Foodservice Operator Specialist- Detroit, MI

JOB CATEGORY: Sales/Retail/Business Development COMPANY: General Mills Foodservice Operator Specialist- Detroit, MI Overview: The Foodservice Operator Specialist’s key responsibility is to drive incremental volume growth and to sustain existing volume by selling the company product line to key operators in the K-12, College & University, Healthcare, Lodging, Military, Business & Industry, Contract Management and Commercial Segments. The Foodservice Operator Specialist will work closely with the local area support team to achieve market volume objectives. Opportunities to advance provided to strong performers. Accountabilities: Operator Sales Management Responsibilities -Develop operator business plans in conjunction with market plans -Develop strategic geographic call patterns that maximize market coverage -Develop and leverage local operator opportunities (product and promotion) -Create and maintain accurate customer profiles of key operators in assigned market area -Ensure accurate operator sales activity reports via centralized reporting system -Focus on driving compliance and increasing sales of existing and new products via operator influence Sales Execution Responsibilities -Follow sales process that includes gathering information, uncovering needs, presenting features and benefits, and closing sale with 75 – 85 key operators -Carefully plan 10 – 15 customer calls per week by identifying which products to present and being prepared with appropriate samples and tools -Effectively ask questions to uncover customer needs and problems and move the customer to action by building a win-win consensus -Effectively manage call time, document activity and progress for each account and link calls to market and customer business plans -Provide customers with solutions by building customer and product knowledge Communication Responsibilities -Relay sales successes and challenges to local market team -Provide feedback regarding operator trends, marketing tools and promotions, competitive information and industry best practices to Market Manager -Maintain regular communications with Account Manager to insure operator activities align and support market area distributor objectives Industry Relations Responsibilities -Provide expertise around product categories and competitors -Deliver product demonstrations, cuttings and competitive reviews -Understand all current operator promotions and applications -Build local relationships with Gold Star Advisory Board Members -Analyze field data to identify new business opportunities for customer planning Other Responsibilities -Prep for and support food show and sales meeting execution -Attend local market area team meetings -Bake product samples at home as required