National Account Manager - Grocery South

At Lindt, we are a global fast-growing consumer goods company, enchanting the world with premium chocolate. We are driven by our passion for excellence and go the extra mile ensuring that every Lindt experience is nothing short of exceptional. Our collective efforts are geared towards making a positive impact, not only in the world of premium chocolate but also in the lives of our employees, customers, and communities. Our company embraces a culture defined by the core values of Excellence, Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Responsibility, and Collaboration, fostering a dynamic and collaborative environment where these principles drive our success.

Position Purpose:

The individual in this position is responsible for developing the wholesale distribution of Lindt USA's non-seasonal and seasonal products at Hy-Vee and HEB. This person strives to achieve or exceed projected key account sales goals with support from their broker network and guidance from the team leader. Additionally, this individual will ensure Lindt USA meets customer needs, achieves company sales and profitability objectives, and continuously works to optimize efficiencies and cultivate new sales opportunities with Hy-Vee and HEB.

Candidates for the position can be based in TX / Iowa / Northeast or Southeast US.

National Sales & Account Management

• Develop, motivate, manage, and maintain a strong relationship with their assigned key accounts and optimize the company's competitive position; continually source new business opportunities to achieve or exceed sales plan.
• Render high-level, strategic presentations to Hy-Vee and HEB to procure chain-wide distribution of wholesale products from the non-seasonal and seasonal portfolios.
• Build and submit accurate forecasts to ensure the delivery of the appropriate seasonal and non-seasonal product to customers in a timely and efficient manner to achieve profit volume, while remaining within budgetary guidelines.
• Create, develop, and execute the customer business plan while leveraging Lindt & Sprungli USA resources (category management, customer marketing, sales analytics, customer service). Plan execution also includes a relentless focus on managing promotional and non-promotional trade spending, with accountability to the annual budget.
• Ensure accounts needs are met without compromising the defined Lindt & Sprungli USA market channel strategy; market and sell products appropriate to the channel as defined within strategy guidelines.
• Partner with Hy-Vee and HEB to develop and execute seasonal and non-seasonal programming; including but not limited to promotions, endcaps, displays, and right assortment / right stores.
• Maintain effective and timely internal communication with key stakeholders to ensure adjustments to customer strategies are understood and available resources aligned efficiently.

Fiscal Responsibility

• Consistently achieve sales goals and profitability while operating within budgetary constraints to contribute to the overall profitability of Lindt & Sprungli USA.
• Develop and recommend annual budget requirements to ensure plans are compelling, financially coherent, feasible and clearly communicated within the organization.
• Develop and achieve accurate rolling sales forecasts to optimize production planning and product availability.
• Responsible for ensuring the effective utilization of Trade Promotion Funds to develop and expand business within assigned accounts; fully document support plans in trade system and ensure timely tracking of deductions.
• Continuously seek profitability optimization initiatives with the customer.
• Within scope of responsibility respond to and assist with keeping customer deductions to a minimum and influence customer compliance with payment terms.

Product Knowledge

• Develop and maintain a comprehensive understanding of the Lindt & Sprungli USA product offering to optimize sales efforts and ensure customer-focused, fact-based selling.
• Stay up to date with new product initiatives, services, and other relevant information that may be of interest to customers.
• Communicate competitive activity within assigned accounts so that Lindt & Sprungli USA can react accordingly.

Qualifications & Requirements:

Skills & Knowledge:

• Minimum 4 to 5 years field sales experience with demonstrated results.
• 3 years' experience managing a significant strategic customer
• 3 years Broker management experience

Education:

• Bachelor's degree: Masters in related field preferred