Business Development Maager - Deli & Cheese

Position Summary

The Business Development Manager is responsible for growing profitable deli and cheese business across assigned accounts and territory. The role develops new customer opportunities, expands existing programs, builds strong buyer relationships, and delivers against approved sales and gross profit goals. Success requires strong category knowledge, disciplined account and pipeline management, and close coordination with Lipari and KLT Global sales, customer service, manufacturing, procurement, and logistics teams.

Key Responsibilities

Customer Growth and Account Leadership

• Develop and execute account plans that identify customer priorities, category opportunities, target items, sales and gross profit objectives, and clear next steps.
• Prospect for new business and convert qualified opportunities into profitable placements, programs, and sustained volume.
• Expand existing accounts through assortment reviews, new item presentations, category insights, promotional planning, and effective follow-through.
• Build productive relationships with buyers and other decision-makers through regular in-person, virtual, and written communication.
• Conduct store and market visits to assess assortment, shelf conditions, pricing, promotion execution, competitive activity, and customer needs.
• Prepare and deliver customer presentations, proposals, product reviews, and business updates tailored to the audience.

Commercial and Financial Management

• Own account performance against assigned annual sales, gross profit, and other approved objectives; identify risks early and develop recovery actions.
• Evaluate pricing, trade spend, promotions, broker costs, deductions, and service requirements to support profitable decisions and sound customer proposals.
• Build and maintain an accurate opportunity pipeline, sales forecast, and launch timing; distinguish confirmed business from tentative or probability-weighted opportunities.
• Maintain timely account records, call notes, forecasts, and required pipeline or performance updates in company systems and reporting formats.
• Coordinate customer commitments and promotional plans with leadership and relevant internal partners before communicating final terms.

Category, Manufacturing, and Cross-Functional Execution

• Stay current on deli and cheese category trends, customer strategies, competitor activity, and emerging products; translate relevant insights into practical selling opportunities.
• Coordinate with manufacturing and supplier partners on product availability, specifications, samples, production planning, and customer requirements.
• Work with customer service, procurement, warehouse, transportation, and finance partners to support accurate forecasts, reliable launches, service recovery, and timely resolution of account issues.
• Align opportunities with Lipari DSD and KLT Global teams when shared customer coverage, warehouse distribution, or cross-category selling can improve the customer solution.
• Manage assigned broker relationships by setting clear priorities, communicating expectations, reviewing results, and using approved budgets effectively.

Customer Service and Communication

• Respond promptly to customer needs and take ownership of issues through resolution, keeping the customer and internal stakeholders appropriately informed.
• Communicate risks involving supply, quality, pricing, logistics, or customer commitments as soon as they are identified.
• Maintain professional, accurate, and timely communication with customers, brokers, suppliers, and colleagues.

Performance Expectations

The manager is expected to meet approved annual sales and gross profit goals, maintain a qualified and current growth pipeline, provide reliable forecasts, develop strategic account plans, and execute customer commitments with strong cross-functional coordination. Performance will be reviewed against assigned business results, quality and timing of pipeline information, new placement and retention progress, account profitability, customer service, and follow-through.

Required Knowledge and Qualifications

• Three to five years of successful sales or business development experience; food, grocery, deli, cheese, or consumer packaged goods experience is preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in business or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• Working knowledge of retail or wholesale customer selling, account planning, pricing, forecasting, and promotional programs.
• Strong prospecting, presentation, negotiation, communication, analytical, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to organize competing priorities, work independently, collaborate across departments, and follow through in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365, including Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams; ability to use CRM and sales reporting tools.
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically, including store and customer visits, up to 50% if needed.

Work Environment and Physical Requirements

The position is primarily home-office based and requires regular domestic travel, including customer meetings, store visits, and occasional company or supplier meetings. The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

General Disclaimer

This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed in this position. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Duties may change as business needs evolve, and employees may be asked to perform other related work. KLT Global / Lipari Foods is an equal opportunity employer and provides reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities.