Versele-Laga is a leading manufacturer of high quality food and care products for pet and performance animals with 10 factories in 3 continents. We sell our strong brands in over 85 countries thanks to our team of 1.100 colleagues with a true passion for animals. Our group headquarters are based in Deinze near Ghent. We produce more than 95% of our products in house starting from the best raw materials until the final packed product.
After more than 90 years of expertise since our founding, we are still a rock solid family owned company with a unique culture based on respect, passion and engagement. Our track record of strong growth continues in our long term ambitions based on innovation, high investments, regional expansion and of course our dedicated teams.
Every day, we are nurturing the bond between people and over 25 Million animals with the best nutrition and care products. We take our responsibility to improve the wellbeing of people and animals seriously through a wide range of initiatives. Next to that, we contribute to a better planet through local sourcing, lower CO2 emissions, energy and waste reduction.
In the United States, Versele-Laga oversees four core company brands: Versele-Laga, Higgins Premium Pet Foods, Cavalor and Roudybush.
· Versele-Laga and Higgins Premium Pet foods operate out of Miami, FL and offer a wide assortment of food, treats and supplements for birds, small animals and pigeons. They are committed to providing pets with the highest quality nutrition free of any artificial flavors, colors and preservatives.
· Cavalor operates out of Dalton, GA and produces a complete line of premium horse feed, supplements and care products. They are focused on addressing the unique nutritional issues and challenges in the equine industry and are considered a leading nutrition solution provider.
· Roudybush operates out of Sacramento, CA and is a specialized bird food manufacturer. It offers science-based pellets, nectars, squab, and other diets for companion birds.
Role:
Drive business development by actively developing and supporting commercial activities in your area.
Implement growth-focused commercial strategies to expand business with existing customers and identify and convert new business opportunities.
Analyse market trends and evolutions in the pet food sector; benchmark competitors to inform development strategies.
The set up and implementation of annual sales and marketing plans for the area.
Build and maintain strong relationships with the salesforce and brand managers of local distributors to ensure the successful rollout and follow-up of commercial plans.
Identify and develop Modern Trade opportunities (pet shop chains, DIY, online) and negotiate with key accounts to unlock growth potential.
Leading product training sessions for sales personnel of our distributors.
Organizing and participating at professional exhibitions and consumer shows.
Perform regular market visits and store-checks, independently or with distributor merchandisers, to support execution excellence.
Report directly to the Senior Area Sales Manager at the Belgian headquarters, providing input on business performance and development potential.
Profile:
You have a university degree.
Sales experience within a multinational company is a plus
You are interested in the petfood market.
You are sales and result driven, and you have good communication and negotiation skills.
Fluent English is a must
You are willing to travel frequently to the far East (approximately two weeks per month) and occasionally work on weekend days.
You live within a reasonable distance from our HQ in Deinze, Belgium.
Our offer:
A competitive salary and benefits package tailored to your experience and impact.
The opportunity to work with a passionate and driven team in a dynamic and growing industry.
A role in a large, ambitious, and international family-owned company, where your contributions truly matter.
The chance to make a meaningful impact on the lives of pets and their owners worldwide.
A collaborative and innovative work environment that values your ideas and creativity.
A unique perk: your well-behaved pet (dog, cat, rabbit, bird, or chicken) could become one of our cherished office companions!
A true family atmosphere, including active participation in team events such as the Versele-Laga Run in Deinze, the Versele-Laga Classic (cycling), and more.