Assistant Sales Manager (Distributor Management)

About the role

• We are looking for a highly-motivated & entrepreneurial sales supervisor to accelerate the growth of our Gourmet brands – focusing on Van Houten Professional – via distribution in Malaysia.

• Manage existing distributor relationships, nurture them and scale them

• Identify, hunt & secure new distributor partnerships to increase our reach geographically & in new channels  

• Initiate, create & support marketing/brand building activities, both, independently & in collaboration with distributors

• Generate strong brand awareness & “pull” at the end-user level via sales & marketing initiatives to increase the demand for our products

• Collaborate with a multifunctional team: product development, marketing, sales, and chefs to deliver the best customer experience

• Own your KPIs & steer your business independently with the guidance of your manager

• Key objectives: drive volume, distribution reach (= by increasing distribution points), and brand perception.

• This role could evolve towards a sales manager role with team leadership responsibilities.

Key responsibilities include 

• Promote & grow sales of Gourmet brands, primarily Van Houten Professional, with existing customers (distributors, cash&carry outlets…)
• Grow regional reach by managing existing distributors & finding/developing new local/regional distributors across Malaysia.
• Supported by marketing, define & implement quarterly merchandising plan targeting resellers and their customers:
  • Sales incentives
  • Demonstrations / tasting / sampling sessions
  • Sales tools
  • Social Media
• Provide product training to distributors’ sales force regularly: for new products, success stories, value selling, etc.
• Together with the Customer Service team in Malaysia, follow up on orders, shipments, and payments with assigned customers.

About you 

• Bachelor's degree, preferably in a business/marketing-related field
• Fluent in English: written & spoken
• Min. 5yrs Sales & marketing experience, ideally in bakery/pastry products, food ingredients, or branded food products.
• Experience managing a local distribution network, including the addition of new distributors, is critical.
• Cash & carry sales & product knowledge is an advantage.
• Good understanding or experience of brand marketing
• We will be also looking at the below criteria:
• Self-motivated, solution-oriented, entrepreneurial, great communication & interpersonal skills, team player, independent, ambitious for career growth, ready to travel, hands-on