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Food Ingredient Sales Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Voyage Foods

Business Development Lead

Oakland, CA

$128K - $192K/yr

Feed market intelligence back to R&D and leadership: competitive moves, pricing signals, application gaps Who You Are * 5 to 8 years of B2B sales or business development experience in food ingredient ...

Voyage Foods

Business Development Lead (Remote)

Oakland, CA · Remote

$128K - $192K/yr

Feed market intelligence back to R&D and leadership: competitive moves, pricing signals, application gaps Who You Are * 5 to 8 years of B2B sales or business development experience in food ingredient ...

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All JobsFood Ingredient Sales Jobs

Food Ingredient Sales information

What Are Food Ingredient Sales Jobs?

Food ingredient sales jobs involve selling food products to food manufacturers, restaurants, and other food producers. You sell products in bulk, and you can work directly with food producers or sell to wholesale distributors. Your sales duties depend on the needs of your employer. As a sales rep, you visit restaurants or food manufacturers, make cold calls, and follow up on leads. You can also manage existing accounts and market new products to a current client. Often, your responsibilities focus on a specific region or a particular industry. You can find employment with ingredient producers, wholesalers, or food distributors.

What are some typical challenges faced in Food Ingredient Sales and how can new hires effectively overcome them?

Professionals in Food Ingredient Sales often encounter challenges such as navigating complex supply chains, staying updated on regulatory requirements, and differentiating their products in a competitive market. Building strong relationships with clients and understanding their technical needs is essential. New hires can overcome these challenges by investing time in product training, collaborating closely with R&D and quality assurance teams, and staying informed about industry trends and regulations to provide value-added solutions to customers.

What is the difference between Food Ingredient Sales vs Food Sales Representative?

AspectFood Ingredient SalesFood Sales Representative
CredentialsSales experience, industry knowledge, sometimes certifications in food safetySales experience, knowledge of food products, sometimes certifications in food safety
Work EnvironmentOffice-based, client meetings, trade shows, food manufacturing settingsOffice and field work, visiting food retailers, distributors, and foodservice providers
Industry UsagePrimarily in food manufacturing, ingredient suppliers, and specialty food companiesIn retail, wholesale, and foodservice sectors

Food Ingredient Sales focuses on selling raw ingredients and specialty products to manufacturers, while Food Sales Representatives typically sell finished food products to retailers and foodservice providers. Both roles require sales skills and industry knowledge but target different points in the food supply chain.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Food Ingredient Sales professional, and why are they important?

To excel in Food Ingredient Sales, you typically need a background in food science, nutrition, or business, along with strong sales acumen and industry knowledge. Familiarity with CRM software, sales analytics tools, and regulatory compliance systems is highly valuable. Outstanding communication, relationship-building, and negotiation skills set top performers apart in this role. These competencies are crucial for building trust with clients, effectively managing accounts, and driving business growth in a competitive market.

What are Food Ingredient Sales?

Food Ingredient Sales involves selling raw materials and ingredients such as spices, flavors, preservatives, and other food additives to food manufacturers, processors, and distributors. Professionals in this field work with suppliers and clients to understand their needs, provide product recommendations, negotiate pricing, and ensure timely delivery. This role often requires knowledge of food science, industry trends, and regulatory requirements to effectively support customers and drive business growth.
More about Food Ingredient Sales jobs
What cities are hiring for Food Ingredient Sales jobs? Cities with the most Food Ingredient Sales job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Food Ingredient Sales jobs? The most popular types of Food Ingredient Sales jobs are:
What states have the most Food Ingredient Sales jobs? States with the most job openings for Food Ingredient Sales jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Food Ingredient Sales jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Food Ingredient Sales jobs are:
Food Ingredient Sales jobs near you
Infographic showing various Food Ingredient Sales job openings in the United States as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 72% Full Time, and 28% Part Time. Highlights an 99% Physical, and 1% Remote job distribution.

Food Ingredient Sales Manager

Nielsen Massey Vanillas Inc

Waukegan, IL • On-site

$125K - $155K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 24 days ago

Job description

Company: Nielsen Massey Vanillas (Nielsen-Massey Vanillas - The Finest Pure Vanilla Extracts and Flavors)

About Us: Nielsen Massey Vanillas is a leading provider of high-quality vanilla extracts and flavors, dedicated to delivering innovative solutions and exceptional customer service. With a strong commitment to excellence and growth, we are looking for a dynamic and experienced Food Ingredient Sales Manager to join our Ingredients Sales Team.

Salary Range: $125,000 - $155,000 (Compensation is based on education, skills, experience and other job-related factors)

Position: Food Ingredient Sales Manager (East Coast), North America

Reports to: Director of Business Development, Ingredient Sales

Location: Remote Capable (USA: East Coast)


Position Overview: As Food Ingredient Sales Manager for the East Coast, you will be responsible for driving new B2B sales and managing direct customer relationships with food manufacturers across application categories. Your primary goal will be to grow our market presence by prospecting new business opportunities, maintaining and expanding sales with existing clients, and aligning with internal teams to ensure customer satisfaction and business success. This role is remotely based within the assigned region.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Develop and execute a strategic sales plan aligned to channel strategy to achieve revenue targets and expand market share in the B2B channel across the following categories: Baking, Beverage, Confection, Dairy/Alt Dairy, Nutraceutical, Snacks, Spreads & Sauces.
  • Identify and prospect new business opportunities through market research, networking and lead generation.
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with key customers, providing exceptional customer service and addressing needs proactively & effectively.
  • Collaborate with internal teams, including inside sales, marketing, applications, innovation, planning, and customer support to ensure alignment and optimize the customer experience.
  • Budget and Forecast reporting.
  • Analyze & report on market trends and competitor activities to identify opportunities and risks while adjusting sales strategies accordingly.
  • Prepare and deliver compelling presentations and proposals to clients, demonstrating the value of our products and services.
  • Negotiate contracts and agreements, ensuring favorable terms for both the company and the customer.
  • Track and report sales activities within CRM to ensure pipeline is accurate.
  • Providing monthly updates and insights to management on key customers and opportunities.
  • Attend regional and national tradeshows as prioritized by leadership.


Personal Characteristics:

  • Organization
    • Business Acumen - Demonstrates knowledge of the market and competition; Aligns work with strategic goals.
    • Cost Consciousness - Works within approved budget; Develops and implements cost saving measures.
    • Business Necessity – The employee must be capable of adapting, with minimal or no advanced notice, to changes in how business is conducted, and work is accomplished, with no diminishment in work performance. This may include, but is not limited to, organization structure, finance goals, personnel, work processes, technology, and customer demands.
    • Safety and Security –All employees are responsible for observing safety and security procedures as applicable and reporting potentially unsafe conditions to management.
  • Results Oriented
    • High energy, results-driven, determined, and flexible, with a strong and disciplined work ethic.
    • Sets a quick pace and raises the bar and presses the organization toward higher levels of achievement.
    • Measures and tracks processes and branded content assets against top competitors and the market.
    • Promotes superior performance against stretch goals.
    • Entrepreneurial mindset.
  • Intellectual
    • Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem solving situations.
    • Project Management - Develops project plans; Coordinates projects; Communicates changes and progress; Completes projects on time and budget; Manages project team activities.
    • Technical Skills - Assesses own strengths and weaknesses; Pursues training and development opportunities; Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills; Shares expertise with others.
  • Change Management
    • Embraces a sense of urgency and enthusiasm about the future path and where we are going as a team.
    • Challenges the status quo and can quickly develop and execute improvement plans.
  • Leadership Capability
    • It is important that this individual has the capacity to assume greater responsibilities over time.
    • They must have unquestioned integrity and strong values; non-political and non-bureaucratic.
  • Communication Skills
    • High level of emotional intelligence (EQ).
    • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively deliver and reinforce consistent messages
    • Leverages these communication capabilities to interact with, and persuade, peers throughout the organization.
    • Excellent listening skills.


Knowledge and Characteristics:

MUSTS:

  • Bachelor’s degree in food science or business-related field.
  • Minimum 5-10 years of outside sales experience selling flavors, extracts, or other value-added ingredients into the industrial manufacturing channel of the food industry.
  • Must have demonstrated success selling solutions to manufacturers in the following categories: Baking, Beverage, Confection, Dairy/Alt Dairy, Frozen, Snacks, Sauces & Spreads.
  • Proven track record of meeting or exceeding sales targets and building strong customer relationships.
  • Strong customer-focused approach with excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
  • Self-driven, proactive, and able to work independently as well as part of a team with a solution mindset.
  • Demonstrated strong ability to prospect effectively and convert new business opportunities.
  • Ability to collaborate with internal teams to achieve aligned goals and deliver exceptional results.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to adapt to changing market conditions.
  • Willingness to travel within the region (25-40%). Located close to major airport hub.
  • Experience working with CRM systems, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Canva


Benefits

  • Monthly Auto Allowance
  • 401k Plan and up to 4% company matching
  • Health insurance
  • Dental insurance
  • Vision insurance
  • Life insurance
  • Health Reimbursement Arrangement or Health Savings Account
  • Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) - Health, Dependent Care, and Commuter
  • Paid Holidays
  • Paid Time Off (PTO)
  • Tuition Reimbursement
  • Paid Parental Leave
  • Bereavement
  • Short Term Disability
  • Weekly paychecks
  • Rewards & Recognition Programs
  • Employee Referral Program
  • Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)
  • Annual Bonus Program


Why Join Us?

· Competitive salary and performance-based incentives.

· Comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, and retirement plans.

· Opportunities for professional growth and development.

· Supportive and collaborative work environment.