Sales Manager, Multicultural Markets in at Lifeway Foods Inc
Job Description
Lifeway Foods (NASDAQ: LWAY), which has been recognized as one of Forbes’ Best Small Companies, is America’s leading supplier of the probiotic beverage known as Kefir. In addition to its line of drinkable Kefir, the company also produces cheese, drinkable yogurt, and a ProBugs line of Kefir for kids. Lifeway’s tart and tangy fermented dairy products are sold across the United States, Mexico, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.
Summary
The Sales Manager, Multicultural Markets supports and grows Lifeway Foods’ business across multicultural, independent, and specialty retail channels throughout North America. Working closely with the Vice President of Sales, this role expands distribution, strengthens customer and distributor relationships, and develops profitable new business. The position partners with Domestic Sales, Operations, Supply Chain, Customer Service, Finance, and Marketing to align customer commitments with production capacity, inventory availability, and company priorities.
Chicago is the preferred location; however, candidates will also be considered in the New York City metropolitan area, including New Jersey; the Philadelphia area; California, primarily the San Francisco or San Diego areas; and the Miami area, including surrounding suburbs.
Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities
- Manage assigned retail accounts, distributors, and brokers; build strong relationships and conduct regular business reviews
- Expand distribution, shelf presence, and sales volume while supporting profitability and customer retention
- Support pricing negotiations, promotional programs, and customer agreements within approved authority; execute agreed sales plans
- Partner with distributors and brokers on annual business plans, sales execution, inventory management, and distribution gains
- Identify and pursue new customers and geographic opportunities within multicultural, independent, and specialty retail channels
- Conduct store visits to assess assortment, placement, pricing, merchandising, and competitive activity; recommend actions to improve performance
- Collaborate with Marketing on customer promotions, retail activations, promotional calendars, trade shows, and industry events
- Provide customer feedback, market intelligence, and competitive insights to guide commercial decisions
- Prepare sales reports, customer forecasts, account updates, and recommendations; monitor promotional spending, deductions, and program effectiveness
- Partner with Domestic Sales to coordinate account coverage, pricing, promotions, and opportunities across overlapping channels
- Work with Operations and Supply Chain to align forecasts, production capacity, inventory, product availability, and delivery expectations before making customer commitments
- Coordinate with Customer Service and Finance to resolve order, service, deduction, and payment issues; maintain accurate company records
- Conduct behavior in compliance with Lifeway Employee Policy
- Perform additional duties as assigned
Qualification and Education Requirements
- Two to five years of sales or account management experience, preferably in consumer packaged goods, food and beverage, grocery, or distribution
- Professional proficiency in English and Russian sufficient to conduct customer meetings, negotiations, and account communications with assigned English- and Russian-speaking business partners.
- Strong relationship building, communication, presentation, organization, and problem solving skills.
- Ability to analyze sales data, identify growth opportunities, manage competing priorities, and work independently.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook; ability to maintain accurate sales and account records.
- Ability to meet the travel requirements of the position.
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Sales, or a related field preferred
- Experience with multicultural, independent, or specialty grocery channels and established distributor, broker, or retailer relationships preferred
- Knowledge of food and beverage sales, trade promotions, forecasting, and the retail environment preferred
- Travel approximately 40–60%, primarily throughout the United States, for customer and distributor meetings, store visits, trade shows, and industry events
Work Environment and Physical Requirements
Work is performed in office, retail, distributor, and trade show settings, with frequent travel and regular store visits. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals to perform the essential functions.
Lifeway Foods, Inc is a growing Chicago-based beverage manufacturer with 40 years of experience. We are an industry leader in the production of high-quality Kefir. We are an equal-opportunity employer and offer a competitive benefits package. Visit us at www.lifewaykefir.com.
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