Sales Representative

Position Title: Sales Representative

Sector: Food and Beverage

Channel: Retail and Wholesale Independent

Department: Sales & Commercial

Location: Gauteng

Reports To: Head of Sales / Retail Channel Lead/Director

Role Purpose

The Sales Representative is responsible for driving sales, visibility, and growth across the Gauteng region and respective channels. A key part of the role is leading and developing merchandising execution to ensure strong on-shelf availability, compliance, and store-level performance. The incumbent manages relationships with retail chains, independent stores, and cash & carry customers, ensuring that sales targets and merchandising standards are consistently achieved.

Key Responsibilities

1. Retail, Wholesale Independent Channel Strategy & Execution

• Develop and implement a retail sales strategy for Gauteng
• Identify opportunities to improve product visibility, shelf positioning, and planogram compliance.
• Expand coverage across formal retail, independent retailers, and cash & carry outlets.
• Partner with marketing and merchandising teams to coordinate in-store activations and promotional execution.

2. Sales, Merchandising & Revenue Growth

• Deliver sales, margin, and volume targets through effective execution.
• Oversee merchandising standards including stock rotation, shelf replenishment, pricing labels, POS material placement, and promotional displays.
• Conduct regular store visits and audits to monitor:
• Stock levels & on-shelf availability
• Display compliance
• Shelf space allocation
• Competitor activity
• Trade promotions
• Implement improvement plans where merchandising gaps or sales declines are identified.

3. Customer & Key Account Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with store owners, managers, buyers, and retail chain representatives.
• Negotiate promotional activities with approval
• Collaborate with retail customers on store-specific opportunities to expand facings, increase basket share, and support category growth.
• Resolve retail-level challenges related to supply, service, merchandising, or stock planning.

4. Leadership of Field Sales & Merchandising Teams

• Lead, coach, and support merchandisers to ensure high performance.
• Conduct route planning and monitor efficency.
• Ensure merchandisers adhere to planograms, promotional briefs, and visual merchandising guidelines.

5. Reporting, Forecasting & Administration

• Provide accurate sales and merchandising reports using CRM or reporting tools.
• Track ROI on promotions, displays, and in-store investments.
• Ensure all merchandising activities reflect brand guidelines and regulatory compliance.
• Prepare monthly business reviews summarising channel performance, challenges, sales and opportunities.

Key Skills & Competencies

• Strong sales and merchandising experience within FMCG or food distribution (mandatory).
• Solid understanding of Gauteng retail dynamics (formal retail + independent trade).
• Excellent negotiation, presentation, and customer relationship skills.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret sales and in-store performance data.
• Highly organised and capable of managing multiple retail accounts simultaneously.
• Hands-on, proactive approach with strong attention to detail in store execution.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Sales, Marketing, or Business (advantageous).
• 7+ years FMCG/food industry experience with a strong sales and merchandising background.
• Proven success driving retail sales and managing in-store execution.
• Experience working with retail chains, independent stores, or cash & carry networks in Gauteng.
• Valid driver’s licence and willingness to travel 100% within the region.

Personal Attributes

• Energetic, self-driven, and execution-focused.
• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving abilities.
• High integrity, professionalism, and customer-centric mindset.
• Ability to thrive in fast-moving retail environments.

Pay: R15 000,00 - R20 000,00 per month

Application Question(s):

• Do you own your own vehicle. Mandatory
• Have you consistently worked towards monthly sales targets or KPIs?
• What type of sales experience do you have and in which industry and region?
• Briefly describe your biggest sales achievement in the past two years. Include your target and the result achieved. (Maximum 150 words.)

Education:

• Diploma (Preferred)

Experience:

• Sales Reprenstative : 7 years (Required)

Willingness to travel:

• 100% (Required)

Work Location: In person