District Sales Manager

District Sales Manager - St. Louis, MO / West Division

Full-Time Exempt St. Louis, MO Marketing Area

The District Sales Manager is responsible for driving sales growth, excellence, and operational performance amongst their sales team. Initially focused on the assigned territory, this position serves as the primary field representative between the Vice President of Sales, Area Sales Managers, merchandisers, and key account customers to ensure outstanding execution of Lewis brands.

This role combines leadership of a sales team, customer relationship management, retail execution, and business development to maximize sales opportunities while maintaining the high service standards Lewis Bakeries is known for.

About Lewis Bakeries

Lewis Bakeries is a family-owned and operated company founded by three brothers in 1925 in Anna, Illinois. Lewis primarily bakes loaf bread, buns, and rolls under trusted brands including Bunny Bread, Lewis Bake Shop, Healthy Life, and other regional favorites.

Today, Lewis Bakeries operates facilities in LaPorte, Fort Wayne, Vincennes, and Evansville, Indiana, as well as Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Our heritage has been built on quality, reliability, and a commitment to our customers since 1925. Every day, the Lewis family and our dedicated associates rise to the challenge of baking the very best bakery products while maintaining a forward-thinking passion for growth and innovation.

What Makes Us Great

At Lewis Bakeries, we believe in rewarding our employees with a comprehensive compensation and benefits package that supports their health, financial well-being, and professional growth.

Exceptional Total Rewards Package

In addition to a competitive salary, employees enjoy a benefits package that provides significant financial value, including:

• Medical coverage with weekly premiums as low as $10 and a low-deductible plan design
• Comprehensive dental coverage, including orthodontic benefits for dependent children
• Company-funded pension plan and a 401(k) with company matching contributions
• Company-paid short-term and long-term disability insurance
• Paid vacation time and paid holidays
• Relocation assistance available for qualified candidates
• Professional development opportunities and long-term career growth

Additional reasons employees choose Lewis Bakeries:

• Family-owned company with over 100 years of baking excellence
• Stable and growing organization with a long history of success
• Collaborative culture that values employee engagement, safety, and continuous improvement
• Opportunity to make a meaningful impact as a key member of the bakery leadership team
• Opportunities for growth, development, and career advancement

Key Responsibilities

Key Account Management

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key Lewis Bakeries customers, including major retail groups such as Schnucks, Dierbergs, and other strategic accounts.
• Conduct regular customer visits to understand business needs and identify growth opportunities.
• Overseeing and monitoring sales opportunities with ASM's to improve sales performance, merchandising execution, POGs, and promotional effectiveness.
• Resolve customer issues quickly while maintaining exceptional service levels.
• Collaborate with internal Sales, Customer Service, Supply Chain, and Marketing teams to support customer initiatives.

Leadership

• Leading and assisting ASM's (area sales managers) in all duties they are held responsible for including ordering, training, store coverage, hiring, scheduling, route sales, resets and others.
• Covering and assisting ASM's with coverage for PTO, vacant positions, working daily freight, store resets, and route sales.
• Conducting market audits throughout ASM's sales areas. Trouble shooting for out-of-stocks, merchandising issues, displays, and missed opportunities.
• Monitoring and maintaining proper product levels through accurate sales ordering and adjusting, weekly reports, and merchandising activities through Lewis Bakeries' electronic system.
• Follow-up on ASM-customer relationships throughout their market.
• Follow and enforce Lewis Bakeries company policies and standards including safety, equipment standards, and market presence.

Retail Execution

• Visit retail locations assigned to your specific territory and ASM's to ensure outstanding marketplace execution.
• Monitor shelf conditions, product availability, merchandising standards, pricing, and promotional compliance.
• Support new item launches, seasonal programs, and retail activations.
• Identify opportunities to expand distribution and improve shelf presence.
• Provide merchandising guidance and sales support to ASM's and merchandisers.
• Monitor competitive activity and communicate marketplace insights to leadership.
• Build strong relationships with retailers to grow Lewis Bakeries' market share.

Business Development & Administrative Responsibilities

• Support development of new partnerships and customer opportunities.
• Prepare sales reports, customer updates, forecasts, promotions, and business reviews.
• Collaborate with internal teams on strategic sales initiatives.
• Maintain accurate customer records and activity documentation.
• Participate in and conduct sales meetings, planning sessions, and training programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, Marketing, Sales, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of three years of sales experience within consumer-packaged goods (CPG), food manufacturing, wholesale distribution, or Direct Store Delivery (DSD).
• Experience managing, leading, and driving a sales team is preferred.
• Strong understanding of inventory management, forecasting, merchandising, and retail execution.
• Excellent relationship-building, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently while collaborating across multiple departments.
• Strong organizational and analytical skills with attention to detail.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.
• Valid driver's license with acceptable driving record.

Work Environment & Travel

• Candidates should reside within approximately two hours of the assigned territory.
• Frequent travel throughout the assigned territory is required, including store visits, sales manager meetings, retail store visits, and covering and assisting working accounts.
• Overnight travel may be required to support meetings, training, covering PTO, call-offs, and working accounts.

Success Measures

• Success Measures
• Success in this role will be measured through:
• Growth in sales volume across assigned accounts.
• Forecast accuracy and inventory performance.
• Retail execution and shelf compliance.
• Customer satisfaction and relationship development.
• Successful execution of promotional programs and new product launches.
• Success in sales gain year after year in assigned accounts.
• Collaboration with internal teams to support company growth initiatives.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Lewis Bakeries is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Drug-Free Workplace. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or status as a qualified individual with a disability or Vietnam era or other protected veteran status.

All candidates must successfully complete a background check, drug test and reference check for further consideration.


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