Sterling Foods · 8 hours ago
Regional Sales Manager- Midwest
Azusa, CA
Full-time
Hybrid
Mid, Senior Level
5+ years expSterling Foods is a growth-oriented food manufacturer specializing in high-quality baked goods for the K-12 school nutrition industry. The Regional Sales Manager (RSM) – Midwest is responsible for leading and growing sales across a multi-state territory through a network of independent broker partners, distributor relationships, and direct customer engagement.
Food ProcessingManufacturing
Responsibilities
Own and execute the regional sales strategy for the Midwest territory in alignment with company growth objectives
Drive sales growth through effective broker management, distributor engagement, and direct customer relationships
Identify new business opportunities within school districts, cooperatives, and regional buying groups
Lead, coach, and hold accountable a network of broker partners across all assigned states
Conduct regular broker calls, territory reviews, and performance evaluations
Ensure brokers are properly trained on products, positioning, compliance, and sales priorities
Build and maintain strong relationships with broadline and regional distributors
Partner with distributor sales teams on joint calls, menu placements, bid support, and promotional activity
Maintain direct relationships with key school district customers and foodservice decision-makers
Complete a minimum of 8 in-person or virtual sales calls per week
Travel 2–3 weeks per month throughout the assigned territory for customer visits, distributor meetings, and broker ride-alongs
Attend regional/national trade shows, food shows, and industry events as required
Plan and execute exceptional food show appearances and presentations at conferences
Represent the company in a professional manner at all times
Accurately enter all sales activity, customer interactions, opportunities, and notes into Salesforce
Maintain up-to-date account records, pipelines, and forecasts
Provide regular sales updates, market insights, and competitive intelligence to leadership
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant experience
Minimum 5 years of sales experience in foodservice, CPG, or school nutrition (K-12 strongly preferred)
Highly motivated, results-driven salesperson who takes full ownership of territory performance and growth
Understanding of customer needs, operational challenges, and compliance requirements to position solutions-not just products
Proven experience managing broker networks and distributor relationships
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to convey information clearly and effectively in person, in writing, and over the phone
Willingness and ability to travel extensively within the Midwest region
Proficiency with Salesforce or similar CRM systems
During food show seasons the position requires the ability to stand for extended periods, safely lift cases of product no more than 25 pounds and travel overnight
Preferred
Bachelor's degree with a concentration in Business, Marketing, Nutrition, Communications or a closely related field
Strong understanding of the school nutrition channel, including USDA regulations and bid processes
Existing relationships within the Midwest school nutrition or distributor landscape
Demonstrated ability to work independently in a remote, field-based role
Benefits
Comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and 401(k).
Travel expenses and mileage reimbursement.
Company
Sterling Foods
Sterling is a leading supplier of baked gourmet bakery items to the food industry
501-1000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
unknown2016-04-04Acquired
Leadership Team
John Likovich
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Recent News
2022-01-19
Company data provided by crunchbase