Business Development Manager, Food Service-Industrial

Position: Business Development Manager – Food Service & Industrial

Location: Hybrid. The ideal candidate is Seattle area-based and able to spend several days per month at our corporate offices in Anacortes, WA, but fully remote candidates will also be considered.

Compensation: Base salary of $80,000 + commission. Year 1 estimate is $140,000 to $150,000.

We’re looking for a Business Development Manager – Food Service & Industrial to help grow the reach of our surimi seafood products across two important channels: food service distribution and prepared foods manufacturing.

This role reports to the Corporate Marketing & Business Development Manager and is responsible for developing new business opportunities with food service distributors, operators, and food manufacturers that incorporate seafood ingredients into their products. Your initial focus will be to drive two upcoming product launches alongside our existing surimi lineup. Awareness and familiarity exist in these innovative new products, but our method of preparation has never been seen in the U.S. This is a highly rewarding role that involves pioneering new markets and creating new food cultures.

This is a relationship-driven role that blends strategic thinking with hands‑on business development. The person in this position will spend time building distributor partnerships, developing new manufacturer relationships, supporting product launches, and identifying market opportunities that expand how surimi is used across modern food formats.

This role is focused entirely on expanding our business in food service and prepared foods manufacturing channels (non‑retail). It does not include responsibility for traditional grocery or other retailer accounts.

Instead, the position is dedicated to growing two complementary areas of the business:

• Food service distribution
  , working with major distributors such as Sysco, US Foods, and Performance Food Group to increase product availability and adoption across restaurants, universities, healthcare dining, and other institutional programs.
• Prepared foods and CPG manufacturing
  , developing relationships with companies that use seafood ingredients in finished products such as frozen meals, ready‑to‑eat items, and appetizers. This involves working with product development, procurement, and innovation teams at food companies to support new product development and long‑term supply relationships.

This combination of channels makes the role a unique opportunity to help shape how surimi is used across modern food formats—from menu applications in food service to ingredient innovation in packaged foods. The position also plays an important role in introducing two new product launches that expand the possibilities for surimi in both markets.

For someone who enjoys building new partnerships, identifying emerging opportunities, and helping innovative food companies bring new products to market, this role offers the chance to make a meaningful impact while growing a category with significant untapped potential.

• Build and grow our food service business. Develop new opportunities for our surimi products across restaurants, universities, healthcare dining, catering, and other institutional channels.
• Work with major food service distributors. Manage relationships and pursue product placements with distributors such as Sysco, US Foods, and Performance Food Group, including divisional category managers and local sales teams.
• Coordinate and support broker partners. Collaborate with regional food service brokers to ensure our products are represented effectively with distributors and operators.
• Drive operator demand. Call on chefs, restaurant groups, university dining programs, and other operators to introduce our products and help them integrate surimi into their menus.
• Support distributor sales teams. Conduct product training, ride‑alongs, and sales presentations to help distributor reps understand how to sell our products.
• Launch new products into food service. Lead the market introduction of two upcoming product launches, working with marketing to develop selling tools,…