BSG Team Ventures has commenced an executive search for a Director of National Sales for our specialty foods distributor client which imports specialty foods that can be found in a traditional Italian alimentari. The Director of National Sales will be an essential member of the management team, along with Operations, Finance and Marketing, and will “own” the sales function.
Director of National Sales
About Our Client
Our client is a specialty foods distributor and is backed by the Murano Group as of the middle of 2013. Murano is a privately-owned holding company that invests its own capital to create long term value. Founded in 1919 in the Bay Area, our client imports specialty foods which can be found in a traditional Italian alimentari. Historically an importer and retail operator, when they would discover producers passionate about their craft, they would collaborate to create craveable culinary items and share them with the Bay Area consumer under our client’s brand. So well received by consumers and other retailer operators around the country, our client is expanding their consumer goods division and has positioned this business for material growth. The line currently consists of 25 SKUs across multiple categories and departments . Current commercial clients include: Sunset Foods, Dorothy Lane Market, Kowalski’s, Lunds and Byerlys, Kings and Balducci’s, Fairway Market, and others. Additional relationships are in the process of development.
Products
Our client will continue to expand their product offerings (pasta, pesto and spreads, seasonings, crackers, and related food items) through continued sourcing from Italian specialty manufacturers while also growing their relationships with new and existing producers in the US. In the competitive gourmet food and wine markets, our client has established a reputation for quality which will be built on as distribution grows.
The Position
As an essential member of the management team, along with Operations, Finance and Marketing, the Director of National Sales will “own” the sales function. The successful candidate will sell directly and develop a sales organization (hire, train and manage) for consumer goods. The role includes growing and managing the broker network. Operating as a hunter/farmer, the Director of National Sales will be front-line to the targeted specialty and conventional retail markets. There is a corporate business strategy in place that the management team is executing. This role will contribute to its evolution and implementation. Additionally, contributions will be made to development of a growth story for our client emphasizing their brand sales approach rather than a commodity/price approach.
The Director of National Sales will report to the CEO and be an integral part of our client’s leadership with the following responsibilities:
Ideal Candidate Profile
A summary of key competencies required to be successful in the Director of National Sales role include the following:
Functional:
Industry:
Geographic:
Corporate Stage:
Management Attributes:
General:
The successful candidate for this Director of National Sales position will possess as many as possible of the traits required to succeed in this leadership position:
Our client’s team includes a five-member management committee with an additional eight professionals in support positions. The retail staff, not included in these numbers, is being pared back with the pivot to commercial distribution.
Our client has the backing of Murano Group, a long-term investor. Our client made their investment in September, 2013.
Compensation is competitive with the market and requirements of the Director of National Sales position. In this performance-based environment, this will include base salary, bonus based on individual and corporate goals with a stakeholder award under consideration.
For more information, please contact, OR to apply for the position: