Small Format Chain Sales

Alliance Beverage; Grand Rapids, Northern (MI, KY); Hybrid; USD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Pay

Mileage Reimbursement

Amazing Benefits

Paid Parental and Maternity Leave!

Opportunity for Advancement

Product Discounts

No Weekends!

Job summary

Alliance Beverage is seeking a sales representative to drive orders and product growth across our Grand Rapids and Lakeshore territory. You will cultivate strong retailer relationships, promote in-store merchandising, and present compelling, profit-focused sales proposals.

Responsibilities include ensuring timely orders, maintaining displays, and coordinating with drivers and the sales team to maximize product exposure.

Qualifications

• Own reliable transportation to customer locations.
• Valid driver’s license and adequate auto insurance.
• Ability to obtain a LCC license.
• Able to communicate with customers and other employees effectively.
• Able to stand on hard surfaces for extended periods.
• Able to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Listen to instructions and follow through.

Responsibilities

• Establish and develop rapport with customers and handle inquiries.
• Identify and pursue new opportunities; present sales proposals with proof.
• Leave shelves and back rooms orderly; maintain inventory levels.
• Submit orders on time, accurately and completely.
• Maintain product quality, pricing, and POS materials.
• Pre-plan monthly market activities and track progress toward goals.

Skills

Customer relations

Communication

Driving

Physical stamina

Job description

Primary Function

Sales reps solicit orders for all products listed in their book from each of their retail accounts. They also sell these retailers business-building ideas for the products listed in their book. To do that, they are responsible for understanding in-store merchandising principles and to suggest uses of these principles in each of their retail accounts. They are expected to manage their territory in such a way that both the suppliers, the distributor and their retail accounts will obtain the very best possible sales from the products they are responsible for selling.

These individuals will also have sales support personnel that they are responsible for keeping informed concerning their accounts.

Major Responsibilities

• Customer Relations: Effectively establish and develop rapport with all customers. Handle customer complaints, delinquent payments, and similar activities.
• Business Development: Identify and pursue new opportunities and customers. Present fact-based, profit-centered presentations and overcome objections. Answer questions and present proof for sales proposals. Sell in new items, brand extensions, and displays. Effectively communicate with Team Leader and drivers any problems, issues, or opportunities within sales territory.
• Account Maintenance: Leave account shelves and back rooms orderly and organized; maintain proper inventory levels.
• Ordering: Submit orders on time, accurately, and completely.
• Quality Assurance: Maintain acceptable quality ratings. Utilize dot rotation and “move” policy correctly. Stay within unsalable pick-up budget while properly managing damaged product.
• Distribution: Follow and maintain quality distribution per company standards with product properly faced up and clean.
• Monthly Market Plan: Effectively pre-plan upcoming month, monitor and adjust to meet quarterly goals. Update all company goals and display tracking on a daily basis.
• Displays: Called out items on display. Place and maintain appropriate number, position, and size of displays; include in product mix according to standards; use creative and current POS where possible.
• Pricing: Assure pricing is correct.
• Point of Sale: Promote products clearly and accurately through use of current, fresh POS material; effectively communicate selling message to consumer. Use proper store POS.
• Professional Development: Expand knowledge of products, selling skills, and industry. Adhere to and uphold all company policies and procedures.

This list is not complete and will be updated/revised as needed.

• Competitive Pay.
• Mileage Reimbursement.
• Amazing Benefits. We have 3 different medical plans you can choose from starting out at $0/ month as well as a generous 401(k) plan with company match. We also offer vision, dental, life insurance and more.
• Paid Parental and Maternity Leave!
• Opportunity for Advancement. We are likely to promote within before hiring externally.
• Product Discounts. We offer generous employee discounts on product purchases
• No Weekends!
• Location. Grand Rapids and the Lakeshore

Qualifications

• Have own reliable transportation to our customer locations
• Valid driver’s license and adequateautoinsurance
• Ability to obtain a LCC license
• Must be able to communicate with customers as well as other employees adequately
• Ability to consistently stand on a hard surface
• Bend to lift product and be able to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Be able to listen to instructions and follow through

About Alliance Beverage

Chicago native Larry Gary settled in Hastings, MI, where he owned and operated a bowling alley. In 1963, Larry and his wife, Joan, decided a change was in order; they moved to the Grand Rapids area, where Larry founded Kent Beverage.

Detroit native Tim Sullivan, along with his brother Mike, founded Sullivan Brothers Construction on the east side of the state. However, after seeing his friends thrive in the beer distribution business, Tim decided to make a change, purchasing Grand Rapids' B&B Beer in 1977.

Both companies grew and flourished, passing from one generation to the next, each strengthening its roots in Michigan. Eventually, over a shared pint, the Gary and Sullivan families envisioned a stronger future together. On May 13, 2013, Kent Beverage and B&B Beer merged, forming Alliance Beverage—a company committed to being the “Preferred Distributor” for everyone it interacts with.

From day one, Alliance has prioritized recruiting top talent and upholding the highest standards of integrity, teamwork, and respect, aiming to enrich the lives of associates, customers, suppliers, and the community. By offering a diverse range of quality products and a supportive, accountable environment, we continually seek to create positive and lasting relationships.

Today, Alliance Beverage is a team of over 550, proudly serving more than 6,000 customers across Western Michigan. With three distribution centers and six sales offices, our team members are not just employees—they’re neighbors who’re actively involved in the communities they serve.