What are the responsibilities and job description for the Sales Representative position at Jensen Meat Company?
Overview
Jensen Meat Company is seeking a driven and relationship-focused Sales Representative to support growth across both the plant-based and meat divisions within the Southern California region. This role will focus on expanding business across foodservice, distribution, and institutional channels by developing new accounts, managing regional relationships, and executing product placement strategies.
This position requires a results-oriented professional who can engage customers, partner with distributors, and represent a diversified protein portfolio, ranging from traditional meat to innovative plant-based solutions. The ideal candidate is strategic, resourceful, and motivated to grow market share across high-potential Southern California territories.
Primary Responsibilities
Sales & Business Development
- Execute regional sales strategies across Southern California (San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, Los Angeles).
- Source, qualify, and acquire new foodservice customers while retaining and expanding existing accounts.
- Conduct sales meetings, product demonstrations, and menu placement initiatives.
- Maintain a weighted sales pipeline and support contract pursuits across foodservice and institutional accounts.
Account Management & Customer Success
- Serve as a primary point of contact for regional customers across both divisions.
- Monitor customer performance, pricing activity, and volume commitments.
- Resolve customer issues and provide timely solutions.
- Build long-term relationships with operators, distributors, chefs, and procurement teams.
Distributor & Broker Support
- Partner with brokers and distributors to grow regional market penetration.
- Support inventory forecasting, product placement, and education initiatives.
- Collaborate with channel partners (e.g., Sysco, US Foods, PFG, regional distributors).
Product & Market Execution
- Support launches of new meat and plant-based products in the region.
- Communicate customer feedback and market insights to Marketing, R&D, QA, and Operations.
- Monitor competitor activity, market trends, and emerging opportunities.
Sales Operations & Reporting
- Maintain accurate CRM entries for leads, forecasting, and territory activity.
- Prepare territory performance summaries and pipeline reviews.
- Travel up to 50% within the assigned territory.
Qualifications
Education & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Sales, Marketing, or related field preferred.
- Minimum 3 years of foodservice or CPG sales experience required.
- Experience with protein, meat, or plant-based food distribution preferred.
Knowledge & Skills
- Strong understanding of foodservice distribution networks and buying processes.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
- Ability to manage multiple accounts and territories simultaneously.
- CRM proficiency (Salesforce, HubSpot, etc.) and strong analytical skills.
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) strongly preferred.
Opportunities for Growth
- Expand regional leadership across Southern California.
- Advance into Senior Sales or Regional Sales Management roles.
- Contribute to product innovation through customer and market insights.
Why Join Jensen Meat Company?
As a valued sales team member, you will enjoy:
- Competitive compensation with incentive opportunities.
- Comprehensive benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k), and paid time off.
- Exposure to both traditional protein and fast-growing plant-based categories.
- Collaboration with cross-functional teams across Marketing, R&D, QA, and Operations.