We are a vertically integrated grower owned cooperative based in Traverse City, Michigan which offers its employees the opportunity to significantly impact the life of our grower owners as well as the customers and consumers we serve.  We offer competitive compensation and a best in class benefit package. 

The Company: Cherry Central is a sales and marketing organization supporting a cooperative of grower/processors throughout North America.  Cherry Central serves market channels throughout the United States and the world. 

• Our purpose is to bring healthy products to market direct from our growers.
• We believe in long term relationships and serving our broad customer base.

The Position: We’re looking for an Area Sales Manager for the Mountain States

 Major Responsibilities/Activities:

• Work with National Sales Manager to build and manage Grocery, Drug, and Mass accounts.
• Manage broker network to ensure sales goals are met, provide brokers with needed information and product education.
• Initiate contact with prospective customers and develop pricing and sales proposals.
• Manage current customer accounts-maintain customer and broker relationships, provide product knowledge and pricing, promote new products and gain distribution on all new items.
• Source, secure, and develop new customer accounts and support a pipeline of prospective high-potential customers.
• Manage MDF accruals, and slotting budgets and use accruals to maximize ROI.
• Work with National Sales Manager to coordinate and implement effective sales strategies for all accounts to maximize sales.
• Manage effort to obtain a leadership position in all of Cherry Central’s categories for all customers.
• Coordinate new customer setup process, including ensuring all necessary forms are completed by the customer and any added product information is provided to customers as requested in their Portals.
• Evaluate market trends for impact on current/future growth of grocery sales profitability using Nielsen.
• Create and implement product promotions and advertisements within budget.
• Attend trade shows and industry related meetings.
• Other tasks as asked.

 Minimum Requirements:

• High School Diploma and / or Seminars in related field
• 5+ years’ experience in sales required with broker management a must, experience in food distribution required
• Extensive computer experience-Microsoft Office, database management, Nielsen and IRI.
• Project management and organizational skills as well as manage sales budgets
• Elevated level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Interpersonal and personnel management skills
• Valid driver’s license

Essential Physical & Mental Functions:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee must regularly interact with customers in-person and on the phone, including talking and listening (hearing) and engage with them in a professional manner especially on Zoom or Teams meetings. Employees in this position must be a team player with the ability to problem-solve and work independently (Take Initiative). The Area Sales Manager must be able to multitask and manage multiple projects at a time, often in high stress situations.

This position requires standing, walking, bending, kneeling, and stooping frequently. The employee should be able to lift/move items weighing up to 50 pounds.

Other Position Information:

• This position requires occasional travel to trade shows and other meetings.
• Classification: This position is salaried exempt.

This job description is not designed to cover or have a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

APPLY TODAY: hr@cherrycentral.com