Customer Manager (Natural Channel)

Acosta; Eden Prairie (MN); On-site; USD 55,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Acosta in Minnesota seeks a Customer Manager to lead our principals’ business within designated customer accounts. You will drive sales growth in the natural/organic foods channel and build strong relationships with store and headquarter contacts.

Responsibilities include delivering objectives on volume and pricing, developing a Customer Business Plan, coordinating trade marketing funds, and ensuring an effective in‑store presence across assigned stores.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum six months of relevant experience in retail/CPG, marketing, space management, and/or resets; sales administration or finance experience preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Outlook) and web-based applications; excellent presentation and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects with strong organizational skills.
• Experience in natural/organic foods channel is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Achieve sales goals by delivering principals’ objectives including volume, merchandising, pricing, and shelving.
• Develop a comprehensive Customer Business Plan aligning with principals’ priorities and driving long‑term success.
• Personally call on all decision‑makers to present programs and concepts that enhance business results.
• Manage costs and expenditures to maximize revenue through brokerage, commissions, bonuses, and more.
• Ensure a competitive in-store presence by coordinating with headquarters, supervisors, and other personnel.
• Manage trade marketing funds and leverage data to sell concepts to the customer.
• Operate within the designated budget and ensure efficient resource use.
• Maintain open lines of communication with key principals for alignment and collaboration.
• Collaborate with Retail Sales Managers on major retail initiatives and new product introductions.
• Utilize market knowledge to involve marketing, technology, and administration resources.
• Share information and customer/principal insights with team members to drive organizational capacity.
• Utilize computer systems and Acosta communication tools to achieve Customer Business Plan objectives.
• Provide feedback to leaders on ways to improve business operations.
• Complete special projects as requested.

Skills

PowerPoint

Excel

Word

Outlook

Presentation skills

Communication skills

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Are you a dynamic professional with a passion for driving sales and market share growth?

Join our team as a Customer Manager and take charge of managing our principals' business within designated customer accounts. We are looking for experience in the natural / organic foods channel.

Preferred location for applicants to reside in: Anywhere in Minneapolis, MN or state of MN.

Responsibilities

• Achieve Sales Goals: Deliver principals’ objectives, including volume and sales fundamentals such as merchandising, assortment, pricing, and shelving goals at the assigned customers, all at the lowest cost.
• Strategic Planning: Develop a comprehensive Customer Business Plan that aligns with the principals’ business priorities and drives long‑term success.
• Client Engagement: Personally call on all decision‑makers at the customer to present and sell business plans, programs, and concepts that enhance business results.
• Cost Management: Achieve results at the lowest possible selling cost while maximizing company revenue through brokerage, commissions, bonuses, contest earnings, and more. Oversee all manufacturers’ expenditures at the customer.
• In‑Store Presence: Ensure a competitively superior in‑store presence in the assigned stores by calling on headquarters, supervisors, and other customer operations personnel for both direct and indirect customers.
• Trade Marketing: Manage manufacturers’ trade marketing funds, process direct shipments via the Sales Support Coordinator, and leverage data to sell concepts to the customer.
• Budget Adherence: Operate within the designated budget, ensuring efficient use of resources.
• Proactive Communication: Maintain open lines of communication with key principals to ensure alignment and collaboration.
• Retail Initiatives: Collaborate with Retail Sales Managers on major retail initiatives, including new product introductions, selling drives, and contests.
• Market Knowledge: Utilize your knowledge of the customer, market, and principal to involve marketing, technology, and administrative resources in achieving objectives.
• Timely Information Sharing: Provide timely information on selling priorities to Retail Sales Managers, supervisors, and shared resources in marketing, technology, and administration.
• Team Collaboration: Share information and customer/principal insights with team members to build organizational capacity and drive collective success.
• Technology Utilization: Utilize computer systems and technology to achieve the objectives of the Customer Business Plan and continuously develop and maintain skill levels to support the use of Acosta communication systems.
• Feedback and Improvement: Provide feedback to the Team Leader and/or General Manager on ways to build organizational capacity and improve business operations.
• Special Projects: Complete special projects as requested, contributing to the overall success of the team.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor of Arts Degree or equivalent work experience.
• Experience: A minimum of six months of relevant experience in retail (CPG industry), marketing, space management, and/or resets. Sales administration or finance experience is preferred.
• Technical Skills: Expertise in Microsoft software, including PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and Outlook, along with thorough knowledge of web‑based applications. Excellent presentation and communication skills are a must.
• Project Management: Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously with strong organizational skills.
• Experience in the natural and/or organic foods channel is a PLUS.

Join us and be part of a team that values strategic thinking, proactive communication, and a commitment to achieving sales excellence.

#DiscoverYourPath

#ImpactNatural

About Us

Acosta, and its subsidiaries, is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Job Information

• Job Category: Wholesale
• Position Type: Full time
• Business Unit: Sales
• Salary Range: $55000.00 - $60000.00
• Company: Acosta Employee Holdco LLC
• Req ID: 38144