National Account Manager – Publix

Heartland Food Products Group; Tampa (FL); Remote; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food products company is seeking a National Account Manager to lead their business with Publix, a strategic retail partner. The ideal candidate has over 7 years of CPG sales experience, including direct relationships with Publix merchandising teams. Responsibilities include driving profitable growth and executing joint business plans. This remote position is ideally based in Tampa, FL, requiring strong leadership and analytical skills.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of CPG sales or customer leadership experience.
• Direct experience calling on Publix required.
• Strong understanding of grocery retail and trade management.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary sales lead and relationship owner for Publix.
• Develop and execute annual Joint Business Plans.
• Own volume, trade spend, and profitability targets.

Skills

CPG sales leadership

Relationship management

Analytical skills

Financial acumen

Category management

Job description

National Account Manager – Publix

Heartland Food Products Group is seeking a National Account Manager (NAM) to lead our business with Publix, one of Heartland’s most strategic retail partners. This role is ideal for a proven CPG sales leader with direct experience calling on this account, established relationships with merchandising teams, and a passion for building brands through strong retailer collaboration.

This position is remote, ideally based in Tampa, FL.

What You’ll Do

Own Strategic Customer Leadership

• Serve as the primary sales lead and relationship owner for Publix and Southeast Grocers
• Build and deepen partnerships with merchandising teams to drive mutual growth
• Represent Heartland’s brand portfolio with confidence, credibility, and a growth mindset

Drive Growth Across Heartland’s Brand Portfolio

• Develop and execute annual Joint Business Plans aligned to Heartland’s growth, profitability, and brand-building priorities
• Lead assortment, pricing, merchandising, and promotional strategies that expand distribution and household penetration
• Champion innovation and new item launches, ensuring strong customer alignment and flawless execution

Deliver Results Through Best-in-Class Execution

• Own volume, trade spend, and profitability targets for Publix and Southeast Grocers
• Lead promotional planning, display strategy, and in-store/online execution in partnership with merchandising teams
• Provide accurate forecasting and demand inputs to support high service levels and efficient inventory management

Leverage Insights to Win at Shelf

• Use syndicated data (Circana/IRI, Nielsen) and customer insights to identify category opportunities and support fact-based selling
• Partner with customer merchandising teams to improve shelf placement, promotional ROI, and execution quality
• Translate data into clear, compelling stories that support brand and category growth

Collaborate Cross-Functionally

• Act as the voice of Publix internally, aligning marketing, R&D, supply chain, finance, and operations
• Partner closely with marketing and category management to deliver customer-relevant brand strategies

What You Bring

Required Qualifications

• 7+ years of CPG sales or customer leadership experience
• Direct experience calling on Publix required
• Established relationships with Publix merchandising teams
• Strong understanding of grocery retail, trade management, and category management
• Proven track record of delivering profitable growth
• Prior people management experience or demonstrated readiness to lead

Preferred Experience

• Experience managing branded food or beverage portfolios
• Strong analytical and financial acumen
• Comfort working in a fast-paced, growth-oriented, matrixed organization