Sales Manager

Christopher Ray

**** ****** ******* *****, **** Chester, Ohio 45069 513-***-**** act9pg@r.postjobfree.com

Senior Sales Manager

Exceeding Revenue Goals with Expertise in B2B Sales, Management and New Product Launch

Dynamic leader with 20 years of experience developing comprehensive sales strategies which resolve critical business issues, increase market share and deliver significant revenue growth for consumable brands within the Meat, Seafood and Deli departments of large-scale grocery retailers.

Highly transferable expertise in establishing business plans, traveling across the country to personally deliver compelling brand consultations which have fostered profitable long-term partnerships with major organizations including Kroger, Safeway, Hy-Vee, Meijer, Jewel and Dominick’s.

Respected management and consultative team leadership skills; able to use effective and open communication to build meaningful relationships between vendors and clients, expand brand presence with new product variation/offerings, and ensure quality merchandising all in support of driving measurable profitability enhancements to all parties.

New Product launch Initial Market Penetration Market Expansion Building, Training & Mentoring Sales Teams

Creating & Implementing SOPs Strategic Planning Process & System Improvement Cost Reduction

Budgeting, Forecasting & Sales Projection Enhancing Profitability Warehouse, Dealer & Manufacturing Operations

Career History

Sabra Cincinnati, OH 2014 – December 2015

ACCOUNT MANAGER, KROGER TEAM

Promoted to manage sales strategy for Sabra products within nation-wide Kroger retail locations and their subsidiaries; leading a three person team consisting of the Kroger Team Lead, Account Manager and Category Management Analyst with accountability for $1.2M in void closure across all Kroger banners.

Achieved $650K tracking to $1.2M goal by end of calendar year 2015.

Exceeded goal of Hummus share at 75 ACV by 12.67 ACV.

Exceeded goal of Guacamole share at 65 ACV by 17.35 ACV.

Exceeded goal of Greek Yogurt Dips at 75 ACV by 4.65 ACV.

Implemented continuous account management improvements to exceed the annual operating plan of $44.4M in sales by achieving $5.2M in 2015; met Kroger’s objective of $61 per share.

Led Divisional Kroger meetings to communicate with senior management and demonstrate dollar opportunity in void closure and category growth gains. Utilized KAVC report to give direction on stores with greatest impact.

Combined reporting using IRI reports and ACV reports to create targeted stores by division showing greatest ACV and dollar potential and created a tracker to quantify in dollars the impact of annualized closing voids.

Collaborated with brokers on best practices and held each one accountable for achieving division’s success; defining who was responsible for which functions and in what time frame they were to be completed.

SENIOR DISTRICT SALES MANAGER 2011 – 2013

Managed the sales for up to 60 stores per month (west of the Mississippi) including Safeway, Smart & Final, Albertson’s, Stater Brothers, Bashas and all Kroger banners East and West.

Managed two direct reports; coached and mentored one sales associate to promotion in 2013 to a Category Analyst.

Led quarterly retail broker meetings, providing data to the retail portion of the team and discussing plans on achieving ACV goals and market share and monitoring progress through IRI to close voids and increase ACV and dollar revenue.

DISTRICT SALES MANAGER 2007 – 2010

Managed sales to 125 locations per month for stores including Hy-Vee, Schnuck’s, Giant Eagle, Meijer, H.E.B, Marsh, Jewel, Dominick’s and all Kroger East.

Grew Midwest market share from 18% to 58% in 2007 by securing additional product deals from several new items added to distribution.

Recognized an inventory issue through close communication with Kroger management; designed an improved a corrected system within just two months at Kroger’s warehouses to maintain proper inventory levels in all locations and therefore increase revenue (2 sku’s in the 48 ACV range increased to 97 ACV in the course of 8 weeks).

Led retail broker meetings quarterly, giving direction on business plans in achieving ACV goals and market share.

Attended store chain food shows, successfully attaining new accounts by explaining the facts, features and benefits of selling Sabra and likely benefits to revenue.

Awarded twice in 2010 for Retail Award of Excellence for demonstrating the greatest gains in ACV and distribution for the Kroger account compared to the rest of the company accounts.

Acosta Cincinnati, Ohio 2004 – 2007

UNIT MANAGER

Coached and instructed on store calls member team locations. Ensured optimal work performance, specializing in Meat, Seafood, Deli and Produce departments. Conducted quarterly meetings with clients and retail staff. Met with business managers to ensure their needs at store level were exceeded. Managed a retail team of seven employees.

Acted as the national broker for 75 major manufacturers and the national broker for Sabra.

Served as primary contact for all perishables for Kroger and other local store banners to ensure proper merchandising.

Reliance Food Brokerage Cincinnati, Ohio 1996 – 2004

RETAIL COORDINATOR

Managed a retail team of four and reported directly to owners. Coordinated supply ordering for the Meat, Seafood, Deli and produce departments, collaborated with Kroger merchandisers on new store displays and resets. Ensured special events’ coverage and managed departmental workloads to ensure client satisfaction and timely adherence to store level workloads.

Education

ASSOCIATE DEGREE IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH

OPOTA Certification

Technical Skills

Highly Proficient in: Microsoft Office Suite; Word, Excel & PowerPoint, Market 6 & Database IRI

Contact this candidate