Director of Business Development

Business Development Manager – Foodservice & Retail Sales

Richard’s Cajun Foods

Richard’s Cajun Foods is looking for an energetic, driven Business Development Manager to grow our foodservice and retail business. This is an exciting opportunity for a proven sales professional to represent an authentic Louisiana brand, develop new markets, build lasting customer relationships, and turn opportunities into profitable sales.

We are looking for a hunter—someone who enjoys opening doors, creating opportunities, and closing new business. The right person will combine strong relationship-building skills with disciplined follow-up and a clear focus on measurable results.

Position Overview

The Business Development Manager will be responsible for developing new foodservice and retail business while expanding sales with existing customers. This person will work directly with distributors, retailers, brokers, restaurants, convenience stores, grocery chains, foodservice operators, and other strategic accounts.

The position will manage the complete sales process—from identifying targets and presenting products to coordinating samples, securing distribution, launching new accounts, and driving repeat purchases.

Key Responsibilities

New Business Development

• Develop and execute a growth strategy for foodservice and retail sales.

• Identify, research, and pursue qualified new customers and market opportunities.

• Build an active pipeline of prospects, presentations, samples, proposals, and expected closing dates.

• Secure meetings with buyers, distributors, category managers, chefs, operators, and other decision-makers.

• Present Richard’s Cajun Foods products and capabilities in a compelling, professional manner.

• Convert prospects into profitable, long-term customers.

• Maintain consistent follow-up throughout the sales process.

• Reengage inactive customers and recover lost business.

• Identify opportunities to enter new territories, channels, and customer segments.

Foodservice Sales

• Develop business with restaurants, restaurant groups, convenience stores, schools, colleges, healthcare facilities, hospitality groups, stadiums, caterers, and other foodservice operators.

• Build relationships with broadline and specialty foodservice distributors.

• Work with distributor sales representatives to generate leads and gain placements.

• Coordinate product demonstrations, samples, menu applications, and customer presentations.

• Help operators identify products that improve flavor, consistency, labor efficiency, and profitability.

• Participate in distributor sales meetings, food shows, customer events, and market visits.

• Support new-product setup, distributor authorization, and successful customer launches.

• Drive repeat orders after the initial sale.

Retail Sales

• Develop new business with grocery chains, regional retailers, independent stores, meat markets, convenience stores, and other retail customers.

• Present products to retail buyers and category managers.

• Identify opportunities for new item placement, promotional programs, displays, and expanded distribution.

• Work with brokers, distributors, and internal teams to support item setup and product launches.

• Monitor retail performance and develop action plans to improve product movement.

• Expand product placement and increase the number of items sold within existing accounts.

• Build strong relationships with store-level and corporate decision-makers.

Account Growth and Execution

• Create account-specific sales plans for priority customers.

• Grow sales by introducing additional products and expanding distribution.

• Coordinate pricing, samples, product information, presentations, and proposals.

• Partner with operations, production, customer service, and marketing to meet customer needs.

• Communicate customer forecasts and anticipated volume to company leadership.

• Track sales activity, opportunities, commitments, and results.

• Provide accurate sales forecasts and regular pipeline updates.

• Ensure customer commitments are followed through from initial presentation to repeat orders.

• Represent Richard’s Cajun Foods with professionalism, urgency, and pride.

Qualifications

• Proven business development or sales experience in foodservice, retail, grocery, distribution, or consumer packaged goods.

• Existing relationships within the foodservice or retail industry are strongly preferred.

• Experience working with distributors, brokers, retail buyers, chefs, or foodservice operators is preferred.

• Demonstrated ability to identify prospects, secure meetings, present products, and close new business.

• Strong communication, presentation, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.

• Organized and disciplined with follow-up, account planning, and pipeline management.

• Comfortable working independently and being held accountable for measurable results.

• Ability to analyze sales performance and develop plans to improve results.

• Willingness to travel, attend trade shows, visit customers, and work in the market as needed.

• Competitive, energetic, persistent, and motivated by growth.

What Success Looks Like

• A strong and consistently growing sales pipeline.

• New foodservice and retail accounts opened and retained.

• Increased sales and product penetration within existing accounts.

• New distributor relationships and product authorizations.

• Successful product launches that generate repeat orders.

• Expansion into new markets, territories, and customer segments.

• Consistent achievement of sales and profitability goals.

• Accurate forecasting and disciplined follow-up.

• Strong customer relationships that create long-term growth.

Why Richard’s Cajun Foods?

Richard’s Cajun Foods has a proud Louisiana heritage and a strong portfolio of authentic Cajun products, including smoked sausage, boudin, rice dressing, and other regional favorites.

We are growing and looking for someone who wants to make a real impact. This position offers the freedom to build new relationships, develop new markets, represent products customers are excited about, and directly contribute to the future of the company.

If you are a competitive sales professional who knows how to find opportunities, open doors, and close business, we want to talk to you.

Richard’s Cajun Foods is an equal opportunity employer.