About the Client:
Our client is a fast-growing distributor of consumable consumer products and a leader in their distribution categories. They have facilities across the United States and are growing their retailer client network daily to include mass, local and regional retailers and specialty outlets.
Location: Houston, TX or Jacksonville, FL area ideal; open to remote. Regular travel expected for customer meetings, trade shows, and industry events.
Job Overview:
This is a unique opportunity to help shape and scale a rapidly growing consumer goods distribution business. Our client is bringing differentiated capabilities and value to retailers that many traditional suppliers and distributors do not. They are looking for the right industry expert to help unlock that opportunity, build strategic partnerships, and establish the company as a significant player within the grocery channel.
Our client is seeking an experienced and highly connected Grocery Lead to drive the continued expansion of our grocery channel business within the sports nutrition and wellness category. This role will be responsible for both business development and strategic account management, helping scale our existing grocery business while identifying and securing new opportunities with national and regional grocery retailers.
The ideal candidate brings deep grocery industry expertise, strong relationships across the grocery landscape, and a thorough understanding of how distributors successfully support retailers in today’s evolving environment. This individual will play a critical role in helping position our company as a premier distributor and strategic partner within the grocery channel by leveraging our differentiated value proposition, industry expertise, and best-in-class execution.
Job Responsibilities:
Business Development & Channel Growth
- Develop and execute a strategic growth plan for the grocery channel across national, regional, and independent grocery retailers.
- Identify and secure new business opportunities with key grocery accounts and partners.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with category managers, buyers, vendors, and retail stakeholders.
- Expand distribution, shelf presence, and overall market penetration for our portfolio within the grocery channel.
- Represent the company at industry trade shows, customer meetings, and networking events.
Grocery Channel Leadership
- Serve as the company’s subject matter expert on grocery retail and distributor dynamics.
- Help shape and refine the company’s grocery channel strategy to align with retailer expectations and industry trends.
- Provide guidance on retailer priorities including:
- Pricing strategy
- Promotional planning
- Data and analytics
- Schematic/planogram support
- Store-level execution and support
- Category management expectations
- Broker partnership models (if needed)
- Partner cross-functionally with sales, marketing, operations, analytics, and leadership teams to ensure strong execution across all grocery initiatives.
Account Management & Operational Support
- Help elevate and optimize the current grocery business through improved processes, retailer support, and strategic planning.
- Analyze business performance, identify opportunities for growth, and recommend actionable solutions.
- Support customer-specific initiatives, launches, promotions, and distribution expansions.
- Ensure high levels of customer satisfaction through proactive communication and problem-solving.
Team Leadership
- Help build and develop the future grocery sales organization as the business scales.
- Manage and mentor direct reports as the team grows.
- Establish performance expectations, processes, and best practices for the grocery channel team.
Job Qualifications:
- 7+ years of experience in grocery sales, business development, category management, or related grocery channel leadership roles.
- Extensive experience working with both national and regional grocery retailers.
- Distributor-side experience strongly preferred.
- Strong understanding of grocery distributor models, retail execution, merchandising expectations, and category strategy.
- Demonstrated ability to drive growth while balancing profitability and operational realities.
- Excellent relationship-building, negotiation, and communication skills.
- Proven track record of driving revenue growth and building strategic retail partnerships.
- Existing industry relationships within the grocery channel strongly preferred.
- Strong analytical, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation abilities.
- Experience managing or mentoring teams preferred.
- Ability and willingness to travel regularly (30-40%) for customer meetings, trade shows, and industry events.
Salary and Benefits:
- Base Salary: $150,000
- Annual Bonus up to 15%
- Comprehensive health benefits including medical, dental, and vision insurance.
- 401(k) plan with company match.
- Paid time off
- College Scholarship Opportunities for employees’ children
- At Cost Employee Product Purchase Program
- Profit Sharing – ESOP
- Career opportunities with a growing company
