Keeping the Shelves Full

Food product sales representatives sell food products to wholesale and retail groceries, restaurants, hotel and institutions. They work for wholesale houses and food beverage firms. They try to interest their customers in new product advice, displays and advertising. So what kind of people are the companies looking for?

Companies require a high school diploma although some require a minimum of two years of college. There are some employers, however, that will provide basic sales training to an employee with potential. They also look for a person who was successful in sales at a former place of employment. The qualification that are looked for in a food sales rep are: confidence, assertiveness, good organizational skills, well groomed and be able to communicate effectively. Some of the other duties that are involved in the job are quoting prices, preparing sale contracts and delivery date estimates. They can check existing stock, reorder merchandise and monitor sales. The sales rep usually travels to their customer’s place of business. They will check grocery shelves, walk in freezers warehouses and stockrooms. Sometimes having to carry bulky displays and sample cases are part of their job.

Beginning Sales Reps usually have an on the job training program. The company may also pair them up with a sales manager or senior sales representative. Depending on how quickly the trainee catches on and how complex the job is, the training period may be a few weeks to a few months. After they’ve been trained they are assigned a territory. Supervision is pretty close for a few months until they gain enough experience and can handle everything the job entails independently.

Sales reps frequently work over 40 hours a week. When they aren’t making sales, they’re spending time making sales and expense reports, scheduling appointments and traveling. However, the benefits can be good. Most companies include vacation pay, retirement benefits, medical benefits and holidays off. A lot of companies pay salary plus commission. The company may provide a company car, and expenses for travel, lodging meals and customer entertainment.

What about advancement? Advancement depends on the size and type of organization. Promotion can be a reassignment of a larger account or territory with the possibilities of larger sales commission. Earnings will depend a lot on the experience of the sales rep and the type of products that are sold.

The potential for large earnings are there for this type of job if you’re willing to work for it. The more you sell the better you’ll do. Are you ready to develop your full potential?

Comments, as always, are welcome!

By Linda Lee Ruzicka

Linda Lee Ruzicka lives in the mountains of Western PA , happily married and with her 8 cats and three dogs. She has been published in Twilight Times, Dark Krypt, Fables, Decending Darkness, Writing Village, June Cotner anthology, The Grit, Reminisce , the book, Haunted Encounters: Friends and Family. She is a Affiliate member of the Horror Writers Association . The She also does freelances work for Beyond and for Salesheads. More of her blogs can be found at Salesheads blog.