Sales Manager; CPG

Essor, where brands take flight. We find digital challenger brands and supercharge them into iconic global legends that consumers love. As a next‑generation consumer products platform, we leverage technology, industry expertise, and strategic collaborations to ignite growth and launch brands beyond expectations.

Essor’s brand portfolio today includes a broad range of rapidly growing health & wellness and lifestyle brands like Boka, Zit Sticka, Puracy, OTOTO Design, Fresh Cap, Iron Flask, Fullstar, Num Num, Key Nutrients, and Viking Revolution that are sold on Amazon, Direct to Consumer channels, and through national retailers like Target, CVS, and Walmart.

At Essor, we are at the forefront of leveraging AI, automation, and emerging technologies to challenge traditional ways of working. We are empowered to engage technology‑driven initiatives. We want individuals who are hands‑on, curious, and excited to be part of this journey. We expect Essorians to actively leverage AI, data, and automation to drive impact in their daily work. This includes, but is not limited to, the use of AI coding agents to automate tasks (e.g., Copilot, Antigravity), development of automated or agentic workflows (e.g., N8N, Dify), and engagement with data analysis tools (including SQL where relevant).

While mastery is not required at the outset, rapid learning, technical fluency, and continuous upskilling are core expectations. The company will support your growth through guidance and coaching, and you are expected to actively develop and apply your skills as part of your role.

We are seeking a dynamic Sales Manager (CPG & Grocery) to lead and expand our grocery retail channel, with a focus on both KeHE and UNFI. This role is responsible for driving revenue growth, managing key retail partnerships, and executing strategic initiatives that elevate Essor’s brand presence across multiple product lines. The ideal candidate will have a business‑owner mindset, exceptional relationship‑building skills, and experience leading a sales associate to achieve ambitious sales targets.

• Strategic Account Leadership:
  KeHE & UNFI
• Channel Ownership:
  Own and manage a $20MM portfolio with a primary focus on KeHE and UNFI, utilizing deep expertise to onboard multiple Essor brands and maximize distribution opportunities.
• Business Strategy:
  Develop and implement strategic account plans and forecasts to meet both revenue and profitability objectives.
• Technical Operations:
  Master the operational back‑end of KeHE Connect and UNFI Insights – including item set‑up, promotional submissions, and deduction reconciliation – to ensure accuracy and account health.
• Execution &
  
  Collaboration:
  
  Lead data‑driven line review preparations and buyer recommendations while collaborating with cross‑functional teams (marketing, operations, and finance) to ensure smooth execution.
• Tech‑Forward Execution:
  Actively partner with the Engineering and Data teams to automate reporting workflows, ensuring a single source of truth for account health and performance metrics.
• AI Implementation:
  Explore and advocate for AI‑powered analytics to better anticipate market shifts, competitor moves, and regional demand surges.
• Business Planning & Operations
• Forecasting & Performance:
  Build and maintain accurate sales forecasts and business plans for key accounts, monitoring performance trends to adjust strategies and exceed targets.
• Inventory Optimization:
  Optimize fill rates and on‑time delivery (OTIF) metrics at KeHE and UNFI by proactively managing inventory levels at distributor DCs to minimize out‑of‑stocks, slow‑moving stock, and retail fines.
• Cross‑Functional Alignment:
  Partner closely with internal Operations and Supply Chain teams to align demand signals with production schedules and lead times to ensure smooth execution of all grocery initiatives
• External Engagement:
  Serve as the primary point of contact for all buyer communications and negotiations, while representing Essor at industry trade shows and conferences to strengthen key retail and distributor relationships.
• Trust‑Based Partnerships:
  Establish and maintain strong, trust‑based relationships with…