Foodservice Customer Account Specialist – Columbia, SC
COMPANY OVERVIEW
We exist to make food the world loves. But we do more than that. Our company is a place that prioritizes being a force for good, a place to expand learning, explore new perspectives and reimagine new possibilities, every day. We look for people who want to bring their best - bold thinkers with big hearts who challenge one another and grow together. Because becoming the undisputed leader in food means surrounding ourselves with people who are hungry for what’s next.
OVERVIEW
General Mills is seeking a driven, results-oriented Customer Account Specialist (CAS) to help grow our Foodservice business in the Columbia, South Carolina area. In this field-based role, you will build trusted relationships with operators and help customers find the right products and solutions across K-12, colleges and universities, healthcare, commercial, and other non-commercial segments.
You will serve as a customer-facing representative of General Mills, bringing knowledge of our product portfolio, the competitive landscape, and industry trends to every conversation. Working closely with Account Executives, distributor partners, and fellow Customer Account Specialists, you will identify opportunities, create demand, and help drive sustainable volume growth across your territory.
Location: Columbia, South Carolina metropolitan area
KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES
Build and strengthen relationships with key foodservice operators throughout the Columbia metropolitan area.
Identify, develop, and close opportunities that generate incremental volume for General Mills.
Sell General Mills Foodservice products and solutions to expand business with new and existing customers.
Partner with Account Executives and Distributor Sales Representatives to uncover opportunities and create pull-through demand.
Use sales tools and analytics, including Salesforce and Firefly, to plan activity, prioritize prospects, and convert opportunities.
Develop and execute geographic call patterns, including a minimum of 16 in-person customer visits per week.
Identify local opportunities for product placements, promotions, and other customer activations.
Successfully introduce and activate new General Mills items within customer accounts.
Support distributor and industry events, including Food Shows and Distributor Sales Meetings.
Manage your territory with urgency, strategic focus, and disciplined follow-through.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
High school diploma
Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
A collaborative approach and a “win as a team” mindset.
Self-motivation, initiative, and the ability to manage priorities independently.
The discipline to work effectively from a remote office environment while regularly meeting customers in the field.
A demonstrated ability to build relationships, influence decisions, and close sales.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s degree.
Two or more years of relevant foodservice, sales, customer development, or industry experience.
Strong problem-solving and analytical abilities.
Experience working with sales technology, customer relationship management systems, or business analytics tools.
ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS
International relocation or international remote working arrangements will not be considered.
Applicants for this position must be currently authorized to work in the US on a full-time basis. General Mills will not sponsor applicants for this position for work visas.
SALARY RANGE
The salary range for this position is:
$71,300 - $107,000 AnnualAt General Mills we strive for each employee's pay at any point in their career to reflect their experiences performance and skills for their current role. The salary range for this role represents the numerous factors considered in the hiring decisions including, but not limited to, educations, skills, work experience, certifications, etc. As such, pay for the successful candidate(s) could fall anywhere within the stated range.
Beyond base salary, General Mills offers a competitive Total Rewards package focusing on your overall well-being. We are proud to offer a foundation of health benefits, retirement and financial wellbeing, time off programs, wellbeing support and perks. Benefits may vary by role, country, region, union status, and other employment status factors. You may also be eligible to participate in an annual incentive program. An incentive award, if any, depends on various factors, including, individual and organizational performance.
ELIGIBILITY
Applicants must meet a minimum 18-year age qualification.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER (EOE)
General Mills is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital or familial status, status regarding public assistance, or membership or activity in a local human rights commission.
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION REQUEST
If you need to request an accommodation during the application or hiring process, please fill out our online accommodation request form by following this link: Accommodation Request.