The Sales Consultant (SC) plays a vital role in the Fortune Fish & Gourmet sales division by building strong, profitable customer relationships through tailored solutions and exceptional service. Collaborating with chefs, restaurateurs, hospitality professionals, and retailers, the SC drives revenue and gross profit through strategic customer alignment and expert product promotion with professionalism and culinary passion.
The SC fosters partnerships by recommending an optimized product mix, delivering outstanding customer service, and resolving service issues diplomatically in coordination with product, logistics, and finance teams.
Location: Quad Cities metropolitan area
Key Responsibilities:
Sales Development and Customer Relationships
- Cultivate new business opportunities through networking, consultative sales approaches, and a deep understanding of customer needs.
- Manage and expand existing accounts by building trust and providing creative, customized product solutions.
- Collaborate with chefs, restaurant owners, and other stakeholders to exceed their expectations, understanding their unique requirements and business goals.
Product Expertise and Market Knowledge
- Represent and promote premium seafood, humanely raised meat, poultry, game, and gourmet products (cheese, chocolate, etc.).
- Stay abreast of industry trends, customer preferences, and market dynamics to provide informed recommendations and drive sales.
Operational Excellence
- Partner with Product, Category, Purchasing and Operations teams to align inventory levels with customer demands, ensuring timely deliveries.
- Coordinate with the Accounting team to establish credit terms and ensure all required documentation is accurately filed.
Sales Strategy, Organization and Administration
- Develop and execute strategic sales plans to meet and exceed performance targets.
- Organize and prioritize daily activities to ensure timely follow-ups, product delivery coordination, and issue resolution.
- Prepare compelling proposals, maintain detailed sales records, and report progress against goals.
- Utilize internal customer management systems, social media platforms, and trade directories to research and identify prospects.
Customer Engagement and Problem-Solving
- Act as a trusted consultant to clients, address inquiries and resolving issues with urgency and precision.
- Conduct follow-ups to ensure customer satisfaction and establish long-term partnerships.
Team Collaboration and Pricing Strategy
- Work closely with senior staff and Sales Director to develop competitive pricing strategies tailored to customer needs.
- Contribute to a team of passionate professionals, fostering a culture of innovation, teamwork, and shared success.
Minimum Requirements:
Experience:
- 2+ years of outside sales experience in perishable food products; seafood experience is highly preferred.
- 2–5 years of professional sales in the foodservice industry, or 5–7 years in chef/restaurant management.
Education:
- Degree in Business, Sales, Marketing, Hospitality, Culinary Arts preferred, or 3+ years of relevant industry experience.
Skills:
- Advanced English verbal communication skills
- Ability to quickly learn company products, systems, and operations.
- Proficiency in MS Office, Presentation Software, Social Media Platforms
Personal Attributes:
- Highly motivated, personable, and capable of thriving in a fast-paced environment.
- Open to change and quick to adopt new technologies and processes.
- Self-starter with a history of success in managing time and priorities effectively.
- Detail-oriented, enthusiastic, and resourceful while maintaining professionalism.
Fortune Fish & Gourmet is an equal opportunity employer.
Our Mission is to elevate meals and lives by uniting unmatched product quality and selection with responsible sourcing, faithful stewardship, and unparalleled commitment to our customers’ and team members’ success.
Our Vision is a world in which we can all:
Do good. Be great. Scale excellence.
Skills Required
- At least 2 years of outside sales experience in perishable food products
- Seafood sales experience
- 2–5 years of professional sales experience in the foodservice industry
- 5–7 years of chef or restaurant management experience as an alternative background
- Degree in Business, Sales, Marketing, Hospitality, or Culinary Arts
- At least 3 years of relevant industry experience as an alternative to a degree
- Advanced English verbal communication skills
- Ability to learn company products, systems, and operations quickly
- Proficiency in MS Office, presentation software, and social media platforms
- Ability to manage time and priorities effectively in a fast-paced environment
What We Do
D’Artagnan is the nation’s premier specialty food distributor and leading purveyor of foie gras, game meat, organic poultry, pâtés, sausages and smoked delicacies in the nation. Established in 1985, D’Artagnan has been at the forefront of the farm-to-table movement and has a strong reputation with four-star restaurants which have D’Artagnan products on their menus. D’Artagnan is growing rapidly. Our philosophy is simple. Before such buzz words existed, we were committed to free-range, natural production and sustainable, humane farming practices. We partner only with small farms and ranches that have strict standards, never use antibiotics or hormones, and sign affidavits to that effect. We support these methods so that we can offer you the best-tasting, conscientiously-raised meat possible. We are passionate about quality from the farm to your fork, which is why our products hold pride of place in professional and home kitchens alike. For our smoked, cured and cooked items, we rely on natural ingredients and traditional recipes and techniques to provide the best flavor and health benefits. We are dedicated to quality in all we do, from our careful sourcing in the field to our kitchen production, to provide you the very best products money can buy. We are on a mission to educate consumers about the importance of understanding and appreciating how food is raised and harvested. We seek employees who are passionate about food -- a true foodie with a burning entrepreneur and team spirit to join our growing company.
