Culinary Sales Manager @ Central Region

Culinary Sales Manager @ Central Region

This position is responsible for providing culinary support and expertise in the Central Region of the U.S.  The Culinary Sales Manager will possess an understanding of the operator/customer passion for creating great food for actively selling into all customer segments. The position will support the business strategies for the Foodservice Division by providing expertise and experience in complex, consultative, and solution-based food sales, foodservice operations, culinary knowledge, and Land O’Lakes product knowledge.

This position will support Land O’Lakes Foodservice strategies across all business segments (commercial, K12, Non-Comm, etc.) in the Central Region.
 

Culinary Sales Manager

This individual contributor, field-based position is responsible for providing culinary support and expertise to the Foodservice Sales Team (FS), including customer-specific/industry events and recipe development on a national basis, emphasizing the Central Region. The position will effectively collaborate and support the Land O'Lakes direct sales team as well as the Waypoint Sales Team in pursuit of segment growth objectives. In addition, the position will bring operator insights back into our cross-functional partners to support ongoing planning efforts to meet/exceed the changing needs of our customers. Finally, the role will provide a consultative, solution-based, operator-focused approach that ultimately leads to new menu placements and greater product frequency.

Operator Engagement:

• Travel/collaborate with Sales Team members in support of sales strategies via culinary engagement with operators. This will be done through customer-specific meetings, menu ideations, trade shows, cuttings, etc., and should lead to operator conversions, increased product penetration, greater menu frequency, and ultimately volume growth.
• Build and develop direct relationships and rapport with key segment customers.
• Effectively leverage broker personnel/kitchens as necessary to conduct effective operator engagements.
• Provide project management oversight for specific events through menu/recipe development and culinary consultations that accomplish sales-related objectives.
• Focused culinary support and expertise in the Commercial and broad knowledge across other segments to support as needed.

Culinary Influence/Development:  

• Stay informed and educated on culinary/menu trends that support the successful execution of culinary ideations.

• Develop new, innovative recipes that drive usage/menu frequency.

• Provide Land O'Lakes cross-functional team with insights based on operator engagement.
• Provide high-level operator insights for annual planning.
• LTO menu recommendations based on operator insights.
• Menu trends based on operator engagement.
• Provide FS sales team with back of house (BOH) insights, including menu recipe development and ideation development, to inform/develop their skills, capabilities, and knowledge.

• Provide input/expertise as necessary in support of LOL Social Media execution plan.
• Collaborate with Culinary Center Team to amplify culinary within LOL and the commercial segment.

Reporting and Admin:

• Utilize Salesforce CRM reporting to capture all pertinent operator feedback.
• Provide insights and perspective to Culinary Team Leader, Trade Mgr., NCBM and Director as necessary.
• HR activities (talent talks, required training, etc.)
• Expense reporting through Concur.

Education & Experience

• Culinary Degree (CEC preferred)
• Culinary sales experience (Broker/Manufacturer)
• 5+ years of experience in the field as an Executive and/or Corporate Chef.
• Regional Chain and Multi unit experience.
• Vast Culinary Network.
• Effective communication (verbal/written) and high level of organizational ability.
• Time/project management skills.
• Ability to present at all levels of an organization, both internal & external customers.
• Demonstrate problem-solving abilities.

Salary is negotiable based on experience: $99,520 - $194,280

About Land O'Lakes, Inc.

Join us and be part of a Fortune 250, farmer- and member-owned cooperative that is reimagining the business of food. We have been named a Top Workplace by Indeed and LinkedIn, and to the TIME 100 Most Influential Companies list.

We provide a broad portfolio of benefits to keep you and your family at your best. Land O'Lakes is Where Your Future Takes Root.

Land O'Lakes, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) M/F/Vets/Disabled. The company maintains a drug-free workforce, including post-employment substance abuse testing pursuant to a Drug and Alcohol Policy.

Neither Land O’Lakes, nor its search firms, will ever contact you and ask for confidential information over the phone or in email. If you receive a call or email like this, please do not provide the information being requested.