Culinary Sales Specialist

International Gourmet Foods (IGF); Elk Grove Village (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

401K

PTO

Life Insurance

Short-term Disability

Referral program

Employee discount

Health savings account

Job summary

IGF, a Chicago-area food distributor, seeks a driven Culinary Sales Specialist to own a largely untapped territory and drive growth with new and existing customers.

You will prospect, close deals, and build lasting relationships across independent food channels, while meeting KPIs and collaborating with colleagues to win in a competitive market.

This on-site role requires travel up to 75% within the region; strong local connections and proficiency with MS Office and CRM are essential.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years in hospitality or food industry
• Proven track record in food sales and services
• Ability to travel up to 75% within the designated sales region
• Strong negotiation and closing skills
• Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities
• Independent, self-motivated, and team-oriented
• Live in the area with strong local connections
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and CRM systems

Responsibilities

• Manage, expand, and compete for IGF’s share of the food distribution market
• Identify sales opportunities and serve as subject‑matter expert on IGF products
• Meet or exceed individual and department KPIs
• Develop, manage, and grow IGF’s customer base in designated markets
• Pursue new business through cold‑calling and follow-ups
• Expand existing accounts: increase sales, product mix, market share
• Manage accounts and maintain accurate contact info and targets
• Visit customers to introduce new products
• Negotiate terms and contract rates
• Coordinate contract terms with AR to ensure payment
• Collect payments; submit credit/product-return requests
• Be IGF point of contact; communicate issues internally and externally
• Attend sales meetings; comply with policies
• Develop and improve product knowledge

Skills

Hospitality industry experience

Food sales experience

Negotiation skills

Relationship building

Time management

MS Office (Dynamics)

Tools

Dynamics

Excel

Teams

Word

Job description

This is a unique opportunity for a driven sales professional to build and own a largely untapped territory with tremendous potential for growth. We are seeking a dynamic, energetic, and highly motivated individual who thrives on developing new business, building lasting relationships, and winning in a competitive marketplace. The ideal candidate is personable, self‑directed, and aggressively pursues opportunities while maintaining a customer‑first mindset. If you are entrepreneurial, eager to make your mark, and excited by the challenge of turning a greenfield territory into a thriving market, we want to hear from you.

IGF Mission

To deliver quality service and cultivate community around the table.

Sales Department Mission

To deliver quality by taking a team‑oriented approach to building relationships, resolving issues, and making it easy to be an IGF customer.

Sales Department Objectives

IGF’s Sales Department members work together to approach markets with the objectives of securing strong business relationships and dominating the independent food sector within select areas.

Culinary Sales Specialist – Job Description

• Work as a team to manage, expand, and compete for IGF’s share of the food distribution market
• Serve as subject‑matter experts on how to sell IGF’s products and work together to identify sales opportunities in the marketplace
• Meet and exceed individual and department targets and KPIs
• Develop, manage, and grow IGF’s customer base within designated markets
• Proactively pursue new business: cold‑call and regularly follow up on inquiries, leads, and prospects
• Expand existing customer accounts and relationships to:
  • Increase overall sales volume
  • Sell a broad range (high percentage) of products IGF carries
  • Increase IGF’s market share
• Actively manage existing accounts
• Maintain an accurate portfolio of accounts, including customer contact information, targets, and updates
• Stay up‑to‑date on customers’ businesses and needs:
  • Visit customers in person to check in and introduce new products
• Negotiate and manage contract rates, terms, and payment arrangements
• Coordinate customers’ contract terms and fees with Accounts Receivable to ensure payment and avoid lapses in service
• Collect customer payments
• Submit credit and product‑return requests
• Serve as customers’ IGF point of contact, effectively communicating internally to resolve service issues and communicating resolved issues to customers
• Attend sales meetings as required
• Comply with company and department policies and procedures
• Perform other duties as assigned
• Develop and continuously improve industry and product knowledge

Qualifications (Required)

• A minimum of three years of hospitality or food industry experience
• A proven track record of success in the food sales and services industry
• Ability to deal with customers, vendors, and all channels of distribution to assess and analyze situations
• Demonstrated ability to effectively negotiate contracts and terms, and close deals
• Ability to build and maintain relationships across teams, departments, customers, vendors, and service providers
• Ability to work independently or as part of a team – changing gears when required, whether multitasking or adapting working hours; effectively manage time and prioritize multiple responsibilities
• Must be able to travel up to 75% to visit clients within the designated sales region, and 15% for out‑of‑market travel
• Proactive, quick‑thinking, problem‑solving approach to work
• Excellent communication, organization, and data‑entry skills with keen focus on customer needs and relationship building
• High level of energy and self‑motivation, as well as a passion for the food industry
• Strong attention to detail and solid written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills; maintain a high and positive energy
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (especially Dynamics, Excel, Teams, and Word) and other tech skills, including use of email and text
• Must live in the area and have strong local connections

Qualifications (Preferred)

• Five or more years of hospitality or food industry experience
• Bilingual communication skills

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to sit and drive for several hours a day and able to walk around to client establishments
• Must be able to bend and lift (at least 40 lb.)
• Requires bending, sitting, standing, walking, use of hands, arms, legs, eyes, and voice

Benefits

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• 401K
• Paid time off
• Company‑paid life insurance
• Short‑term disability
• Referral program
• Employee discount
• Health savings account

Compensation

Salary plus performance‑based bonus eligibility beginning in Year 2