Job Description

Now Hiring: Route Sales Representative – Cedar Crest Specialties, Inc.

Position Summary

Join our affiliate company, Hoffmann Cedar Crest Specialties, Inc., the makers of Cedar Crest Ice Cream! As a Route Sales Representative, you'll own an assigned territory of retail, foodservice, and convenience accounts that carry Cedar Crest ice cream and frozen desserts, building the relationship with each store, determining what the account needs, and writing the order that a separate Cedar Crest Route Delivery Driver fulfills within two business days. This is a pre-sell / order-writing role, not a delivery role. The Representative does not drive a delivery route or operate a commercial delivery vehicle. Success in this role is measured by account retention, secondary placement growth, new account acquisition, and order accuracy.

Location: Milwaukee, WI

Reporting Structure

• Reports to: District Manager, Cedar Crest Specialties, Inc.

Key Responsibilities

• Visit each assigned account on its scheduled cadence (weekly, biweekly, or monthly, based on account tier) and build the relationship with the store manager or buyer.
• Identify and negotiate secondary and incremental placements — end caps, off-shelf displays, additional facings — to grow sales within existing accounts.
• Review shelf and cooler conditions, pull product from back stock to replenish shelves, and face/straighten product to maintain a clean, sellable presentation between delivery days.
• Determine the appropriate reorder quantity for each account based on shelf review, sell-through, and seasonal trends, and write an accurate order for the Route Delivery Driver to fulfill.
• Identify, prospect, and open new accounts within the assigned territory to grow the door count.
• Maintain accurate account records, pricing agreements, and territory documentation in Cedar Crest's route management system.
• Partner with the Cedar Crest District Manager on territory planning, account prioritization, and growth targets.
• Communicate account-level issues (out-of-stocks, pricing disputes, competitive activity) to the District Manager and Route Delivery Driver as needed.

Compensation

• Exepected total compensation is $60,000-$80,000/year (base plus commission).

Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; associate's or bachelor's degree a plus, not required.
• 1-3 years of experience in retail sales, merchandising, or a related field preferred; DSD or CPG experience a plus.
• Valid driver's license and a clean driving record — the role requires daily travel between accounts in a personal or company vehicle (non-commercial; no delivery vehicle involved).
• Comfortable with basic math, inventory counts, and handheld or tablet-based order-entry systems.
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills — this role is judged on the strength of the store-manager relationship as much as the order written.
• Self-motivated and able to manage an independent daily schedule with minimal direct supervision.

Physical Demands

• Regularly lifts and carries product cases up to 40-50 lbs while restocking shelves from back stock.
• Frequent standing, walking, bending, reaching, and climbing (step stools/ladders for high shelves) throughout each store visit.
• Works in varied in-store environments, including refrigerated and freezer sections.
• Travels by vehicle between accounts throughout the workday, in all seasonal weather conditions typical of the assigned territory.

Schedule

Full-time. Hours generally align with retail operating hours; early-morning starts are common to complete shelf work before a store's peak traffic. Some flexibility in daily routing is expected as accounts and territory needs evolve.