwan Food Co • $153K — $255K *
Food & Beverages
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree (MBA preferred) with 10+ years in CPG, including field sales leadership.
  • Experience selling to senior executives at national accounts, particularly large retailers like Kroger.
  • Strong strategic and analytical skills to translate insights into actionable business decisions.
  • Proven ability to lead and influence teams in a matrixed organization.
  • Track record of building and retaining high-performing teams with a collaborative leadership style.

Responsibilities

  • Own the customer strategy, delivering growth plans aligned to revenue and profitability targets.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams to create integrated, customer-centric solutions.
  • Develop Joint Business Plans that enhance P&L and create measurable value.
  • Translate strategy into compelling financial proposals using data and analytics.
  • Drive execution of customer priorities to boost brand presence and category growth.
  • Identify new opportunities and competitive advantages through market trends.
  • Establish performance metrics and implement actions to exceed revenue objectives.
  • Lead high-stakes negotiations and build trusted relationships with senior executives.
  • Develop and coach top talent to foster a high-engagement team culture.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health benefits.
  • Time off programs.
  • Retirement and financial offerings.
Full Job Description
We are hiring a Senior Director of Sales to lead our strategic partnership with Kroger-one of our largest and most influential customers. This role owns the vision, strategy, and execution required to deliver net sales, volume, and EBIT growth across our frozen portfolio, including Pizza, Asian, and Desserts. As a highly visible leader, you will lead and guide your sales team, shape joint business plans that unlock mutual value, and influence decisions at the highest levels of both organizations. Based in our Cincinnati, OH Sales Office and reporting to the VP of Sales, this position offers the opportunity to drive transformational growth with a top national retailer while developing high-performing talent and advancing enterprise strategy.

What You Will Do:
  • Own the end-to-end customer strategy, delivering annual and long-term growth plans aligned to revenue and profitability targets.
  • Work with HQ cross-functional business teams consisting of brand leaders, trade marketing, consumer insights, R&D and finance to bring integrated, customer-centric solutions to market.
  • Develop and execute Joint Business Plans that strengthen the P&L and create measurable value for both organizations.
  • Translate strategy into compelling financial proposals, grounded in data, analytics, and category insights.
  • Drive execution of customer priorities to expand brand presence and accelerate category growth.
  • Leverage shopper, consumer, and market trends to identify new opportunities and competitive advantages.
  • Establish clear performance metrics; continuously assess results and implement actions to exceed revenue objectives.
  • Champion best-in-class project management and resource alignment to deliver complex initiatives.
  • Lead high-stakes negotiations, modeling executive influence and building trusted senior-level relationships.
  • Develop, coach, and retain top talent-fostering an accountable, collaborative, and high-engagement team culture.
  • Travel approximately 10%.


What We Look For:
  • Bachelor's degree (MBA preferred) with 10+ years of progressive CPG experience including field sales leadership; additional HQ experience in marketing, trade, category, or sales operations is a plus.
  • Proven success selling to senior executives within national accounts and developing programs that drive branded growth with large-scale retailers like Kroger
  • Strong strategic and analytical capabilities, with the ability to translate insights into clear, actionable business decisions.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead, influence, and align teams in a highly matrixed organization.
  • Track record of building and retaining high-performing teams through competitive drive, emotional intelligence, and a collaborative, trust-based leadership style.

What We Offer:

The base salary range for this position is $153,000 to $255,000 annually, with eligibility for a 35% annual incentive bonus based on organizational performance, LTI 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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