Senior Manager Sales BENELUX

Company Description

Chiquita Europe B.V. sells bananas and pineapples (brand & private label) to customers in both the retail and wholesale markets in Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg.

The Senior Manager Sales is primarily responsible for growing the retail business through development and execution of joint business plans with key retailers and achieving agreed upon company targets in volume, net sales, gross margin and brand health.

He/She will work closely with the local and European HQ Marketing department to ensure that the local sales program is aligned with overall European marketing strategy.

The Senior Manager Sales will be located in Puurs (Belgium) or in Gorinchem (Netherlands) and will directly reports to the Director Sales & Market Coordination North Europe.

Job Description

The Senior Manager Sales

• Leads the Benelux sales team and will be expected to actively participate in the establishment and the day to day execution of business strategy
• Develops and maintains excellent customer relations with the top retail accounts and drive baseline sales growth through innovative customer and consumer support programs and activities
• Develops a trade marketing support program to drive sales growth in this segment
• Participates in local events regarding sustainability and corporate social responsibility to stay informed of new developments and to strengthen Chiquita’s network in this area

Primary responsibilities:

• Grow business with key retail accounts through the development and execution of joint business plans and serving as customer’s main point of contact for day to day sales and marketing issues
• Development of existing customer relationships
• Identifying and acquiring new retail and wholesale customers
• Drive numerical distribution in these channels
• Negotiate, develop and execute consumer and trade marketing programs at the PoS (i.e. promotions and in-store activations), managing creative process with agencies from idea conception to execution
• Define annual goals of the Field Sales Force
• Track and monitor progress against plans and established KPIs and propose and implement corrective actions where needed to achieve targeted volumes, net sales and gross margins
• Monitoring market environment and competition
• Preparation and attendance at events and fairs

Qualifications

Education/Experience:

• Minimum of 7 years sales and trade marketing experience 1) in leading a retail store or a F&V department in a retail company or 2) as a Field Force person in charge taking care about stores or 3) in working for the Category Management Department in a retail company
• A solid understanding and experience with the local trade environment is an absolute must
• Experience in high performance Account Management is a must.
• Experience in Fruit & Vegetable business or other perishables is a plus

Job Requirements: 

• Strong market & customer orientation
• Hands-on and willing to roll up one’s sleeves (entrepreneurial)
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• Well-organized and structured (in a relatively unstructured environment)
• Project management skills and experience
• Team player
• Flexible and adaptable
• High sense of responsibility
• Problem solver (quick response and positive attitude)
• Analytical mindset towards problems
• Computer literate (MS Excel, Word, Powerpoint, Outlook, etc.

Language skills: 

• Fluent in oral and written in Dutch or French and English is a must.