Retail Execution Specialist | San Fransisco

Who Are We?

It’s simple. We don’t compromise on fresh ingredients. When we say lemons, we mean real lemons. When we say fresh, we mean no preservatives. We even created a special cold process to maintain the true flavors of our real food ingredients. Trust me, it’s worth it. You can taste the difference.

Since we debuted our original lemon garlic hummus at the Ithaca Farmers Market back in 2013, our mission has been to introduce America to its new favorite brand of hummus. Nice to finally meet you.

We’re looking for passionate, conscious collaborators to help us meet our goals. If you’re looking to be a part of an inspiring, energetic and entrepreneurial environment, you found the right place.

What You’ll Do

The Retail Execution Specialist (RES) represents Ithaca Hummus as ‘the face of the brand’ within the assigned territory, building relationships with a variety of retailers to solicit sales by encouraging new item acceptance, prime shelf placement, secondary displays, and promotions. This specific territory includes (but is not limited to) San Fransisco, CA.

Sales Operations

Along with the basic sales expectations to grow distribution and display within assigned territory, as the Retail Execution Specialist you will need to focus on these key areas:

  • Forge strong relationships with many different store and headquarter level decision makers across different classes of trade (Conventional Grocery chains, Natural Grocery chains, Independent accounts, Distributor Representatives, Broker Representatives, etc.)
  • Speak to the strength of the Ithaca brand through data trends with respective decision makers
  • Sell in new items and existing voids
  • Secure prime shelf location for all Ithaca categories
  • Secure secondary display placement in strike zone locations
  • Ensure promotional execution
  • Respond to customer requests quickly and professionally
  • Participate in product resets
  • Assist the Field Marketing Manager and Trade Marketing Manager in the execution of the sales plan, meeting both personal and regional sales goals
  • Complete retail call report at the end of each store visit
  • Respond to customer requests quickly and professionally
  • Participate in product resets
  • Be the eyes and ears of Ithaca from the field; Report on growth, expansion, or closing of doors in assigned territory. Visit other retailers that are not customers to observe and report on competitive displays and pricing

Relationships

  • Grocery Stores: All team members including Grocery or Drug Manager, Department Manager and scan coordinator
  • Natural accounts; independents: grocery/store buyers, employees
  • Distributors: representatives, managers
  • Brokers: representatives, representative managers

In-Store Execution

  • Identify key decision maker at store level
  • Effectively communicate Ithaca’s point of differentiation and brand strategy
  • Describe product features to store employees and customers
  • Highlight any special pricing, new products, product revisions etc.
  • Observe displays of both company and competitor product on store shelves, reporting pricing, shelf space, and promotion changes
  • Observe SKU mix in store and prompt decision maker to adjust mix accordingly
  • Observe inventory levels in stores and prompt decision maker to reorder when entory levels appear low

What You’ll Bring to Ithaca Hummus

  • Your knowledge of retail across all Ithaca Hummus products in grocery and natural channels
  • Your previous relationships with grocery buyers and store managers
  • Your ability to identify opportunities for display space (secondary placements, cooler end caps, and additional POIs)
  • Your ability to identify opportunities to grow distribution (fill voids, present innovation, gain strike zone placement, increase shelf space)
  • Your willingness to go above and beyond to grow the business

You are…

  • Adaptable: Multi-task efficiently and effectively prioritize business needs
  • Personable: Comfortable talking to customers to establish rapport, build a network, and listen to understand customer needs
  • Goal-oriented: Take initiative to establish account-specific plans, and achieve/exceed sales goals
  • Fact-based: Ability to analyze syndicated data and deliver insights to support sales objectives in an account
  • Team player: Partner with Field and Trade Marketing team members in achieving goals; share best practices and learn from Sales team members
  • Innovative: Use creativity in managing the territory through innovative sales programs

You have…

  • 1-2 years of Sales experience, or a college graduate with Sales internship experience or Business/Communication/Marketing related degree, preferred
  • Excellent communication skills, both verbally to build retailer relationships, and in writing to accomplish follow-up
  • Knowledge with Microsoft Office suite, particularly Excel and Power Point
  • Physically capable of bending and lifting to set up displays, adjust shelves during resets, move product, etc. as necessary during account calls
  • Good driving habits are required. Must provide proof of insurance, valid state motor vehicle driver’s license. Job involves heavy daily travel within assigned territory

Pluses

  • Natural industry and/or CPG industry experience with current relationships
  • Passion for health and/or natural foods industry
  • College degree strongly preferred

What Ithaca Hummus Offers

  • Competitive compensation, including equity in Ithaca Hummus!
  • Flexible Paid Time Off. Choose what works best for you
  • Excellent health, dental & vision insurance, with options to fit you & your family’s needs
  • Casual dress code – feel free to wear your Ithaca gear
  • A dynamic and ambitious work environment

EEO

At Ithaca Hummus, we are committed to an inclusive workplace where diversity in all its forms is championed. Ithaca Hummus is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and we are an affirmative action employer. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants with criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you require special accommodation, please let us know.