Sales Manager

**About us**: Halenda’s Fine Food is a distinguished Canadian family-owned business that has been thriving since 1979. With over 45 years of experience, we are proud to be an award-winning processor of high-quality fresh, smoked, and prepared meats, as well as deli products. Our manufacturing takes place in our processing facilities in Oshawa and our newly established, state-of-the-art plant in Etobicoke. We are committed to blending modern techniques and trends with traditional craftsmanship, ensuring that all our products meet the highest standards of quality and taste.

Halenda's Fine Food is committed to delivering exceptional quality products that reflect our passion for people and our dedication to excellence. As we look to expand our reach and impact, we are seeking a dynamic Sales Manager who will play a pivotal role in driving our growth strategy over the next three years.

**Position Overview**: As the Sales Manager at Halenda's Fine Food, you will be instrumental in driving growth within Ontario's competitive meat industry. Your key responsibilities include developing and executing sales and marketing strategies, managing key accounts, and identifying new business opportunities. You will lead and mentor a high-performing sales team, ensuring alignment with organizational goals while maintaining strong relationships with clients and distribution partners.

In this role, you will analyze market trends, provide insights to senior management, and explore innovative product offerings. Your expertise and customer-centric approach will help position Halenda's as a leader in quality and innovation in the meat sector. If you are a motivated strategic thinker with a passion for excellence, we welcome you to join our team and contribute to our ambitious growth objectives.

**Key Responsibilities**:

- **Sales Strategy Development**: Create and implement a comprehensive sales and marketing strategy to drive growth, focusing on partnerships, innovation, and distribution channels.
- **Account Management**: Build and maintain strong relationships with existing clients, ensuring high levels of customer satisfaction and retention. Actively manage key accounts to drive sales growth.
- **New Business Development**: Identify and pursue new business opportunities, including potential distribution partnerships and innovative product offerings to expand market reach.
- **Team Leadership**: Lead, mentor, and develop the sales and marketing team, ensuring high performance and alignment with organizational targets. Set clear objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs) to guide team efforts.
- **Market Analysis**: Conduct regular market assessments to evaluate the effectiveness of sales and marketing initiatives, adjusting strategies as necessary based on insights and trends.
- **Reporting**: Provide regular reports and insights to senior management regarding market trends, sales performance, and opportunities for growth.
- **Partnership Management**: Establish and maintain strong relationships with existing distribution partners while identifying new business outreach strategies to drive company growth and profitability.
- **Pipeline Development**: Build and maintain a robust pipeline of potential distribution partners across Ontario, including identifying new product opportunities for distribution.
- **Industry Engagement**: Stay current on industry trends and feeding technologies to ensure Halenda’s continues to lead in innovation. Develop connections with researchers, consultants, veterinarians, and industry influencers to identify collaboration opportunities.
- **Direct Sales Initiatives**: Explore and develop strategies for direct sales to larger clients through existing distribution channels.

**Qualifications**:

- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Sales, or a related field.
- Minimum of 5 years of sales experience, with at least 2 years in a managerial role, preferably in the food or meat industry.
- Proven track record of achieving sales targets and driving business growth.
- Strong understanding of the meat industry, including market dynamics, product trends, and regulatory requirements.
- Demonstrated experience in leading and developing a sales team, with a focus on performance management and mentorship.
- Proficiency in sales analytics tools. Familiarity with sales forecasting and reporting processes.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build relationships with clients and stakeholders at all levels.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, capable of interpreting data to inform strategic decisions.
- Proven negotiation and closing skills, with the ability to secure profitable agreements and partnerships.
- Willingness to travel as needed to meet clients and attend industry events.
- Relevant certifications in sales, marketing, or the food industry (e.g., HACCP, Food Safety) are advantageous.

**Attributes**:

- Passionate about t