Director Of Sales- Tasty Bites

Job Description:

Title: Director of Sales- Tasty Bites

Location(s): Stamford, CT; NWK; Chicago, IL (not local to CT; will need to travel periodically to CT)

Workstyle: Remote

All applicants must have permanent legal authorization to work in the United States. Mars does not sponsor employment visas for this role.

This position is not eligible for relocation benefits

Director of Sales- Tasty Bites is responsible for achieving profitable sales growth across their customer base for the Tasty Bite business with 2025 Net Sales Value of approximately $20M. The role is expected to assemble and lead a high performing team to achieve company, marketplace/category, annual business planning and P&L objectives with customers. This role is critical to building and sustaining extraordinary customer relationships at all levels, especially senior levels. This role will collaborate with internal and external partners to influence and achieve these objectives. This role reports to the Vice President of Sales for Tasty Bite and is part of the Sales Leadership Team.

What are we looking for

• 10+ years of sales experience in CPG/food sales
• Bachelors Degree Required; Advanced degree a plus
• Key Account Management experience (Grocery and Mass)
• A natural talent for building relationships above the buyer level at assigned retailers
• Demonstrated ability to manage and build a high-performance team
• Experience managing P&Ls
• Experience in Customer Marketing, Shopper Marketing and Category Management
• Broker Management experience
• Leadership experience
• Proven skills in sales planning, forecasting and budgeting.
• Demonstrated understanding and management of complex business customers/channels, including digital.
• Strong understanding of the sales process and other functional areas impacting the sales process and the ability to translate these practices into market opportunities.
• Strong knowledge of business processes, category, consumer and customer knowledge.
• Experienced in working with outside vendor, agencies and consultants to leverage business ideas and opportunities.
• Strong understanding of sales and marketing processes and the ability to translate these processes into market opportunities.

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Work with your sales team to drive profitable sales of Tasty Bite by securing placement in more stores as not all retailers stock/maintain an Indian cuisine section in 100% of their outlets. Once in store, further drive sales by ensuring the core-items (entrée, rice, sauce and bowls) are shelved in the prime location(s), at a competitive price.
• Partner with our trade spend optimization partners at C.M.G. and your NAM’s to create and sell in annual promotional plans that drive high ROI results all while ensuring trade rates are at acceptable levels.
• Manage and grow the Trader Joe’s private label portfolio (2024 NSV of $8.5M).
• Identify and secure new business across key retailers including; Aldi, Food-Service/Micro-Vend, C-Store etc..
• Collaborate with the Tasty Bite marketing team to drive consumer takeaway and create “pull” distribution strategies using retailer specific shopper marketing programs.
• As part of the Sales Leadership Team, provide a strong point-of-view on what is needed to grow/improve results at your retailers inclusive of innovation and DSMP

• Ensure that the NAM’s under your span of control are executing all strategic initiatives in a timely and accurate manner (e.g. new distribution tracker, forecast accuracy, deduction management).
• Build a high-performance team that is engaged in their roles and supporting the Tasty Bite behaviors.
• Ensure all NAM’s have a robust development plan and annual targets which are reviewed on a quarterly basis if not more frequently.
• Manage the senior level broker relationships at both Acosta and Accenture (Walmart/Sams). As appropriate, modify our broker support as needed.
• Retailer List: Walmart, SAM’s Club, Kroger (direct/indirect), Publix, Meijer, HEB, Albertson’s, Target, Trader Joe’s, Aldi, Compass/Vistar (food service)

Preferred Brands International (PBI) is a high-growth Connecticut-based food manufacturer of natural, convenient, specialty foods under the Tasty Bite brand. We are the largest and fastest growing brand of Indian & Asian prepared food in the US. PBI is part of the Mars, Inc. organization and reports into the Mars Food NA segment. Tasty Bite currently offers over 50 natural and organic Indian and Asian products across several categories – entrées, sauces, protein/rice bowls and rice. Our products have no preservatives and require no refrigeration. Tasty Bite products are available in virtually every major grocery chain in the US, Canada and Australia. Tasty Bite’s farm, product development and manufacturing facility are located outside the city of Pune in one of India’s richest agricultural regions. Today, 80% of the energy used in the Tasty Bite factory comes from renewable sources such as sugarcane by-products. The Tasty Bite farm is used as a demonstration farm to educate community farmers on high yielding, sustainable agricultural methods. We are a high energy, knowledge-driven, socially responsible, and fun team.

The base pay range for this position at commencement of employment is expected to be between the below range, however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including but not limited to, market location, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, if eligible, including variable pay & general allowances (depending on the position and employee’s work schedule). Subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable policies and plans then in effect, and depending on the position offered and the employee’s work schedule (i.e., part-time schedule), eligible employees are automatically enrolled in a 401(k) plan, as well as participate in Company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance plans for the employee and the employee’s eligible dependents, and may be eligible to take up to 18 weeks of paid parental leave. Employees will also receive the following paid-time off (which may be prorated based on start date and the employee’s work schedule): 120 hours of vacation per year, paid sick time for eligible Associates of 100% pay continuation for a maximum of 40 hours per calendar year, and 12 paid holidays throughout the calendar year that include both fixed and flexible holidays.