Location: Santa Maria, CA (with regional travel across the Central Coast)
Job Type: Full-time
Reports To: Sales Manager / Director of Sales
Position Summary
We are seeking a dynamic, results-driven Food & Beverage Sales Representative to grow our footprint in the Santa Maria and greater Central Coast market. In this role, you will be the face of our distribution business, managing relationships with local restaurants, bars, grocery stores, hotels, and specialty retail accounts. If you love food, thrive on building authentic connections, and have a competitive drive to close deals, we want you on our team.
Key Responsibilities
- Drive New Business: Prospect, pitch, and onboard new commercial accounts (restaurants, retail, hospitality) within the Santa Maria and surrounding Central Coast territory.
- Account Management: Maintain and grow sales volume with existing accounts by introducing new inventory, seasonal products, and promotional programs.
- Product Knowledge: Become an expert on our portfolio (meats, seafood, , fresh produce, and paper supplies) to effectively conduct tastings, presentations, and consultations with chefs and buyers.
- Order & Inventory Coordination: Collaborate with our warehouse and delivery teams to ensure order accuracy, timely deliveries, and high levels of customer satisfaction.
Qualifications & Skills
- Experience: 1+ year of sales experience, preferably within the food and beverage industry, hospitality, or broadline distribution. OR 3+ years operating in the food & beverage space as a cook, manager, purchaser.
- Local Knowledge: Deep familiarity with the Santa Maria, Central Coast restaurant and retail landscape is highly preferred.
- Communication: Exceptional interpersonal, negotiation, and closing skills. You should be as comfortable talking to a busy chef in the back of a kitchen as you are with a corporate buyer.
- Bilingual (preferred): Be able to communicate in English & Spanish with a diverse staffing lineup in both warehouse and while calling accounts.
- Mobility: Valid California Driver’s License, a reliable vehicle, and a clean driving record (daily travel to local accounts is required).
- Tech-Savvy: Proficiency with CRM tools, mobile ordering platforms, and Microsoft Office/Google Workspace.
- Physical Requirements: Ability to lift up to 40 lbs occasionally (for product samples, cases, or deliveries).
What We Offer
- Compensation: Competitive base salary + uncapped commission structure.
- Perks: Mileage reimbursement or vehicle allowance, company phone/tablet, and a generous employee discount on our F&B catalog.
- Culture: A collaborative, fast-paced environment where your passion for the local food scene is celebrated.
Pay: $60,000.00 - $145,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- Mileage reimbursement
- Paid time off
- Paid training
Work Location: On the road
