Chain Account Specialist (Food Broker)

Bridge to Success:
The Affinity Group is one of the fastest-growing food sales and marketing agencies in North America and Canada. Our focus is to increase market demand and drive market penetration for our clients within the food service and retail fresh food verticals. Our agency provides a consultative selling approach for the customers that we represent.

Why Our People Love Affinity Group

Your Bridge to Success:

Position Summary:
The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 5 years of foodservice sales experience , preferably at the national level. Culinary experience is a plus, but outside sales account management is a must-have for this opportunity.
This position will report to the market Executive Vice President and must have prior experience within any of the following: outside sales (preferred), account management, relationship management, direct/indirect sales, business development, or business-to-business.
This individual will also be responsible for developing and executing a customized business selling strategy for assigned multi-unit chain restaurant accounts. The right candidate is very collaborative but can also operate independently and prioritize their day, with minimal oversight. A savvy, consultative selling approach that enables trust with our clients is critical to success in this role.

Responsibilities:

• Establish relationships and show a strong consultative selling approach to key stakeholders and decision-makers of multi-unit chain restaurant professionals.
• Prospect and hunt for new business within a defined territory in the Southeast
• accounts with support from Marketing and a Business Intelligence resource.
• Influence without authority key decision-makers and develop trust with multi-unit restaurant chains.
• Maintain a strong understanding of key differentiators and the competitive landscape.
• Develop creative solutions for restaurant chef/culinarians and on-site restaurant operators.
• Work closely with local market leadership and cross-functional sales support teams to execute an ambitious market penetration strategy.
• Update every action within our CRM to help us understand what is and isn't working.
• Manage pipeline and sales activity with an ability to accurately forecast.
• Ability to prepare or learn how to properly cook food products and design menu combinations in support of the selling cycle.

Qualifications:

• Minimum 5 years foodservice experience required
• More than 3 years supporting National Accounts
• Sales/Business Development: Experience calling on key accounts, market prospecting, and sales pipeline management.
• Discipline: Ability to develop, execute, and follow a sales plan.
• Influence Without Authority: Communicator that can influence change in others.
• Relationships: Positive professional with a pro-active attitude that connects.
• Teamwork: Ability to partner with diverse teams and the teachability to learn from others
• Driver’s License: Position requires daily travel by personal vehicle. A current/active license with a clean Motor Vehicle Record is required.

Physical Requirements:

• The typical work week: Monday through Friday
• During the food trade show season, the position requires the ability to stand for extended periods, with the ability to safely lift case goods (up to 50 lbs.).
• Travel: Position requires daily motor vehicle travel to assigned locations.

Salary/ Benefits:

• Health & Wellness: Medical and dental insurance plans
• Supplemental insurance, and short/long term benefits
• 401(k) Retirement plan
• Employee stock ownership plan (ESOP)
• Vacation Time & Company Holiday

The Affinity Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.

The Affinity Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.