National Account Manager - Foodservice

Overview

At Lakeside Foods and our family of companies, we're committed to providing wholesome foods to enrich people's lives through food. We pursue our vision of growth and innovation with passion, confidence, and commitment. We are strongest together, valuing collaborative contribution, transparency and new ideas to enable change and growth. We are committed to an inclusive and respectful environment that promotes a healthy work-life balance, and there's a seat at the table for you.

Lakeside Foods is hiring a National Account Manager - Food service to lead national and multiunit food service accounts across our Specialty Products portfolio. This role drives national account strategy, customer development, pricing and contract management, and longterm, profitable growth in the U.S. food service channel.

Ideal candidates bring experience managing national food service chain accounts, GPOs, distributors, and buying groups, along with strong commercial strategy skills, deep food service industry knowledge, and the ability to translate insights into customer-centric innovation.

• Own and execute national account strategies to deliver volume, revenue, and margin objectives
• Identify, develop, and close new business opportunities within existing and new national food service accounts
• Proactively onboard new national accounts by leveraging your industry network, developing entry strategies, and leading the commercial process from first engagement through contract execution and launch
• Lead annual planning, line reviews, contract negotiations, and volume commitments
• Translate customer goals into actionable commercial plans aligned with Lakeside Foods priorities
• Build and maintain senior-level customer relationships across Procurement, Culinary, R&D, Marketing, and Operations
• Position Lakeside Foods as a strategic partner, selling value beyond price
• Lead customer meetings, business reviews, and joint growth discussions
• Represent Lakeside Foods at trade shows, industry events, and customer forums
• Lead LTO (Limited-Time Offer) ideation and innovation, partnering with R&D and Marketing to drive incremental revenue, volume, and customer engagement
• Own customer pricing strategies, contract structures, and margin performance
• Manage forecasts, sales pipelines, and promotional activity with accuracy and accountability
• Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and customer dynamics, sharing insights to inform portfolio strategy and innovation priorities

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA preferred but not required
• 5+ years of national account sales experience, with food service experience strongly preferred
• Established relationships with key decision-makers in national food service accounts
• Deep knowledge of the U.S. food service channel, including chain accounts, GPOs, distributors, re-distributors, and buying groups
• Experience working in both large and small organizations, combining an entrepreneurial mindset with strong process discipline
• Strong negotiation, communication, and strategic planning skills
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively throughout the year

Work Arrangement:
Remote, Hybrid, or On-Site

This position offers flexibility based on the candidate's experience, qualifications, and business needs. While Lakeside Foods is headquartered in Manitowoc, WI, we welcome applicants who prefer to work remotely, on-site, or in a hybrid capacity. Travel expectations remain consistent regardless of work location.

Thousands of visitors are drawn here each year to explore the USS Cobia World War II submarine, tour Rogers Street Fishing Village to view relics of famous shipwrecks, or sail across Lake Michigan on the S.S. Badger. Manitowoc-Two Rivers is a maritime treasure to visit and a wonderful place to work and live.

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Lakeside Foods and our family of companies welcomes people of all backgrounds and the varied ideas they bring to the workplace. Being an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer is part of our heritage and culture. We recruit, hire and promote employees based on qualifications and merit, without regard to race, religion, age, gender, disability, marital or veteran status. Lakeside Foods participates in E-Verify.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities