National Account Manager - Foodservice, AFH

About Heartland Food Products Group Heartland Food Products Group (HFP) is a global leader in innovative sweeteners and beverage solutions. Our portfolio includes Splenda, Splenda Stevia, Splenda Allulose, and Java House Cold Brew, supporting operator and consumer demand for better-for-you, great-tasting, and versatile products. We partner with national and regional foodservice chains across restaurants, convenience, hospitality, coffee, OCS/OCM, and healthcare-helping operators streamline beverage and sweetener solutions across both FOH and BOH. Location: USA Remote; West, Central, Northeast and Southeast. Preferred Cities: Tampa, Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Phoenix, Minneapolis, Chicago or near any major airport. Position Summary The National Account Manager (NAM) - Away from Home is responsible for leading and growing key national and large regional accounts across the QSR/Fast Casual/Casual Dining, Convenience, Travel and Leisure, and Coffee Segments. This role manages the full sales cycle-including operator engagement, menu innovation support, business planning, pricing/program execution, and distributor alignment-while collaborating closely with internal cross-functional teams and broker partners. Key Responsibilities Account Leadership & Business Management * Own a national or multi-region account list with responsibility for customer relationships, business planning, and overall account performance. * Develop and execute Joint Business Plans (JBPs) with customers, including product placement strategies, innovation opportunities, and program alignment. * Lead customer presentations across purchasing, culinary, beverage, R&D, marketing, and operations. Customer Development * Drive product placement for Splenda, Splenda Stevia, Splenda Allulose, and Java House across FOH and BOH applications. * Coordinate product testing, menu innovation sessions, and formulation work with Culinary and R&D. * Identify opportunities for new chain development across hotel groups, convenience retailers, QSR/fast casual, coffee chains, and other AFH segments. Distribution & Program Execution * Ensure distribution coverage through foodservice distributors including Sysco, US Foods, GFS, PFG, DOT Foods, Core-Mark, McLane, Eby-Brown, and regional accounts. * Manage pricing letters, contracts, programs, and customer compliance. * Partner with brokers (OCS, C-Store, Regional AFH) to support market-level execution and operator activation. Internal Collaboration * Work cross-functionally with Marketing, R&D, Culinary, Finance, and Supply Chain. * Provide accurate forecasting, program visibility, and communication within Salesforce. * Support trade shows, operator showcases, and customer events. Brand & Event Support * Represent Heartland at industry events including NRA, NACS, SCA, Foodovation, Market Vision, and operator innovation summits. * Support brand activations tied to Java House and Splenda where relevant for operator engagement. Required Qualifications * 5-10 years of National Account Foodservice sales experience (required). * Proven experience selling into at least one of the following: convenience, hotel, QSR/fast casual, chain restaurants, coffee chains, or healthcare. * Strong understanding of foodservice distribution networks and pricing structures. * Ability to build and manage senior-level customer relationships. * Strong negotiation, presentation, and communication skills. * Proficiency in Salesforce, Excel, PowerPoint, and pipeline management. * Ability to travel 40-60% within the U.S. Preferred Qualifications * Experience with sweeteners, beverage solutions, coffee, or better-for-you products. * Experience running menu innovation cycles or coordinating with R&D/Culinary. * Existing relationships within national or large regional foodservice chains. * Understanding of cold beverage platforms, coffee programs, and tabletop/BOH sweetener solutions. What We Offer * Competitive salary, bonus program, and benefits package. * Opportunity to make an immediate impact within a growing AFH organization. * Direct access to leading brands such as Splenda, Splenda Stevia, Splenda Allulose, and Java House Cold Brew. * A collaborative culture with strong cross-functional support.

Created: 2026-04-02