Customer Representative Development at McCain Foods

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates to fill the position of Customer Development Representative to be based at the McCain Rosebank site, Gauteng. The successful candidate will report to the Regional Sales Manager.

Purpose Of The Job

To assume responsibility for selling McCain Food Service products into assigned channel / geographic area. Actively developing, growing and improving volume sales and profitability of existing channel partners, whilst aggressively looking for new accounts to profitably grow the business base.

Key Performance Areas

Achieve sales volume, profitability and margin goals for the assigned area;

• Implement sales strategies for existing and new customers.
• Present and sell company products and services to current customers – maximising both volume and profit opportunities including the development and implement of ad-hoc sales incentives (built on achievement of targets).
• Present new products / service offerings to customers to elicit trials and sampling opportunities.
• Actively look for potential new clients.
• Identify sales prospect and contact these and other accounts as assigned.
• Follow up new leads and referrals.
• Prepare action plans and schedules to identify specific targets and to project number of contacts to be made.

Establish, maintain and grow current and potential client relationships;

• Conduct on-going needs analyses with existing and potential customers
• Communicate new product and service opportunities, special developments, information or feedback gathered through field activity to Regional Sales Manager
• Develop and maintain new sales materials

Manage general administration;

• Prepare paperwork (deal management paperwork) accurately and timeously to ensure customer deals are loaded correctly into McCain systems (SAP/EDW).
• Prepare a variety of status reports, including McCain and competitive activity and market intelligence, follow-up, and adherence to objectives (on a monthly / quarterly basis).
• Prepare presentations and sales proposals (menu suggestions/value sales proposition – “McCain Way of Winning.
• Participate in marketing events such as seminars, trade shows, open days, sampling opportunities and customer sales meetings.
• Implement quality controls and respond to and manage customer complaints;
• Respond to complaints or quality problems encountered by visiting the specific customer.
• Assess the problem and diagnose root cause.
• Collect any items which may require further investigation.
• Complete McCain customer complaint forms and provide feedback to the Customer Services team and Key Accounts Manager.
• Liaise with the McCain factory QA team and advice on any quality issues which have been encountered within restaurants.
• Ensure feedback and response to problems encountered.

Maintain customer relationships and contact;

• Ensure on-going networking and relationship building by maximizing customer contact.

Educational Requirements

• National Senior Certificate.
• National Diploma in Sales and Marketing.
• BComm Marketing advantageous or extensive experience in the field.

Experience Requirements

• Minimum of 3 years’ Sales / Sales representative experience:
• Food Service / Retail experience advantageous,
• Viable and current contacts within the Food Service /Retail channels,
• Proven track record of increasing market share and sales targets,
• Proven experience in conducting cold calls to develop new business.