Company
UJZ Foods is a combination of two long established protein companies. Uncle John’s is a fresh and smoked sausage processor located in Tampa, Florida. Uncle John’s features brand name products under the banners of Uncle John’s, Garcia, Atlanta Sausage Company, and Realtree. The Garcia brand dates back to the 1960’s and the Uncle John’s brand to the 1970’s. Uncle John’s was acquired by the current investors in 2022.
The Zummo Meat Company was created in 1908 in Beaumont, TX and manufactures high quality, fresh and smoked sausage and boudin. The organization also offers jambalaya and dirty rice products. Zummo was acquired by the current investors in September of 2023. The two organizations were integrated and now managed as a single entity known as UJZ Foods. The combined organization has top line revenue of roughly $75M. The combined brands also rank as a top ten manufacturer nationally in the dinner sausage space.
The vision of the organization is to grow from a regional manufacturer to a super-regional and ultimately a national player in the sausage and adjacent spaces. To accomplish this growth plan, the organization must build out its overall management capabilities. The Food Service Sales Account Executive will drive strategic revenue growth by expanding current customer relationships and aggressively securing new business wins, supporting the organization’s organic and acquisition-driven growth initiatives.
The current product portfolio is mainly fresh and smoked sausages sold through the retail and food service channels (70% retail, 30% food service). The three main brands based on sales are Zummo’s, Garcia and Uncle John’s. The brands have distribution in national and regional grocery chains such as Walmart, Kroger, Publix, HEB, Sam’s and Winn-Dixie and distribution in national and regional broadline distributors such as Sysco, US Foods, Ben E Keith, Performance Food Group and Cheney Brothers.
Our products are manufactured in two main facilities. The plant in Tampa is a 42,000 sq. ft location that recently added 6,000 additional sq ft of additional warehouse space. The plant in Beaumont is 45,000 sq. ft and includes both protein and rice handling capabilities. Having its own manufacturing facilities allows the Company to control all aspects of the manufacturing and distribution of its products. Both locations are certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service and have received their SQF certification.
Role and Responsibilities
A great job-and a great future-awaits you at UJZ Foods. We are looking for motivated people who want to join our Food Service team and grow lasting and meaningful careers with us.
Are you a driven and motivated Sales professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment, building relationships with customers, collaborating with great internal teams, being innovative to achieve new business results. We have built a culture that places value on our employees and the communities we all share. UJZ Foods and our Sales teams are consistently evolving and looking for individuals that can help foster relationships and achieve results to impact our bottom line!
As a Food Service Sales Account Executive, you are the driving force behind developing current partners and focused on new business acquisition targets. This Food Service role manages key product categories across the restaurants, Distributors, and Hospitality segment, while working cross-functionally with Business Management, Marketing and Plant Operations to ensure growth in the marketplace. You will gain experience in broker management, customer engagement, trade execution, and value-based selling. Expect to visit manufacturing facilities to strengthen product knowledge, manage trade expenditure, and build world class customer relationships. This role is designed to launch your sales career with hands-on training, real-world exposure, and growth opportunities.
You collaborate closely with marketing, business, and trade teams to craft compelling and impactful sales programs. You are the one who introduces new products to our customers, secures menu placements, and brings sales initiatives to life. With strategic vision, you build programs that boost sales of key items and fuel long-term growth with top-tier customers. You develop and manage broker relationships. When it comes to your key customers, you make things happen and reflect territory ownership.
The Food Service Sales Account Executive will report to the Vice President of Foodservice Sales, Lisa Hunt. The Sales Account Executive will be accountable for identifying, designing, and executing sales and marketing programs within both new business targets and current accounts. In addition, they will leverage relationships with brokers, and sales teams to foster an environment consistent with the company’s Mission and Values.
Key Responsibilities:
- Develop and execute the regional sales strategy aligned with company goals.
- Achieves sales revenue targets in the assigned territory by effectively building current assigned customer relationships, building portfolio with focused current broad liner distributors and key operator accounts.
- Supports the generation of additional sales by effectively identifying and calling on operators in the territory.
- Ensures all administrative duties are handled in a timely manner in accordance with established company policies and procedures.
- Provides pertinent territorial information regarding customers’ and competitors’ activities for use by management in assessing sales performance.
- Initiates and maintains up-to-date operator profile records utilizing CRM model reflecting key target acquisition list in the territory.
- Travel 30%
- Supports the generation of additional sales by effectively calling on and making presentations to distributors and brokers. This person also develops plans and makes sales presentations to new accounts and targets driving new business revenue.
- Territory Coverage & Product Demonstration: Travel throughout the assigned territory to engage with current and prospective customers, present product offerings using samples or catalogs, and highlight key features that align with customer needs and drive purchasing decisions.
Professional Qualifications
· Bachelor’s degree required.
· A pattern of initiative and ownership of results
· Excellent management and leadership skills.
· A pattern of strong goal setting and results.
· The ability to establish strategic selling initiatives.
· Highly developed interpersonal and persuasive skills.
· Strong written and verbal communication skills
· CRM experience and client engagement
- Technical & Software Proficiency: Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel and Word.
Personal Characteristics
- High energy and drive; “get-it-done” mentality. Willing to roll up sleeves and delve into the details to get things accomplished.
- Entrepreneurial and comfortable operating independently; comfortable with risk and setbacks; highly analytical, resilient person.
- Excellent communication and influencing skills to work effectively and build relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Excellent interpersonal and presentation skills; deep experience presenting to customers and external audiences.
- Outstanding organizational skills
- Authentic passion for delicious food, and fun with your team and colleagues
- ends is a strong advantage.
