Distributor Center-of-Plate Senior Sales SpecialistLanning's Foods • Mount Vernon, OH, US
Distributor Center-of-Plate Senior Sales Specialist
Lanning's Foods • Mount Vernon, OH, US
18 days ago
Job type
- Full-time
Job descriptionBachelors degree in business, Marketing, Culinary Arts, or related field preferred; equivalent experience considered. 3+ years of sales experience in foodservice distribution, meat / seafood industry, or protein category management. Strong knowledge of meat cuts, specifications, preparation methods, and menu applications. Proven ability to build strong customer relationships and close sales. Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills. Culinary training or background highly desirable. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word) and CRM tools. Ability to travel within assigned territory, including occasional nights and weekends. Customer-focused problem solver with a consultative sales approach. Entrepreneurial drive with the ability to work independently and collaboratively. Strong analytical skills with attention to detail. Passion for food, culinary trends, and operational excellence.
Job Description
Job Description
Salary : 80K-120K
Position Summary
The Center-of-Plate Sales Specialist is responsible for driving sales growth and market share for beef, pork, poultry, seafood, and specialty proteins within the distributors portfolio. This role focuses on building relationships with customers, providing product expertise, supporting the distributors sales team, and delivering solutions that meet the unique menu and profitability needs of foodservice operators.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and execute sales strategies to increase market penetration of center-of-plate (COP) items across assigned territory.
- Partner with distributor sales representatives (DSRs) to identify opportunities, make joint sales calls, and close business with foodservice customers.
- Serve as the subject matter expert on center-of-plate proteins, providing product knowledge, cut specifications, menu applications, and profitability insights.
- Conduct product presentations, cooking demonstrations, and training sessions for customers and distributor sales teams.
- Analyze sales data, market trends, and competitor activity to recommend strategies that increase revenue and strengthen customer loyalty.
- Support supply chain, purchasing, and operations teams to ensure consistent product availability and quality.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with key accounts, chefs, purchasing managers, and culinary decision-makers.
- Assist in developing marketing and promotional programs to highlight center-of-plate offerings.
- Troubleshoot and resolve customer issues related to COP products, including quality, specifications, or supply.
- Meet or exceed assigned sales goals, profit targets, and new business development objectives.
Qualifications
Competencies
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Senior Sales Specialist • Mount Vernon, OH, US