Director of retail sales

Company: FTK Hospitality New York
Location: New York City
Posted on: February 16, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description Job Description DIRECTOR OF WHOLESALE SALES Premium Specialty Food Brand | North Jersey CONFIDENTIAL SEARCH - Managed by FTK Hospitality LLC ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY FTK Hospitality LLC has been retained by a rapidly growing specialty food brand to identify an elite Director of Wholesale Sales who will lead their aggressive expansion into major retail, grocery, hospitality, and specialty markets across the United States. This is a career-defining opportunity for a proven sales leader with deep relationships across premium retail channels and a track record of landing and growing accounts with the nation's largest retailers. Our client is a premium snack and specialty food company based in North Jersey, positioned for explosive growth in the wholesale channel. If you've sold to Walmart, Target, Wegmans, Whole Foods, or other major retail powerhouses and have the rolodex to prove it – we want to talk to you. Company details will be shared with qualified candidates. WHAT YOU'LL DO • Lead and execute wholesale sales strategy across all major retail channels: big-box retailers, premium supermarkets, specialty grocers, hotels, resorts, and hospitality groups • Leverage your existing network to open doors and close deals with target accounts including Walmart, Target, Costco, Sam's Club, Wegmans, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and other national/regional chains • Manage the complete wholesale sales cycle from prospecting and relationship development to contract negotiation, onboarding, and ongoing account growth • Build and maintain strategic relationships with category managers, buyers, and procurement directors at enterprise-level accounts • Develop and execute aggressive growth plans with clear revenue targets and performance metrics • Identify and pursue new market opportunities in retail, hospitality, corporate, and specialty channels • Collaborate with operations, logistics, and production teams to ensure seamless fulfillment and account satisfaction • Utilize CRM and sales technology platforms to track pipeline, forecast revenue, and optimize sales processes • Present product lines, pricing strategies, and promotional programs to C-suite and senior procurement executives • Drive volume growth and market penetration through strategic planning and relentless execution WHO YOU AREREQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS ? 7 years of wholesale/B2B sales experience selling to major retail accounts ? Proven track record closing and growing accounts with big-box retailers (Walmart, Target, Costco, etc.) ? Established relationships with buyers and decision-makers at premium supermarkets (Wegmans, Whole Foods, Publix, Kroger, etc.) ? Experience selling into specialty grocery, natural foods, or gourmet retail channels ? Deep rolodex of contacts across retail, grocery, hospitality, and foodservice sectors ? Demonstrated success managing complex, multi-stakeholder sales cycles ? Tech-savvy with proficiency in CRM systems (Salesforce, HubSpot, etc.), data analytics, and sales enablement tools ? Track record of exceeding sales targets and driving significant revenue growth ? Strong negotiation skills with enterprise-level contracts and pricing structures ? Excellent presentation and communication skills for executive-level meetings PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS • Experience in specialty food, snack, or CPG (Consumer Packaged Goods) industry • Hotel, resort, and hospitality channel sales experience • Existing relationships with corporate procurement and workplace amenity programs • Experience with Amazon Business, e-commerce wholesale, or distributor networks • Understanding of category management, shelf placement, and retail merchandising strategies THE IDEAL CANDIDATE • Hunter mentality with aggressive pursuit of new business opportunities • Self-motivated and results-driven with entrepreneurial spirit • Strategic thinker who can also execute tactically and close deals • Comfortable working in fast-paced, high-growth environment • Passionate about building long-term partnerships, not just transactional relationships • Relentless work ethic with commitment to excellence • Ready to leverage personal network immediately to drive results COMPENSATION & BENEFITS • Competitive base salary commensurate with experience • Aggressive bonus program tied to revenue growth and performance metrics • Uncapped earning potential for top performers • Comprehensive benefits package including health insurance • Professional development and industry conference attendance • Opportunity to build and lead sales team as company scales • Ground-floor opportunity with rapidly expanding premium food brand LOCATION North Jersey (office-based with travel to accounts and trade shows as needed) ABOUT OUR CLIENT Our client is a premium specialty food brand positioned for explosive expansion in the wholesale channel. They are at a pivotal growth stage and need a sales leader who can leverage relationships, open doors, and close major accounts quickly. This is an opportunity to join a company with a proven product, strong leadership, and aggressive growth plans backed by substantial resources. If you have the network, the track record, and the drive to build something significant – this is the role for you. We're looking for someone who can walk in on Day One with a target list of contacts and start making calls. Your relationships are your currency, and our client will provide the platform, product, and support to turn those relationships into substantial revenue growth. TO APPLY Submit your resume to FTK Hospitality LLC along with a brief summary of: • Your most significant retail account wins • Key buyer/procurement contacts in your network (companies, not names) • Your approach to landing a major retail account

Keywords: FTK Hospitality New York, Hamden , Director of retail sales, Sales , New York City, Connecticut