Commercial Bakery Area Sales Manager — Chicago Market

Stone House Bread; Traverse City (MI); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive OTE with base + variable compensation

Benefits

Mileage reimbursement

Job summary

A leading bakery company seeks a Commercial Bakery Area Sales Manager for the Chicago market. Your role will involve initiating growth strategies, managing retail execution, and building strong relationships with new and existing accounts. The ideal candidate has over three years of CPG field sales experience, exceptional organizational skills, and is data-driven. This position offers competitive pay with benefits and requires approximately 60–70% travel in the local area.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of CPG field sales in the Chicago area, particularly in bakery or DSD.
• Strong history of sales wins in a metropolitan market.
• Ability to manage retail execution including pricing and promotions.
• Data-driven, CRM and forecasting discipline.
• Highly organized and able to manage a wide geographic territory.

Responsibilities

• Build and manage a targeted sales pipeline.
• Launch new retail locations and ensure proper merchandising.
• Partner with the sales and distribution team on execution.
• Launch new doors end-to-end: item setup, pricing, planograms, demos and merchandising.
• Grow existing stores via promotions, secondary placement and improved product mix.
• Track KPIs and forecast location growth, rate of sale, sell-through and promo performance.

Skills

CPG field sales experience

Retail execution

Data-driven habits

Organizational skills

Organizational skills

Job description

Commercial Bakery Area Sales Manager — Chicago Market

Own the launch and growth of Stone House Bread across Chicagoland—open new retail accounts, grow sales in active locations, and partner with DSD/frozen teams for flawless execution.

Responsibilities

• Build/manage a targeted pipeline; win new banners & independents across the Chicago Market.
• Launch new doors end-to-end: item setup, pricing, planograms, demos, merchandising.
• Grow existing stores via promotions, secondary placement and improve product‑mix penetration.
• Partner with the broader Sales and Distribution team on routes, inventory and merchandising.
• Track KPIs and forecast: new locations, rate of sale, sell‑through, promo performance and retail execution quality.
• Store walks/ride‑along with merchandisers; coach merchandisers/brand ambassadors as needed.

Success Metrics

New locations opened per quarter; territory revenue growth vs plan; ROS & product penetration up; compliance and high execution scores at retail.

Qualifications

• 3+ yrs CPG field sales in Chicago (bakery/DSD/beverage/frozen a plus).
• Strong profile of wins in metro‑market.
• Retail execution (planograms/price/promo/demos).
• Data‑driven habits, simple CRM and forecasting discipline.
• Highly organized, self‑directed, and able to manage a wide geographic territory.
• Valid driver’s license, good driving record and reliable vehicle.

Compensation & Perks

Competitive OTE with base + variable (accelerators), benefits, mileage reimbursement.

Travel: ~60–70% locally; occasional regional travel required.