National Account Manager - Foodservice, AFH

About Heartland Food Products Group Heartland Food Products Group (HFP) is a global leader in innovative sweeteners and beverage solutions. Our portfolio includes Splenda®, Splenda Stevia®, Splenda Allulose®, and Java House® Cold Brew , supporting operator and consumer demand for better-for-you, great-tasting, and versatile products. We partner with national and regional foodservice chains across restaurants, convenience, hospitality, coffee, OCS/OCM, and healthcare—helping operators streamline beverage and sweetener solutions across both FOH and BOH. Location: USA Remote; West, Central, Northeast and Southeast. Preferred Cities: Tampa, Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Phoenix, Minneapolis, Chicago or near any major airport. Position Summary The National Account Manager (NAM) – Away from Home is responsible for leading and growing key national and large regional accounts across the QSR/Fast Casual/Casual Dining, Convenience, Travel and Leisure, and Coffee Segments. This role manages the full sales cycle—including operator engagement, menu innovation support, business planning, pricing/program execution, and distributor alignment—while collaborating closely with internal cross-functional teams and broker partners. Key Responsibilities Account Leadership & Business Management Own a national or multi-region account list with responsibility for customer relationships, business planning, and overall account performance. Develop and execute Joint Business Plans (JBPs) with customers, including product placement strategies, innovation opportunities, and program alignment. Lead customer presentations across purchasing, culinary, beverage, R&D, marketing, and operations. Customer Development Drive product placement for Splenda®, Splenda Stevia®, Splenda Allulose®, and Java House® across FOH and BOH applications. Coordinate product testing, menu innovation sessions, and formulation work with Culinary and R&D. Identify opportunities for new chain development across hotel groups, convenience retailers, QSR/fast casual, coffee chains, and other AFH segments. Distribution & Program Execution Ensure distribution coverage through foodservice distributors including Sysco, US Foods, GFS, PFG, DOT Foods, Core-Mark, McLane, Eby-Brown , and regional accounts. Manage pricing letters, contracts, programs, and customer compliance. Partner with brokers (OCS, C-Store, Regional AFH) to support market-level execution and operator activation. Internal Collaboration Work cross-functionally with Marketing, R&D, Culinary, Finance, and Supply Chain. Provide accurate forecasting, program visibility, and communication within Salesforce. Support trade shows, operator showcases, and customer events. Brand & Event Support Represent Heartland at industry events including NRA, NACS, SCA, Foodovation, Market Vision, and operator innovation summits. Support brand activations tied to Java House and Splenda where relevant for operator engagement. Required Qualifications 5–10 years of National Account Foodservice sales experience (required). Proven experience selling into at least one of the following: convenience, hotel, QSR/fast casual, chain restaurants, coffee chains, or healthcare. Strong understanding of foodservice distribution networks and pricing structures. Ability to build and manage senior-level customer relationships. Strong negotiation, presentation, and communication skills. Proficiency in Salesforce, Excel, PowerPoint, and pipeline management. Ability to travel 40–60% within the U.S. Preferred Qualifications Experience with sweeteners, beverage solutions, coffee, or better-for-you products. Experience running menu innovation cycles or coordinating with R&D/Culinary. Existing relationships within national or large regional foodservice chains. Understanding of cold beverage platforms, coffee programs, and tabletop/BOH sweetener solutions. What We Offer Competitive salary, bonus program, and benefits package. Opportunity to make an immediate impact within a growing AFH organization. Direct access to leading brands such as Splenda® , Splenda Stevia® , Splenda Allulose® , and Java House® Cold Brew . A collaborative culture with strong cross-functional support.