Sales Representative; Chicago

NEW/SCHOOL FOODS is a plant-based protein manufacturing on the (non-)bleeding edge of food technology, utilizing our completely unique production technology, process and ingredients. What that means is a totally new, totally exciting set of products that are shaking up an industry looking to be shaken. Our whole-cut proteins are made of 100% plants, offering the first raw-to-cooked plant-based protein product globally.

Without compromise on quality, taste, nutritional value, eating experience or cooking experience, our growth has been built with chefs, so it only makes sense that we’ve built our proteins with chefs in mind. Starting with salmon and moving into whole-cut steak, and bone-in ribs, our products have been made to excite and delight by creating an all-encompassing sensory experience.

We spend our days playing with our food, and we want you to do the same.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are a Canadian company capturing the attention of the US market faster than expected (bound to happen when you’re the world’s first!). This will be our first sales hire in the US to continue that momentum, create new relationships and become an evangelist in bringing chefs over to the new school - see what we did there?

Working hand-in-hand with our Canadian sales team to distill, refine and co-create our sales playbook, your focus will be on growing our reach to any and every kitchen in your territory. We want every chef to know what we are working with, and the best way to do that is to get in front of them to show off our products.

In doing so, your goal is to create a constantly growing and evolving sales funnel that shows the range and versatility of our products.

(And listen, we know you’re thinking “But I’m not vegan!”; neither are other team members that we work with. What’s important is that you see the value in what this offers to the market, food tech is a space you want to grow in and the idea of our product going on menu is exciting.)

Build New Partnerships

• I identify and qualify potential partners (restaurants, distributors, hospitality groups, etc.). We want to create new, lasting relationships that are fruitful through longevity. Part of your job will be to determine if the relationship you are looking to build is one that checks all the boxes.
• Conduct in-person sales calls including live cooking demos of the product. By contextualizing our product within a chef’s kitchen, we can showcase how our product fits into their world and bring it onto the menu. This is why we prioritize someone who is comfortable cooking in a professional kitchen to demo our product.

Build and Maintain Relationships

• “People sell to people.” It’s our job to build strong relationships in the food service industry. Spending time with each customer to understand their needs, see them for who they are and asking questions allows us to learn our value proposition as a product. We encourage everyone to maintain a close relationship with each account in whatever way you feel is necessary.
• Communication is key. This means we keep in consistent conversation with each account to learn more about how our product has been received, how our product sells, how our customers are defining success within their space and what we can offer to support that success.
• We work in a feedback loop. This means seeking out product feedback from restaurants, from tastings, from their dining guests and relaying that information back to our R&D team.
• Support new partners with training, resources, and ongoing support. Everyone defines success differently and it’s our job to learn what that means and how we support it. From in-person team training, to providing resources, we want someone who holds a hospitality mindset when it comes to serving our customers.

Collect Data

• Growth is the goal. Set your goals, achieve your goals and move the goal posts day in and day out.
• Learn the Territory. Build out a macro picture of your sales area in order to deep dive into the nuances of your territory. Knowing each account and who you are selling to is the key to success.
• Sharing is Caring. Share your progress, barriers, long-term obstacles and needs with…