Retail Sales Rep

For more than 115 years, Ferrara has created sugar confections that enable moments of sweetness, celebration, and connection for candy lovers of all generations. Today, the company is the #1 sugar confectioner in the United States. Ferrara boasts a passionate team of nearly 9,000 employees creating and delivering hundreds of products sold under 20 popular brands like Brach’s, NERDS, SweeTARTS, Laffy Taffy, and Trolli to more than 66 million U.S. households annually and popular Dori snacking products under brands such as Dori, Gomets, Pettiz, and Yogurte 100 in Brazil. Additionally, Jelly Belly, known world-wide for its confections, was acquired in November of 2023.

This position calls on the Crystal Lake, Skokie, Round Lake, McHenry, Waukegan, Antioch, Carpentersville, Niles, Gurnee, Wheeling, Zion, Algonquin, Woodstock, Mount Prospect, Lake Zurich, and Rolling Meadows areas. This candidate must reside within the territory boundaries.

The Retail Sales Representative ensures perfect retail execution of store level sales and priority plans within an assigned territory. This is an entry point into our Ferrara Sales organization. This territory consists of high-volume mass merchandise customers. Integrity is a crucial component of this role and requires the ability to work independently without direct supervision all while working effectively and efficiently.

This position is responsible for achieving sales KPI objectives including overall sales growth of assigned territory, 100% distribution on Ferrara and Ferrero products, build and maintain in-store displays, and maintain shelf integrity. This role leads the overall relationship at the store level. A successful sales representative will be driven, communicative, influential, entrepreneurial, and organized.

Distribution:

• Audit key Ferrara and Ferrero skus at front registers and center store to ensure on-shelf availability and close distribution gaps.
• Leverage fact base selling tools and technology to sell priorities to the Key Decision Makers (KDM’s). These include company priorities and incremental displays to increase territory sales.
• Leverage promotional activity to increase Point-of-Sale (POS) by forward-selling displays and national marketing events.
• Utilize selling techniques to influence KDMS to order additional products to secure secondary displays throughout the store.
• Place Point of Sales (POS) and Instant Redeemable Coupons (IRCs) as needed.
• Maintain on shelf availability by correcting any out of stocks with top stock or back-stock inventory.
• Transport product to and from the back room to shelf locations and all displays to maintain shelf and display capacity.

Data Analysis:

• Review specific territory business (KPIs, trends, gaps/opportunities), provide solutions where gap exists and execute these solutions accordingly. Own and lead this territory with store and management team.
• Enforce compliance throughout the year by providing business updates to the KDMs in each store.
• Use data to identify up-selling opportunities to gain incremental displays/features.
• Review Tableau reports to monitor results and take action to address any opportunities to win in the territory.

Communication:

• Build and maintain business relationships with Walmart store’s key decision makers.
• Engage in weekly calls with peers while proactively sharing best practices, solutions, and insights across the team.
• Participate in conference calls, trainings, and attend all sales meetings.

Administration:

• Effectively manage stores within assigned territory to meet required frequencies and coverage KPIs.
• When necessary, will complete accurate timely reports, recaps, and expense reports.
• Report any item discrepancies, store issues, key competitor, and category information to the District Sales Manager.
• Understands and demonstrates the Company’s core values: empowerment, collaboration, agility, integrity, and empathy.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• High level of demonstrated ability managing multiple priorities with tight deadlines.
• Organized, detail-oriented, and excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Comfortable communicating with personnel from all levels of management.
• Self-directed, independent, motivated, and excellent time management and prioritization skills.
• Ability to utilize analytical skills to identify and communicate store and territory data.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to influence others.
• Ability to embrace change and new ways of working.
• Ability to recognize obstacles and involve others to take immediate action to move things forward.
• Ability to analyze financial, inventory, retail conditions and/or other data to adapt appropriate selling approach.
• Proficient computer skills utilizing Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Power Point, Word and Access and Outlook) Must be able to use tablet and other wireless technology.

• BS/BA required.
• A minimum of 1-2 years of successful Retail and/or Consumer Goods experience preferred.

Work Environment and Physical Demands:

• Your workday should overlap the core hours of 6:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday-Friday unless required by business needs. Must meet an average of 7 hours of in store time per day.
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• Must have a valid driver license.
• Must be able to drive to make multiple sales calls on a daily basis with personal vehicle.
• Ability to walk for a minimum of 7 hours per day.
• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds on a regular basis.
• Ability to sit, stand, and or drive for long periods of time, as well as frequently bend, kneel, and stoop.
• Occasionally climb ladders and use equipment such as crushing balers, handheld pallet-jacks, and L-carts.
• Ability to travel overnight if required.
• Demonstrate ability to work remotely.
• Subject to outside weather conditions and changing climates.

Ferrara’s success in industry-leading innovation has been driven by deep consumer insights, strong retailer co-creation and partnerships, and a dedication to diversity of thought, experience, and people. A privately held company, Ferrara has its global headquarters in Chicago and an operational network of more than 27 locations in North America, Brazil, and China that includes manufacturing, distribution, sales, and R&D facilities. Ferrara is a privately held Ferrero related company. Learn more at www.ferrara.com or www.linkedin.com/company/ferrara-.

We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees, employment decisions and opportunities at Ferrara will be based on merit, qualifications, and abilities, without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital or civil union status, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, military or veteran status, disability, handicap, genetic information, pregnancy (childbirth or related medical condition), or on any other basis prohibited by law. This policy governs all aspects of employment, including selection, job assignment, compensation, discipline, termination, and access to benefits and training.