National Account Manager - Private Label Sales

Heartland Food Products Group is seeking a National Account Manager - Private Label Sales to drive growth and manage relationships with key retail accounts. The role involves developing strategic account plans, negotiating contracts, and collaborating with various teams to ensure customer satisfaction.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and execute strategic account plans to grow private label sales volume, revenue, and market share with assigned national and key regional accounts
• Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with buyer and category management teams at major retailers
• Lead new product development and launch initiatives tailored to customer needs, including custom formulations, packaging, and promotional programs
• Negotiate annual contracts, pricing, terms, and promotional agreements while protecting company margins and objectives
• Analyze sales data, market trends, and competitive activity to identify opportunities and risks; provide regular forecasts and business reviews
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Marketing, Supply Chain, Operations, R&D, and Finance to ensure seamless execution and customer satisfaction
• Support private label innovation by identifying emerging consumer trends in sugar reduction, plant-based sweeteners, and functional beverages
• Travel as needed (estimated 30-50%) to customer meetings, trade shows, and company facilities

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Food Science, or a related field
• 5+ years of progressive sales experience in CPG, preferably in private label, sweeteners, beverages, or adjacent categories
• Proven track record managing national accounts (Walmart, Kroger, Costco, Target, etc.)
• Strong negotiation, presentation, and relationship-building skills
• Proficiency in sales analytics, CRM tools (e.g., Salesforce), and Microsoft Office (especially Excel and PowerPoint)
• Deep understanding of category management, syndicated data (Nielsen/IRI), and retail dynamics
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment
• Self-motivated, strategic thinker with excellent communication skills and a customer-first mindset
• MBA preferred