National Account Manager – Grocery Retail; CPG

Location: Remote (U.S.) – Preference for Central or Western United States

Reports to: Director of Sales

Compensation: $130,000 – $145,000 base + 20–30% bonus

Lucas James Talent Partners is partnering with Forever Cheese to identify a National Account Manager to support the company’s expansion into national retail grocery.

About Forever Cheese

Forever Cheese is a leading importer, manufacturer, and distributor of premium specialty foods in the United States. For more than 25 years, the company has built a strong reputation for bringing exceptional cheeses and specialty foods from around the world to American consumers.

As the business continues to evolve, Forever Cheese is expanding beyond its legacy import and specialty distribution roots into branded specialty foods and value-added offerings built for national retail grocery. This next chapter represents a significant growth opportunity as the company looks to scale its brands across major U.S. retailers.

To support that growth, Forever Cheese is seeking an experienced commercial leader who understands how to build retail partnerships, win new placements, and grow business within large grocery organizations.

Forever Cheese is seeking a National Account Manager – Grocery Retail (CPG) to drive expansion across major national retail customers.

This is a high-impact individual contributor role focused on growth, not maintenance. The position is designed for someone who has successfully sold into large grocery retailers and understands how to navigate complex category management environments.

The primary focus of the role is securing new item authorizations, expanding distribution, and building relationships with key retail buyers
, while also managing and growing an existing partnership with Kroger
.

This person will play a key role in helping Forever Cheese establish and scale its national retail sales strategy.

• Identify and secure new product placements across targeted national retail accounts
• Develop and deliver compelling, data-driven product pitches to retail buyers
• Navigate category review cycles and retailer buying processes
• Expand distribution within existing retail relationships

• Serve as the primary commercial owner for the Kroger relationship
• Manage both direct business and distributor-based placements
• Navigate Kroger’s complex banner structure and decentralized decision-making environment
• Identify opportunities to expand product placements across banners and divisions

• Develop relationships with category managers, merchandisers, and key retail decision-makers
• Understand internal retailer structures and decision-making processes
• Serve as the primary conduit between the retailer and Forever Cheese

• Partner with internal teams to identify new product opportunities aligned with retailer needs
• Support pricing strategy, promotions, and merchandising initiatives
• Contribute to long-term retail growth strategy

• Work closely with marketing and product development on new item launches
• Coordinate with customer support and operations teams to ensure execution
• Help shape internal processes for managing national retail accounts as the business scales

Within the first year, the National Account Manager will:

• Establish relationships with key category decision-makers within target retailers
• Map retailer organizational structures and buying processes
• Advance multiple products through retailer sales cycles
• Position at least one product for potential adoption
• Help define the company’s playbook for selling into large grocery organizations

This role will focus on expanding distribution and building relationships across several strategic national retailers.

• Kroger

• Publix
• Albertsons / ACI
• Club retailers including Costco, BJ’s Wholesale, and Sam’s Club

Kroger will likely represent a significant portion of the role initially, with opportunities to expand relationships across Kroger’s multiple banners and divisions.

The ideal…