National Key Account Manager - Retail

Affinity Group, Sales & Marketing Agency; Richmond Hill; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Affinity Group Canada is seeking a strategic National Key Account Manager – Retail to drive growth across Canada’s national retail partners. You will develop customer-specific strategies, grow distribution and market share, and combine retailer relationships with analytics and disciplined execution.

The role includes Joint Business Planning, category reviews, and leading new product listings, with collaboration across Marketing, Finance and Supply Chain to ensure successful execution.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in retail sales or national/key account management, ideally within CPG, food or beverage.
• Experience managing major Canadian retail accounts.
• Proven ability to grow sales, distribution and profitability.
• Strong understanding of category management, merchandising, planograms and promotional planning.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to turn data into actionable sales strategies.
• Experience with forecasting, trade-spend management and promotional ROI.
• Excellent negotiation, presentation and relationship-management skills.
• Proficiency with Excel, Power BI, CRM platforms and retailer reporting systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute strategic annual account plans focused on sales, distribution, profitability and market-share growth.
• Build strong relationships with retail buyers, category managers, merchandising, replenishment and operations teams.
• Lead Joint Business Planning, category reviews, line reviews and customer presentations.
• Use sales data, category insights, shopper trends and competitive intelligence to identify growth opportunities.
• Develop recommendations around assortment, SKU rationalization, pricing, promotions and distribution gaps.
• Lead new product listings, assortment changes and planogram execution, including shelf placement, facings and merchandising opportunities.
• Develop annual promotional plans and evaluate promotional effectiveness and ROI.
• Monitor retail execution through store visits, audits and collaboration with field sales teams.
• Deliver regular reporting on sales performance, distribution, promotional results, forecasts, risks and opportunities.
• Maintain accurate account plans, forecasts, CRM activity and opportunity pipelines using tools such as Power BI, CRM, and retailer and distributor portals.
• Collaborate with Marketing, Client Management, Field Sales, Finance and Supply Chain to ensure successful execution of customer and client initiatives.

Skills

Retail sales

Key account mgmt

Category management

Analytical skills

Forecasting

Negotiation

Relationship management

Tools

Excel

Power BI

CRM platforms

Retail reporting systems

Job description

Affinity Group Canada is a well established successful and growing company that prides itself on being one of the premier food brokers in Canada. Since 1989, our success has been driven by the number of industry leading food manufacturers that we represent. We pride ourselves on having a dedicated sales team, strong customer service orientation, extensive product knowledge and a professional, challenging and rewarding work environment.

Position Summary

We are seeking a strategic and results-driven National Key Account Manager – Retail to lead and grow key national retail partnerships across Canada. This role is responsible for developing customer-specific strategies that drive sales growth, distribution, profitability and market share. The successful candidate will combine strong retailer relationships with category insights, analytics and disciplined execution to turn opportunities into measurable results.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute strategic annual account plans focused on sales, distribution, profitability and market-share growth.
• Build strong relationships with retail buyers, category managers, merchandising, replenishment and operations teams.
• Lead Joint Business Planning, category reviews, line reviews and customer presentations.
• Use sales data, category insights, shopper trends and competitive intelligence to identify growth opportunities.
• Develop recommendations around assortment, SKU rationalization, pricing, promotions and distribution gaps.
• Lead new product listings, assortment changes and planogram execution, including shelf placement, facings and merchandising opportunities.
• Develop annual promotional plans and evaluate promotional effectiveness and ROI.
• Monitor retail execution through store visits, audits and collaboration with field sales teams.
• Deliver regular reporting on sales performance, distribution, promotional results, forecasts, risks and opportunities.
• Maintain accurate account plans, forecasts, CRM activity and opportunity pipelines using tools such as Power BI, CRM, and retailer and distributor portals.
• Collaborate with Marketing, Client Management, Field Sales, Finance and Supply Chain to ensure successful execution of customer and client initiatives.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of retail sales, national/key account management, category management or customer business development experience, ideally within CPG, food or beverage.
• Experience managing major Canadian retail accounts.
• Proven ability to grow sales, distribution and profitability.
• Strong understanding of category management, merchandising, planograms and promotional planning.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to turn data into actionable sales strategies.
• Experience with forecasting, trade-spend management and promotional ROI.
• Excellent negotiation, presentation and relationship-management skills.
• Proficiency with Excel, Power BI, CRM platforms and retailer reporting systems.
• Ability to travel across Canada as required.

What Success Looks Like

Success will be measured through sales and profitability growth, distribution gains, new item acceptance, planogram execution, promotional ROI, forecast accuracy and strong retailer/client partnerships.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to play a key role in growing an exciting portfolio of brands across the Canadian retail landscape. You'll combine strategy, category expertise, analytics and customer leadership to create meaningful growth for our retail and brand partners.

Accessibility & Accommodation

Affinity Group is committed to providing an accessible workplace. Accommodation is available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. If you require accommodation during any stage of the recruitment process, please contact us at [email protected].

Use of Artificial Intelligence in Hiring

Affinity Group Canada may use artificial intelligence-enabled tools to assist with resume screening and candidate evaluation as part of the recruitment process. These tools are designed to support, not replace, human decision-making. All hiring decisions are made by qualified members of our recruitment team.

The Affinity Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.