District Sales Manager

HARTFORD BAKERY INC; Evansville (IN); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

Excellent benefits

Job summary

Lewis Bakeries, a long‑standing bakery leader, seeks a District Sales Manager for the St. Louis area. You will guide a sales team, nurture major retail relationships, and drive growth through strategic account development, merchandising excellence, and strong execution of promotions.

This role requires a proven sales background in CPG or wholesale with leadership experience and a focus on delivering value to retailers and consumers alike.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred in business, marketing, sales, or related field.
• Minimum three years of sales experience in CPG, food manufacturing, or wholesale.
• Proven ability to lead a sales team and manage key accounts.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with key customers, including major retail groups.
• Conduct regular customer visits to identify growth opportunities and drive sales.
• Lead and support ASM’s in ordering, training, store coverage, and merchandising execution.
• Collaborate with internal teams to implement sales initiatives and promotional programs.
• Monitor shelf conditions, pricing, and promotional compliance across markets.

Skills

Key Account Management

Sales Leadership

Merchandising

Forecasting

Relationship Building

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business or Marketing

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Job description

District Sales Manager – St. Louis, MO / West DivisionFull-Time | Exempt | St. Louis, MO Marketing AreaThe District Sales Manager is responsible for driving sales growth, excellence, and operational performance amongst their sales team. Initially focused on the assigned territory, this position serves as the primary field representative between the Vice President of Sales, Area Sales Managers, merchandisers, and key account customers to ensure outstanding execution of Lewis brands.This role combines leadership of a sales team, customer relationship management, retail execution, and business development to maximize sales opportunities while maintaining the high service standards Lewis Bakeries is known for.About Lewis BakeriesLewis Bakeries is a family-owned and operated company founded by three brothers in 1925 in Anna, Illinois. Lewis primarily bakes loaf bread, buns, and rolls under trusted brands including Bunny Bread, Lewis Bake Shop, Healthy Life, and other regional favorites.Today, Lewis Bakeries operates facilities in LaPorte, Fort Wayne, Vincennes, and Evansville, Indiana, as well as Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Our heritage has been built on quality, reliability, and a commitment to our customers since 1925. Every day, the Lewis family and our dedicated associates rise to the challenge of baking the very best bakery products while maintaining a forward-thinking passion for growth and innovation.What Makes Us GreatAt Lewis Bakeries, we believe in rewarding our employees with a comprehensive compensation and benefits package that supports their health, financial well-being, and professional growth.Exceptional Total Rewards PackageIn addition to a competitive salary, employees enjoy a benefits package that provides significant financial value, including:Medical coverage with weekly premiums as low as $10 and a low-deductible plan designComprehensive dental coverage, including orthodontic benefits for dependent childrenCompany-funded pension plan and a 401(k) with company matching contributionsCompany-paid short-term and long-term disability insurancePaid vacation time and paid holidaysRelocation assistance available for qualified candidatesProfessional development opportunities and long-term career growthAdditional reasons employees choose Lewis Bakeries:Family-owned company with over 100 years of baking excellenceStable and growing organization with a long history of successCollaborative culture that values employee engagement, safety, and continuous improvementOpportunity to make a meaningful impact as a key member of the bakery leadership teamOpportunities for growth, development, and career advancementKey ResponsibilitiesKey Account ManagementDevelop and maintain strong relationships with key Lewis Bakeries customers, including major retail groups such as Schnucks, Dierbergs, and other strategic accounts.Conduct regular customer visits to understand business needs and identify growth opportunities.Overseeing and monitoring sales opportunities with ASM’s to improve sales performance, merchandising execution, POGs, and promotional effectiveness.Resolve customer issues quickly while maintaining exceptional service levels.Collaborate with internal Sales, Customer Service, Supply Chain, and Marketing teams to support customer initiatives.LeadershipLeading and assisting ASM’s (area sales managers) in all duties they are held responsible for including ordering, training, store coverage, hiring, scheduling, route sales, resets and others.Covering and assisting ASM’s with coverage for PTO, vacant positions, working daily freight, store resets, and route sales.Conducting market audits throughout ASM’s sales areas. Trouble shooting for out-of-stocks, merchandising issues, displays, and missed opportunities.Monitoring and maintaining proper product levels through accurate sales ordering and adjusting, weekly reports, and merchandising activities through Lewis Bakeries’ electronic system.Follow-up on ASM-customer relationships throughout their market.Follow and enforce Lewis Bakeries company policies and standards including safety, equipment standards, and market presence.Retail ExecutionVisit retail locations assigned to your specific territory and ASM’s to ensure outstanding marketplace execution.Monitor shelf conditions, product availability, merchandising standards, pricing, and promotional compliance.Support new item launches, seasonal programs, and retail activations.Identify opportunities to expand distribution and improve shelf presence.Provide merchandising guidance and sales support to ASM’s and merchandisers.Monitor competitive activity and communicate marketplace insights to leadership.Build strong relationships with retailers to grow Lewis Bakeries' market share.Business Development & Administrative ResponsibilitiesSupport development of new partnerships and customer opportunities.Prepare sales reports, customer updates, forecasts, promotions, and business reviews.Collaborate with internal teams on strategic sales initiatives.Maintain accurate customer records and activity documentation.Participate in and conduct sales meetings, planning sessions, and training programs.QualificationsBachelor’s degree in business, Marketing, Sales, or a related field preferred.Minimum of three years of sales experience within consumer-packaged goods (CPG), food manufacturing, wholesale distribution, or Direct Store Delivery (DSD).Experience managing, leading, and driving a sales team is preferred.Strong understanding of inventory management, forecasting, merchandising, and retail execution.Excellent relationship-building, communication, and problem-solving skills.Self-motivated with the ability to work independently while collaborating across multiple departments.Strong organizational and analytical skills with attention to detail.Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.Valid driver's license with acceptable driving record.Work Environment & TravelCandidates should reside within approximately two hours of the assigned territory.Frequent travel throughout the assigned territory is required, including store visits, sales manager meetings, retail store visits, and covering and assisting working accounts.Overnight travel may be required to support meetings, training, covering PTO, call-offs, and working accounts.Success MeasuresSuccess MeasuresSuccess in this role will be measured through:Growth in sales volume across assigned accounts.Forecast accuracy and inventory performance.Retail execution and shelf compliance.Customer satisfaction and relationship development.Successful execution of promotional programs and new product launches.Success in sales gain year after year in assigned accounts.Collaboration with internal teams to support company growth initiatives.Equal Opportunity EmployerLewis Bakeries is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Drug-Free Workplace. All qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or status as a qualified individual with a disability or Vietnam era or other protected veteran status.All candidates must successfully complete a background check, drug test and reference check for further consideration.#lbmanagement