Category Development Specialist - Bergen County

Category Development Specialist

Join the team at New Jersey's largest wine and spirits distributor! At Allied Beverage Group, we're proud of our dynamic, family-based culture and our role in keeping the beverage industry moving. If you're looking for a great company with great people—this is the place to be!

The Category Development Specialist role will be responsible for Hemp Direct Sales, RTD, Low and No Activation inclusive of achieving customer objectives in both the Off & On Premise, Key Performance Indicators (KPI), and targets by implementing strategies and tactics while managing customers in a manner that will achieve profitable long-term growth for Hemp, Low / No Alcohol brands within the portfolio.

Customer

• Sales of THC Hemp Beverage Portfolio
• Deliver on volume and profitability objective by brand
• Ensure compliance to Corporate Hemp / RTD /Low / No Alcohol Brand Strategies
• Increase the quality/quantity of accepted innovative business building proposals
• Cold Box Management
• Category Management
• Understand best practices
• Apply comprehensive market, product and consumer information to generate brand and volume building activities
• Increase number of accounts where we are considered trusted advisor:
• Become part of customers planning process
• Obtain preferred supplier status (right of first refusal)
• Understand and deliver on account's goals, strategies and opportunities
• Set goals, measure, evaluate and adapt to changes
• Meet and exceed customer expectation on fundamental business needs

Organizational

• Identify and adopt key account management best practices beyond customer and industry
• Lead development of annual plans for key accounts that reflect agreed brand and customer strategies and support the delivery of business goals
• Develop preferred supplier status with accounts by participating in the accounts planning process
• Communicate market, brand and consumer developments/trends/best practices inside and outside the category and/or industry
• Influence Allied Beverage Group sales teams to develop account specific programs in line with RTD / Low / No Alcohol brand strategies using local consumer insight as well as category trends.
• Recommend suitable account specific brand and volume mix targets
• Oversee account performance and implement corrective business building actions
• Proactively participate in strategy briefing sessions and provide continuous feedback on execution and program effectiveness
• Ensure delivery of specific Category Management guidelines and principles to strategic account category manager resource aligned against customers
• Set and achieve KPI's (Depletions, Distribution, Ads, Displays, Features, Shelf Execution, Digital Posts, Menu Placement, Wells, House Pours, POS, Permanent Signage etc.)
• Engage in relationship building activities with buyer for all key accounts

KPI's

• Weekly Pre-plans and Recaps
• Achieve Hemp Beverage Sales and Distribution KPI's
• Achieve monthly KPI Goals
• Communicate and Manage Targets
• Work with Allied Beverage Group Managers on key priorities
• Weekly check-in on targets – Business Reviews and opportunity discussions
• Supplier ride-withs
• Key Account Manager ride-withs
• Presenting updates at weekly team meetings
• Attend events
• Responsibility for Core list of Off Premise accounts
• Responsibility for Geographic Area for Portfolio of Brands
• Plan & Prepare Account/Activities
• Account Business Reviews
• Activate Hemp / RTD / Low / No Alcohol Brand Marketing Programs
• Execute Retail Controllables and Brand Standards at L3F
• Account audits
• Assess and implement account needs
• Consumer Sampling
• Staff Education
• Digital Posts

• 1-2 years Sales Experience
• Budget, sales, and marketing experience
• 4-year college degree or equivalent
• Comprehensive understanding of Hemp / RTD / Low / No Alcohol brands to include knowledge of categories, basic production, and service
• Ability to adapt and can assist a variety of internal customer groups and varying personality types
• Strong negotiation skills; demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit
• Ability to create and sell innovative ideas
• Goal oriented, focused, and assertive individual who needs little direction or supervision
• Ability to work flexible hours which include early morning evenings, and/or weekends
• Ability to participate in business meetings, company initiatives and events upon request
• Managing complex customer relationships
• Strong sales skills, superior negotiation and influencing skills
• Leadership capabilities with strong presentation and interpersonal skills
• Proficient in fact-based selling and analysis of syndicated consumer data (IRI, Nielsen)
• Basic brand marketing and finance skills
• Basic computer skills (excel, access, word, PowerPoint etc.)

The starting salary for this role is $60,000. In addition to salary, this role is eligible for a discretionary bonus and offers a comprehensive benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K plan with company match, Life Insurance, Long Term Disability, Flexible Spending Account, Employee Assistance Program, Pet…