Food Service Field Sales Representative

Lakeside Foods is seeking a Food Service Field Sales Representative - Value Added Products to drive growth across existing and new accounts while managing broker relationships within an assigned region. This role supports the expansion of the Value Added portfolio across Lakeside and Riverside brands by delivering profitable growth, strengthening customer partnerships, and executing strategic sales initiatives.

Preferred candidate locations include the Southeastern and Southwestern United States to best support key regional markets.

What You’ll Get

• Competitive compensation based on experience
• Affordable, market‑leading medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match
• Paid vacation and personal time
• Paid professional development opportunities
• Autonomy within a collaborative, high‑performance sales team
• Long‑term growth opportunities with a stable, family‑owned company

What You’ll Do

• Develop and grow foodservice sales within assigned regional markets across Lakeside and Riverside value-added product portfolios

• Manage and expand relationships with:
  • • Broadline distributors
    • Regional distributors
    • Foodservice operators
    • Broker partners
    • Regional and emerging chain accounts

• Drive distribution gains and operator penetration within key foodservice channels including:
  • • Independent restaurants
    • Regional chains
    • Non-commercial
    • Healthcare
    • Education
    • Hospitality

• Deliver annual volume, revenue, and profit objectives while maintaining accurate quarterly forecasting
• Collaborate with broker partners to execute strategic sales initiatives, operator engagement, and distributor growth plans
• Conduct operator sales calls, distributor meetings, product trainings, food shows, and culinary demonstrations
• Identify and develop opportunities for menu applications, LTOs, and value-added product solutions
• Lead category growth initiatives and provide market intelligence related to competitive activity, pricing, trends, and customer needs
• Execute customer agreements and promotional programs while balancing profitability and strategic growth objectives
• Conduct Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs) with key distributor, broker, and customer partners
• Partner cross-functionally with Sales Operations, Customer Service, Supply Chain, Marketing, and Culinary teams to support customer initiatives
• Assist with pricing, deductions, credits, customer issue resolution, and account management activities
• Maintain CRM reporting, pipeline management, and sales activity tracking
• Represent Lakeside Foods professionally at industry events, customer meetings, and foodservice trade shows

What You’ll Bring

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree preferred
• 5–10 years of foodservice sales experience preferred
• Strong background in foodservice distribution, broker management, culinary related sales, and operator focused sales
• Experience calling on or working with distributors such as:
  • • Sysco
    • US Foods
    • Performance Food Group
    • Ben E. Keith
    • Shamrock Foods
• Proven success growing regional territories and developing strategic customer relationships
• Experience selling value-added, frozen, refrigerated, appetizer, or prepared food categories preferred

Skills & Abilities

• Strong understanding of the foodservice sales process and distributor network dynamics
• Demonstrated ability to execute regional Annual Operating Plans (AOPs)
• Ability to build relationships across distributor, broker, and operator communities
• Strong negotiation, communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills
• Experience managing multiple product categories and customer priorities
• Strong forecasting, analytical, and business planning capabilities
• Proficiency with CRM systems, Microsoft Office Suite, and reporting tools such as Power BI
• Self-motivated with strong organizational and territory management skills
• Ability to travel regularly throughout assigned territory

Why Lakeside Foods

Founded in 1887, Lakeside Foods is a family‑owned company with a long tradition of quality, integrity, and customer partnership. We invest in our people and provide opportunities to grow while making a meaningful impact across our brands and customers.