Area Sales Manager - Ipoh

Suntory Beverage & Food Health Enrichment; Petaling Jaya; On-site; MYR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave 17 days

Employer EPF 16%

Medical insurance

Optical & dental coverage

Job summary

Suntory Beverage & Health Enrichment seeks an Area Sales Manager for Ipoh to drive regional sales growth by partnering with distributors, local chain stores, and internal teams. You will lead route-to-market execution and deliver sales targets while strengthening distributor relationships and market coverage.

You will manage a high-performing sales team, oversee forecasts, and collaborate with Trade Marketing, Demand Planning, and Supply Chain to ensure stock availability.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of FMCG sales experience, preferably in General Trade.
• Proven experience managing distributors independently.
• Experience managing Local Chain Stores and executing trade activation programs.
• Strong track record in achieving sales targets and driving business growth.

Responsibilities

• Drive regional sales growth through strategies and execution plans.
• Manage distributor partnerships to meet sales and distribution objectives.
• Monitor sell-in, sell-out, inventory, and forecast accuracy.
• Lead business reviews with distributors to expand distribution and outlets.
• Optimize trade spend, rebates, and route-to-market effectiveness.
• Collaborate with Trade Marketing, Demand Planning, and Supply Chain for execution excellence.
• Conduct regular trade visits to support distributor teams.
• Build a high-performance sales culture through coaching and leadership.

Skills

Distributor management

Sales forecasting

Inventory planning

Sell-in/sell-out management

Trade fund & rebates

Leadership & coaching

Stakeholder management

Job description

About Your Role

Who We Are

Suntory Beverage & Food strives to be the most locally beloved beverage company in every market we serve. Guided by our founding principles of \"Growing for Good\", \"Yatte Minahare\" (the spirit of bold ambition), and \"Giving Back to Society\", we pursue sustainable growth, bold innovation, and meaningful social impact. Across the Asia region, we proudly offer trusted brands including Ribena®, Lucozade Sport™, BRAND'S® Essence of Chicken, Tea+, BOSS Coffee, V Energy - delivering quality products that honor our commitment to harmony with people and nature.

At Suntory Beverage & Health Enrichment, we are proud to be part of the global Suntory Group, a Japanese multinational renowned for its unwavering commitment to health, wellness, and enriching lives. With a legacy deeply rooted in innovation and natural science, we deliver high-quality health enrichment and functional beverages tailored to the needs of Malaysian consumers.

Guided by our mission to “Inspire the Brilliance of Life”, we blend cutting-edge research with a profound respect for nature to support holistic well-being — from the inside out.

We are the proud brand owner of several iconic products with strong cultural heritage and consumer trust:

• Ribena – the beloved blackcurrant drink rich in Vitamin C.
• BRAND’S® – a trusted name in health supplements, including the renowned BRAND’S® Essence of Chicken.
• C.C. Lemon – a refreshing lemon‑flavored drink packed with Vitamin C, offering a zesty boost for your daily wellness.

About Your Role

Role Type: Sole Contributor

Reporting Line: Regional Sales Manager, Central & North

Direct Reports: 5 x Execlusive Distributor Sales Rep. + 4 General Sales Rep.

Function: Sales- General Trade

Location: Ipoh

As an Area Sales Manager, you will drive sales growth and distribution excellence across the Ipoh by partnering closely with distributors, local chain stores, and internal stakeholders. You will play a key role in delivering sales targets, strengthening route-to-market execution, and leading a high-performing sales culture.

Compensation And Benefits

• Starts with 17 days Annual Leave
• 16% Employer EPF contribution
• Medical and insurance coverage
• Optical and dental coverage

What You'll Do

• Drive sales growth through regional sales strategies and execution plans.
• Manage and develop distributor partnerships to achieve sales and distribution objectives.
• Monitor sell-in, sell-out, inventory levels, and monthly forecast accuracy.
• Lead business reviews with distributors and identify opportunities to expand distribution and outlet coverage.
• Optimize trade spend, rebate management, and route-to-market effectiveness.
• Partner with Trade Marketing, Demand Planning, and Supply Chain teams to ensure execution excellence and availability of stocks.
• Conduct regular trade visits to monitor market execution and support distributor sales teams.
• Build a strong performance culture through coaching, leadership, and team development.

What's in it for you

• Opportunity to manage a diverse distributor network and key General Trade channels.
• Exposure to end-to-end commercial management, including forecasting, distribution planning, and trade investment optimization.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams across Sales, Trade Marketing, Supply Chain, and Demand Planning.
• Opportunity to strengthen leadership capabilities and develop a broader commercial perspective.
• Be part of a purpose-driven organization that values ownership, collaboration, and continuous growth.

What You need to be successful

Experience

• Minimum 5 years of FMCG sales experience, preferably within the General Trade channel.
• Proven experience managing distributors independently.
• Experience managing Local Chain Stores and executing trade activation programs.
• Strong track record in achieving sales targets and driving business growth.

Skills & Competencies

• Distributor management
• Sales forecasting and inventory planning
• Sell-in and sell-out management
• Trade fund and rebate management
• Commercial and analytical thinking
• Strong stakeholder management
• Leadership and coaching capability

Traits & Behaviours

• Results-oriented and accountable
• Strong commercial acumen
• Resilient and adaptable
• Hands‑on with strong execution discipline
• Positive attitude with a growth mindset
• Strong interpersonal and influencing skill

Our DEI Commitment

At Suntory, we recognize that diverse knowledge, perspectives, and backgrounds contribute to our collective success.

We are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where all individuals can bring their whole selves to work every day, regardless of race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, neurodiversity, or differing abilities, age, or any other protected characteristic.

Our recruitment and selection processes are designed to highlight what Suntory offers as an employer while allowing candidates to share their unique skills and experiences.

We understand that career trajectories vary, and if you believe your experience/background can benefit our team, we encourage you to apply.

We endeavor to make our interview process as inclusive as possible and offer reasonable accommodations as needed.

Together, we can cultivate a workplace where everyone can thrive and propel our mission of Growing for Good.