Outside Sales Representative – Retail (Produce)

About the role

This is a field sales role covering retail accounts - independent supermarkets, grocers, bodegas, and specialty and ethnic markets across the NJ/NY metro area. You will spend most of your week in the market walking stores, and check in at our North Bergen office at least three days per week to work with the sales, purchasing, and operations teams.

What you'll do

• Open new retail accounts and grow volume in existing stores in your territory
• Walk your stores on a regular route: take orders, check product quality and rotation, and fix problems on the spot
• Build relationships with store owners, produce managers, and buyers
• Advise on assortment, pricing, and display to move more product through the department
• Quote pricing and follow orders through from entry to delivery
• Work with purchasing and operations on availability, substitutions, and delivery windows
• Monitor account balances and support collections on your accounts -
• Report to the office at least 3 days per week and keep your pipeline and account activity current in our systems
• Meet agreed sales and margin targets

Qualifications

• 2+ years of outside or route sales experience calling on retail grocery accounts - produce, perishables, or food distribution
• Working knowledge of produce pricing, seasonality, and supply - you can hold a real conversation with a produce manager about product
• Bilingual English/Spanish (required)
• Valid driver's license, clean driving record, and your own reliable vehicle
• Comfortable walking stores and prospecting in person
• Strong follow-through and organization; able to run your own territory with minimal supervision
• Legally authorized to work in the United States

Nice to have

• Established relationships with independent grocers or specialty markets in the NJ/NY area
• Experience with Famous Software or similar produce distribution systems
• Produce department or merchandising background