Business Manager

Overview As a Business Manager (UNFI Conventional), you will play a pivotal role in driving our company's success by achieving key business objectives and fostering strong relationships with our customers. Responsible for the management of the assigned customer business in a defined marketing area. Primary responsibility includes increasing sales and market share of the brands represented, while earning a profit for our manufacturers and Acosta. Preferred location for candidates to reside in: Minnesota or anywhere in the U.S. Responsibilities Achieve Sales Goals: Deliver principals’ volume, share, and sales fundamental goals (merchandising, assortment, pricing, and shelving) at the lowest possible cost while maximizing company revenue through brokerage, commissions, bonuses, and contest earnings. Strategic Communication: Communicate principals’ priorities to Retail Sales Managers, Sales Technology Managers (IT), Marketing Managers, Business Managers, and the retail selling organization to ensure in-store presence and business objectives are met. Leadership and Reporting: Report directly to the General Manager or Team Leader, managing and participating in the development, design, and presentation of Acosta introduction to new principals. Relationship Building: Develop and maintain strong relationships with principals and customers, proactively communicating with key principals to foster collaboration and success. Team Collaboration: Coordinate ongoing communication between General Managers and key principals and collaborate with Retail Sales Managers on major retail initiatives such as new product introductions, selling drives, and contests. Market Insight: Coordinate principals’ market visits and key account calls, utilizing your knowledge of customer, market, and principal to successfully sell principals’ specific programs and initiatives. Strategic Utilization: Leverage insights from Senior Vice President, General Manager, Team Leaders, and Senior Business Managers to develop conceptual sales presentations that deliver principals’ objectives. Feedback and Improvement: Provide feedback on the effectiveness of principals’ strategies, selling programs, and initiatives to both the principal and the General Manager, and offer suggestions on how to build organizational capacity and improve our business. Information Management: Maintain current account distribution information, review market pricing reports for accuracy and competitive activity, and collect and report all competitive activity. Skill Development: Proactively manage your personal skill development plan and share customer/manufacturer information with team members to help build organizational capacity. Compliance and Financial Management: Ensure all client procedures and policies are followed, achieve client proprietary system expertise to manage promotional plans and fund balances, and monitor and take corrective action as necessary in financial management, such as deductions. Additional Duties: Perform other duties as assigned to support the overall success of the business. Qualifications Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent work experience. A proven track-record in sales; preferably with a food broker or national company. Strong interpersonal, organizational, presentation, negotiation, and sales skills. Ability to analyze sales and marketing information needed to make effective sales presentations. Proficient in a variety of software packages used to support the sales function. Willing to travel (minimal local travel, less than 5%). About Us Acosta is a part of Acosta Group – a collective of the industry’s most trusted retail, marketing and foodservice agencies reimagining the way people connect with brands at every point in their shopping journey. Specializing in retail sales services, digital strategy, and business intelligence, Acosta empowers brands to thrive in the world of omnichannel shopping. Our sales and digital teams build lasting relationships, ensuring our client brands get the space they deserve in stores and outperform the competition online, while our merch reps make brands shine in retail locations across the world. With a team of over 20,000 associates, we’re a community of forward-thinking, value-driven professionals committed to an unmatched level of trust and transparency in the industry. We understand the importance of work-life balance, which is why many of our field roles provide flexible scheduling options. Join us and be a part of a team that values growth and making a real impact for our clients, retail partners and their customers. Acosta Group is an equal opportunity employer and will ensure that applicants with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io. Be sure to include "Applicant Accommodation" in the subject of your email to expedite the request. Acosta Group believes in good faith that the minimum and maximum annual salary or hourly compensation range for this opportunity is accurate and reasonable at the time of posting. The Acosta Group utilizes E-Verify for validating the ability to work in the United States for all job candidates. If you want more information on what this entails and your rights as a job applicant, please use the link provided to access information on our use of E-Verify and your right to work. Employer Resources (e-verify.gov) By applying, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions of Use. Acosta, and its subsidiaries, is an Equal Opportunity Employer #J-18808-Ljbffr