Business Development Manager / Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Wholesale Food Distribution Business Position Overview We are seeking an exceptional, entrepreneurial, and results-driven Business Development Manager / Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead and aggressively grow our wholesale food distribution business. This is a unique opportunity for a highly motivated leader to take a key role in building and expanding a growing food business. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing new business opportunities, expanding our customer base, strengthening supplier relationships, increasing sales and profitability, and providing overall leadership for the company's future growth. The ideal candidate must have a strong background in the wholesale food, food distribution, grocery, retail, foodservice, or related industry and possess the ability to combine strategic leadership with hands-on business development and day-to-day operational management. This position is ideal for someone who thinks and acts like an owner , is comfortable making decisions, identifying opportunities, building relationships, and delivering measurable results. Key Responsibilities Business Development & Sales Growth Develop and execute an aggressive business development strategy to increase sales, market share, and profitability. Identify, pursue, and secure new customers, including grocery stores, supermarkets, restaurants, foodservice companies, distributors, and other commercial accounts. Build and maintain strong relationships with key customers and develop long-term strategic partnerships. Identify new markets, products, distribution channels, and revenue opportunities. Develop sales goals, customer acquisition targets, and strategies to achieve sustainable growth. Negotiate pricing, contracts, and business agreements with customers and suppliers. Monitor market trends, customer needs, competitor activity, and emerging business opportunities. Executive Leadership & Business Management Provide strategic and operational leadership for the overall growth and success of the business. Develop and implement short-term and long-term business plans. Take responsibility for revenue growth, profitability, cash flow, and overall financial performance. Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and regularly monitor business performance. Work closely with ownership to develop and execute the company's vision, growth strategy, and expansion plans. Make sound business decisions based on financial data, market conditions, and operational performance. Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and increase profitability. Supplier & Product Management Develop and maintain strong relationships with food manufacturers, suppliers, producers, and vendors. Identify reliable and competitive sources for existing and new products. Negotiate favorable pricing, payment terms, supply agreements, and purchasing arrangements. Evaluate product opportunities based on customer demand, margins, quality, and market potential. Ensure appropriate inventory levels while minimizing waste, losses, and unnecessary working capital requirements. Operations & Team Leadership Provide leadership, direction, and accountability to employees and management. Build a high-performing, customer-focused, and results-driven team. Establish clear expectations, performance standards, and accountability throughout the organization. Work closely with sales, purchasing, warehouse, logistics, and administrative teams to ensure efficient operations. Improve processes related to purchasing, inventory management, order fulfillment, delivery, customer service, and profitability. Foster a culture of integrity, teamwork, urgency, accountability, and continuous improvement. Financial & Strategic Management Prepare and manage sales forecasts, budgets, and business growth plans. Analyze sales, margins, expenses, inventory, and profitability to identify opportunities for improvement. Drive profitable growth while maintaining strong financial discipline. Monitor accounts receivable, cash flow, and customer credit exposure. Provide regular reports and recommendations to ownership regarding business performance and growth opportunities. Required Qualifications Proven experience in business development, sales leadership, general management, or executive management . Strong preference for experience in wholesale food distribution, food manufacturing, grocery, foodservice, consumer products, or a closely related industry . Demonstrated track record of successfully growing sales, acquiring new customers, and developing profitable business relationships. Strong understanding of food distribution, purchasing, pricing, margins, inventory, logistics, and customer service. Excellent negotiation, communication, and relationship-building skills. Strong leadership and people-management abilities. Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to identify opportunities and turn ideas into profitable business results. Strong financial and analytical skills, including the ability to understand sales, margins, expenses, budgets, and profitability. Ability to work independently, make sound decisions, and take ownership of results. Highly organized, energetic, and capable of managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. Preferred Qualifications Previous experience as a General Manager, Business Development Manager, Director of Sales, Vice President, COO, President, or CEO . Established network of contacts within the food, grocery, restaurant, foodservice, or wholesale distribution industry. Experience launching or growing a small-to-medium-sized business. Experience in purchasing, sourcing, supplier negotiations, and inventory management. Experience managing a P&L and taking responsibility for business profitability. Bachelor's degree in Business, Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, Food Science, or a related field preferred; equivalent industry experience will be strongly considered. What We Are Looking For We are looking for a builder, leader, and growth-oriented business professional —someone who is not satisfied with simply maintaining an existing business. The successful candidate will be expected to: Find new opportunities. Bring in new customers. Grow sales and profitability. Build strong supplier relationships. Improve operations. Develop a strong team. Think strategically while remaining willing to work hands-on when necessary. Take ownership and be accountable for the success and growth of the business. This is a significant leadership opportunity for an ambitious professional who wants to play a major role in building a successful and growing wholesale food distribution company. Compensation We offer a competitive compensation package based on experience, qualifications, and demonstrated ability to grow the business . The package may include a combination of: Competitive base salary Performance-based bonus and incentives Potential long-term growth and advancement opportunities Other benefits based on qualifications and company policy Exceptional candidates with a proven record of growing businesses and delivering measurable results are strongly encouraged to apply.

Pay:

From $75,000.00 per year

Work Location:

In person