Sales Professional/Business Development Manager
The VPS Companies, Inc., Watsonville, CA, United States
Sales Professional / Business Development Manager
Location:
Watsonville, CA (Hybrid / Travel as Required)
Company Overview For more than
65 years ,
The VPS Companies
has been a trusted partner in the frozen food industry, providing marketing, sourcing, manufacturing, and cold storage solutions to leading food manufacturers and foodservice companies.
Headquartered in
Watsonville, California , VPS Companies operates through several divisions including
Inn Foods (sales and marketing), Valley Packing (sales brokerage), Food Service Systems (foodservice sales), National Custom Packing (co‑packing), and Central Cold Storage (3PL cold storage) . We work with customers across the industrial, foodservice, and retail sectors, delivering customized supply chain solutions and high‑quality frozen food products sourced globally.
We are a
family‑owned organization
built on teamwork, integrity, flexibility, and long‑term customer partnerships.
Position Summary The
Sales Professional / Business Development Manager
is responsible for developing and expanding customer relationships within the frozen food and food manufacturing industries. This role focuses on
growing revenue through both new business development and strategic account management , while working closely with internal operations teams to deliver customized product and supply chain solutions.
The ideal candidate brings strong industry relationships, a consultative sales approach, and the ability to translate customer needs into profitable business opportunities.
Key Responsibilities Business Development
Identify, develop, and close new business opportunities within
food manufacturers, foodservice companies, and industrial ingredient users
Proactively prospect new accounts through industry networking, trade shows, referrals, and targeted outreach
Expand VPS’s presence with existing customers by identifying cross‑selling opportunities across
sales, co‑packing, and cold storage services
Account Management
Build and maintain strong, long‑term customer relationships
Serve as the primary point of contact for key accounts and ensure high levels of customer satisfaction
Anticipate customer needs and proactively offer solutions that add value to their business
Sales Strategy & Market Intelligence
Monitor market conditions including
commodity trends, supply availability, logistics costs, and competitive activity
Provide customers with timely insights on pricing, product availability, and market changes
Work with leadership to develop sales strategies aligned with company growth objectives
Pricing & Proposal Development
Develop competitive pricing and proposals based on product specifications, logistics, and operational costs
Analyze cost structures including product, packaging, freight, handling, and storage
Negotiate contracts and commercial terms with customers
Cross‑Functional Collaboration
Partner closely with
operations, production, procurement, and logistics teams
to ensure alignment between sales commitments and operational capabilities
Coordinate customer requirements including specifications, packaging, forecasting, and service expectations
Customer Support
Resolve customer concerns quickly and professionally
Maintain clear communication with customers throughout the order lifecycle
Ensure accurate documentation of customer agreements, pricing, and specifications
Qualifications Required
10+ years of experience in food industry sales , preferably in frozen foods, ingredients, co‑packing, or foodservice supply
Demonstrated success in
business development and account growth
Strong understanding of
food industry pricing structures, supply chains, and customer requirements
Excellent
negotiation and relationship‑building skills
Ability to translate customer needs into customized service solutions
Strong communication and presentation skills
Proficiency in
Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
Preferred
Bachelor’s degree in
Business, Marketing, Food Science, or related field
Experience working with
food manufacturers, co‑packers, or frozen food distributors
Familiarity with
CRM systems and sales pipeline management
Knowledge of
food safety, quality standards, and regulatory requirements
Key Competencies
Strategic thinking and problem solving
Customer relationship management
Negotiation and contract management
Market awareness and commercial judgment
Collaboration across operations, procurement, and logistics teams
Physical Requirements This role requires regular computer use and occasional travel to customer locations, trade shows, and company facilities. The employee must be able to lift and carry materials up to
25 pounds occasionally .
Equal Opportunity Employer VPS Companies is an
Equal Opportunity Employer . All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin.
Contact Daniel Havenar
Human Resources Director
Email:
daniel@vpsco.com
PH:
(831) 761-7079
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Location:
Watsonville, CA (Hybrid / Travel as Required)
Company Overview For more than
65 years ,
The VPS Companies
has been a trusted partner in the frozen food industry, providing marketing, sourcing, manufacturing, and cold storage solutions to leading food manufacturers and foodservice companies.
Headquartered in
Watsonville, California , VPS Companies operates through several divisions including
Inn Foods (sales and marketing), Valley Packing (sales brokerage), Food Service Systems (foodservice sales), National Custom Packing (co‑packing), and Central Cold Storage (3PL cold storage) . We work with customers across the industrial, foodservice, and retail sectors, delivering customized supply chain solutions and high‑quality frozen food products sourced globally.
We are a
family‑owned organization
built on teamwork, integrity, flexibility, and long‑term customer partnerships.
Position Summary The
Sales Professional / Business Development Manager
is responsible for developing and expanding customer relationships within the frozen food and food manufacturing industries. This role focuses on
growing revenue through both new business development and strategic account management , while working closely with internal operations teams to deliver customized product and supply chain solutions.
The ideal candidate brings strong industry relationships, a consultative sales approach, and the ability to translate customer needs into profitable business opportunities.
Key Responsibilities Business Development
Identify, develop, and close new business opportunities within
food manufacturers, foodservice companies, and industrial ingredient users
Proactively prospect new accounts through industry networking, trade shows, referrals, and targeted outreach
Expand VPS’s presence with existing customers by identifying cross‑selling opportunities across
sales, co‑packing, and cold storage services
Account Management
Build and maintain strong, long‑term customer relationships
Serve as the primary point of contact for key accounts and ensure high levels of customer satisfaction
Anticipate customer needs and proactively offer solutions that add value to their business
Sales Strategy & Market Intelligence
Monitor market conditions including
commodity trends, supply availability, logistics costs, and competitive activity
Provide customers with timely insights on pricing, product availability, and market changes
Work with leadership to develop sales strategies aligned with company growth objectives
Pricing & Proposal Development
Develop competitive pricing and proposals based on product specifications, logistics, and operational costs
Analyze cost structures including product, packaging, freight, handling, and storage
Negotiate contracts and commercial terms with customers
Cross‑Functional Collaboration
Partner closely with
operations, production, procurement, and logistics teams
to ensure alignment between sales commitments and operational capabilities
Coordinate customer requirements including specifications, packaging, forecasting, and service expectations
Customer Support
Resolve customer concerns quickly and professionally
Maintain clear communication with customers throughout the order lifecycle
Ensure accurate documentation of customer agreements, pricing, and specifications
Qualifications Required
10+ years of experience in food industry sales , preferably in frozen foods, ingredients, co‑packing, or foodservice supply
Demonstrated success in
business development and account growth
Strong understanding of
food industry pricing structures, supply chains, and customer requirements
Excellent
negotiation and relationship‑building skills
Ability to translate customer needs into customized service solutions
Strong communication and presentation skills
Proficiency in
Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
Preferred
Bachelor’s degree in
Business, Marketing, Food Science, or related field
Experience working with
food manufacturers, co‑packers, or frozen food distributors
Familiarity with
CRM systems and sales pipeline management
Knowledge of
food safety, quality standards, and regulatory requirements
Key Competencies
Strategic thinking and problem solving
Customer relationship management
Negotiation and contract management
Market awareness and commercial judgment
Collaboration across operations, procurement, and logistics teams
Physical Requirements This role requires regular computer use and occasional travel to customer locations, trade shows, and company facilities. The employee must be able to lift and carry materials up to
25 pounds occasionally .
Equal Opportunity Employer VPS Companies is an
Equal Opportunity Employer . All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, age, sex, national origin.
Contact Daniel Havenar
Human Resources Director
Email:
daniel@vpsco.com
PH:
(831) 761-7079
#J-18808-Ljbffr