Field Sales Representative - CPG

Overview

As an Outside Sales Representative, you’ll be the face of our brands in the marketplace—building relationships, driving distribution, and growing sales across independent retail stores. You’ll combine consultative selling, in-store execution, and hands-on merchandising to ensure our products win at shelf and with buyers.

• Manage and grow a defined sales territory, visiting assigned independent retail stores at least monthly to build relationships, identify opportunities, and drive consistent results.
• Sell and present new products to store buyers, secure authorizations, and expand distribution across existing and new items.
• Present promotional programs and sales initiatives, securing orders, off-shelf displays, and incremental merchandising whenever possible.
• Plan promotions collaboratively with buyers, working up to three months in advance to align on timing, volume, and execution.
• Execute monthly priorities set by business managers for each client, ensuring focus on the right brands, items, and growth opportunities.
• Enter turnover orders for all store visits, accurately submitting orders through internal systems so distributors can fulfill deliveries on time.
• Maintain full distribution and strong shelf presence by verifying items are carried, displays are in place, and plan-o-grams are executed correctly.
• Provide light merchandising support as needed, including stocking shelves, rotating inventory, cleaning displays, pricing items, and checking date codes.
• Support special store initiatives and events, such as demos, anniversary sales, trade events, remodels, expansions, and new store openings.
• Monitor competitive activity and in-store trends, sharing insights, issues, and opportunities with internal teams and client partners.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with store buyers, managers, and regional client contacts to drive long-term success.
• Stay knowledgeable on all products, including new launches, features, and selling points, to confidently represent our brands in every interaction.
• Handle additional duties as assigned, contributing to team goals and overall business performance.

• Education & Experience
  • High School Diploma or GED required.
  • 2+ years of outside sales and/or retail experience, preferably calling on independent stores or managing a defined sales territory.
  • Experience selling, merchandising, or supporting products in a retail or CPG environment is strongly preferred.
• Sales & Relationship Skills
  • Strong face-to-face selling skills with the ability to build rapport and credibility with store buyers and managers.
  • Comfortable presenting new items, promotions, and programs, and securing orders and display commitments.
  • Organized and self-motivated, with the ability to plan routes, manage priorities, and work independently in the field.
  • Effective communicator who can share store issues, competitive activity, and market trends with internal teams and client partners.
• Physical & Travel Requirements
  • Ability to lift up to 60 pounds and perform physical merchandising tasks throughout the workday.
  • Valid driver’s license and ability to drive for extended periods across the assigned territory.
  • Willingness and ability to travel overnight as needed and work weekends, nights, and holidays, including demos and food shows.
  • Comfortable working in cold environments, including refrigerated and freezer sections of retail stores.
  • Ability to stand and/or walk for long periods, and perform frequent bending, stooping, kneeling, reaching, pulling, and grasping.
• Tools & Functional Abilities
  • Able to operate standard field and office equipment, including hand trucks, pallet jacks, case cutters, and common office devices.
  • Strong manual dexterity, vision, and hearing required to safely and effectively perform daily responsibilities.

#Discover Your Path

Acosta is a part of Acosta Group – a collective of the industry’s most trusted retail, marketing and food service agencies reimagining the way people connect with brands at every point in their shopping journey.

Specializing in retail sales services, digital strategy, and business intelligence, Acosta empowers brands to thrive in the world…