Bakery Operations Manager Jobs in Romeoville, IL

Territory: MN, MI, OH, KY, IN, MO, KS, NE, ND, SD, IL, IA, WI
Location: Can be based near any major Midwest airport

Bridor is a global leader in the premium bakery industry, known for high-quality breads, croissants, pastries, and other premium bakery products. As we continue to expand our presence throughout North America, we are looking for an experienced and highly motivated National Account Manager – Retail, Midwest USA to accelerate our growth across retail grocery chains, In-Store Bakery, Deli, and key distribution partners.

This is a high-impact sales role for a true hunter and relationship builder who is competitive, naturally curious, highly organized, collaborative, and motivated to win.

For the right sales professional, this position should represent the next logical step in your career progression. If you have developed strong retail grocery relationships, successfully grown regional or key accounts, and are ready to take greater ownership of a significant territory and strategic customers, this opportunity provides the platform to do that with a growing global bakery organization.

We are looking for someone who knows the Midwest grocery retail landscape, understands how to sell into In-Store Bakery and In-Store Deli, and has established relationships with retail buyers, category managers, brokers, and distributors.

If you know how to get in front of buyers, ask the right questions, uncover opportunities, win new listings, expand distribution, and turn strong customer relationships into revenue growth, we want to talk with you.

• Drive New Business: Identify, prospect, and secure new retail grocery accounts and new product opportunities throughout the Midwest
• Open Doors: Leverage existing relationships to reach decision-makers within retail grocery headquarters, In-Store Bakery and Deli departments, brokers, and distributors
• Grow Existing Accounts: Expand distribution, increase product assortments, introduce new products, improve placement, and identify opportunities to increase revenue
• Develop Retail Partnerships: Build strong relationships with buyers, category managers, merchandising teams, brokers, and distributor partners
• Understand the Customer: Ask thoughtful questions and develop a deep understanding of each customer's business, category priorities, challenges, competitors, and growth opportunities
• Lead Customer Presentations: Prepare and deliver line reviews, category reviews, new-item presentations, business reviews, and sales proposals
• Build Distribution: Develop and strengthen relationships with UNFI, AWG, KeHE, and other key Midwest distribution partners
• Drive Category Growth: Bring customers ideas and solutions that help grow their bakery and deli categories while positioning Bridor as a strategic business partner
• Manage the Territory: Develop sales forecasts, maintain a strong opportunity pipeline, track performance, and keep CRM activity and account plans current
• Collaborate Cross-Functionally: Partner with Marketing, R&D, Production, Supply Chain, Customer Service, Operations, and Logistics to support customer opportunities and successful product launches
• Represent Bridor: Participate in customer meetings, distributor events, trade shows, and industry events throughout the territory
• Deliver Results: Take ownership of new business development, distribution expansion, account growth, and overall territory performance

• 5+ years of successful B2B sales experience selling directly to retail grocery chains
• Demonstrated experience selling products into In-Store Bakery and/or In-Store Deli departments
• Strong understanding of the grocery retail sales process, including buyer presentations, category reviews, new-item introductions, and securing product listings
• Proven success developing new business, opening new accounts, and growing existing retail customers
• Bakery, frozen food, deli, perimeter, or related food/CPG experience strongly preferred

• Strong knowledge of the Midwest grocery retail market with established buyer and category-management relationships
• Experience selling to leading Midwest grocery retailers such as Aldi, Meijer, Hy-Vee, Schnucks, SpartanNash, Fresh Thyme, Fareway, Coborn's, Dierbergs, Woodman's, Lunds & Byerlys, or similar regional chains
• Experience working with both UNFI and AWG is required
• KeHE and other major grocery distribution experience is highly desirable
• Established relationships with retail buyers, category managers, brokers, and distributors are strongly preferred

Success in this role requires more than industry experience. We are looking for someone who combines a competitive sales mindset with curiosity, organization, accountability, and strong teamwork.

• Highly competitive and motivated to win new accounts, new listings, and increased distribution
• Naturally curious and eager to understand customers, their businesses, their categories, competitors, and changing market conditions
• Asks thoughtful questions, listens carefully, and uses what they learn to uncover new opportunities
• Results-driven with a strong sense of urgency, ownership, and personal accountability
• Highly organized and disciplined in managing a large territory, multiple customers, opportunities, follow-ups, and competing priorities
• Strong pipeline and time-management skills with the ability to consistently move opportunities forward
• Comfortable working independently, setting priorities, managing customer activity, and taking ownership of day-to-day territory execution
• Equally effective as a collaborative team member who knows when to engage the right internal resources to help win and grow the business
• Works effectively across Sales, Marketing, R&D, Supply Chain, Customer Service, Operations, Logistics, and leadership
• Self-motivated and comfortable operating in the field without requiring constant direction
• Persistent and resilient throughout long sales cycles and comfortable overcoming objections and competitive challenges
• Strong communicator and relationship builder who can establish credibility with customers at multiple levels
• Commercially minded with the ability to identify an opportunity, develop a strategy, and convert relationships into profitable growth

• Willing and able to travel extensively throughout the Midwest territory
• Comfortable traveling to customer headquarters, distributor locations, stores, trade shows, and industry events
• Candidates may be based near any major airport within or convenient to the Midwest territory

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Sales, or a related field preferred

Bridor combines the expertise, quality, and resources of a global premium bakery organization with a growing North American presence.

This is an opportunity to advance your career while taking ownership of a meaningful territory and customer base. You will have the opportunity to develop strategic relationships, win new business, expand distribution, and directly influence Bridor's continued growth across the U.S. retail market.

For an ambitious sales professional who has built a strong foundation in retail grocery sales and is ready for greater responsibility, visibility, and opportunity, this role can be an important next step in your career.

Bridor offers a competitive compensation and benefits package designed to reward performance and support continued professional growth, including:

• Target Incentive Bonus based on performance
• Monthly vehicle stipend
• Mileage reimbursement for approved business travel
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits
• 401(k) retirement plan with company match 
• Paid vacation, holidays, and time off
• Training and ongoing professional development
• Career growth and advancement opportunities within Bridor
• Opportunities to grow with an expanding North American and global organization
• Company-provided tools and resources to support customer development and travel

If you are a competitive, naturally curious, highly organized retail sales professional who can work successfully both independently and as part of a team, knows the Midwest grocery market, has strong In-Store Bakery or Deli experience, and is ready for the next step in your career, we'd like to hear from you.

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