Foodservice Sales Trainee

M. J. Kellner Foodservice; Springfield (IL); Hybrid; USD 35,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

M. J.

Kellner Foodservice, a locally owned broadline distributor serving central Illinois, is seeking an entry-level Foodservice Sales Trainee. The role includes a structured training period of approximately 12–24 months to develop product knowledge, sales skills, and customer relationship capabilities.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• At least one year of professional sales experience or professional foodservice experience.
• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office Suite.

Responsibilities

• Participates in a structured training program focused on sales techniques, product knowledge, and company systems.
• Shadows experienced Sales Consultants to learn consultative selling practices and territory management.
• Develops an understanding of customer business operations, including restaurants, kitchens, and foodservice environments.
• Keeps informed of new products, services, and other general information of interest to customers.
• Supports efforts to maintain and grow sales within assigned temporary routes.
• Travels locally between customer locations and supports sales activities as needed.

Skills

Sales experience

Communication skills

Microsoft Office

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

M. J. Kellner is a locally owned broadline foodservice distributor. We have everything a commercial kitchen needs to operate. We sell to restaurants, nursing homes, hospitals, and schools within a 125-mile radius of Springfield. We have been serving central Illinois for more than 100 years and are proud members of this community. Bill Kellner, our third-generation owner, did not have a 4th generation to carry on the family legacy, so he initiated an Employee Stock Ownership Plan in 2013. On October 31, 2021, the company became 100% employee-owned. This is at no cost to our employees and is a very generous retirement benefit for us to look forward to and work hard for every day. We come to work each day to exceed all of our customers' food service needs and to be their most trusted and reliable partner.

Summary

The Foodservice Sales Trainee is an entry-level position designed to prepare individuals for a future role as a Foodservice Sales Consultant. This role includes a structured training period of approximately 12–24 months, during which the trainee will develop product knowledge, sales skills, and customer relationship capabilities. The trainee will support the sales team through route coverage, customer service, and hands‑on learning experiences.

Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Participates in a structured training program focused on sales techniques, product knowledge, and company systems
• Shadows experienced Sales Consultants to learn consultative selling practices and territory management
• Develops an understanding of customer business operations, including restaurants, kitchens, and foodservice environments
• Keeps informed of new products, services, and other general information of interest to customers
• Provides vacation and absence coverage for Sales Consultants by servicing existing customer routes
• Supports efforts to maintain and grow sales within assigned temporary routes
• Attends and participates in all Food Shows, Sales Meetings, Credit Meetings, customer product cuttings, and any other event where members of the Sales team are present
• Learns company policies, including credit processes, ordering systems, and customer support procedures
• Works with the accounting department to communicate the company’s credit collection process and attends quarterly credit meetings
• Gradually assumes responsibility for increasing sales revenue and managing customer accounts
• Performs other job‑related duties and responsibilities as assigned
• Customer Focus
• Excellent problem‑solving skills
• Verbal and written communication proficiency
• Ethical Conduct
• Flexibility

Supervisory Responsibility

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

This job operates in a professional office and/or home office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets, and fax machines.

This job also operates at customer locations: outdoor, warehouse, restaurant, and kitchen settings. In these settings, it is often difficult to regulate temperature, so extreme heat and cold may be experienced.

Extended time driving between customer locations is also expected.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools or controls; reach with hands and arms; talk or hear. The employee must occasionally lift or move office products, supplies, and food product weighing from 10 pounds to 100 pounds.

Position Type and Expected Hours of work

This is a full‑time, exempt position. Days and hours of work are Monday‑Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm. This position sometimes requires long hours and weekend work, especially on Sundays.

Travel

Travel is primarily local during the business day, although some out‑of‑area and overnight travel may be expected.

Required Education and Experience

• High school diploma or equivalent
• At least one year of professional sales experience or professional foodservice experience
• Recognition of advanced skills in Microsoft Office Suite

Preferred Education and Experience

• Two years of professional sales experience in food industry

Additional Eligibility qualifications

None required for this position.

AAp/EEo statement

M. J. Kellner Co., Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE) according to Title 44, Ill. Administrative Code, and Subpart C Section 750.150.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, and responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time.