What's Happening?
Land O'Lakes, Inc., a century-old farmer- and retailer-owned cooperative, is actively recruiting for a Purina Senior Feed Sales Representative to cover the Mid-South region, primarily Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Tennessee. This field-based, consultative
sales position is crucial for supporting the Farm & Ranch Agricultural Retail channel. The role involves direct customer engagement, developing relationships with retail employees, and utilizing industry-leading sales tools to drive channel growth. Key responsibilities include elevating the Purina Feed brand's in-store presence, partnering with retailer District Managers for training and product sales, managing communication between Purina Marketing, Field Sales, and Retail Operations, and overseeing a third-party broker retail team. The position requires a Bachelor's Degree and at least two years of experience in store-level training with a focus on selling consumer packaged goods or related retail. Significant travel, approximately 70%, is expected, often involving two to three overnight stays per week. The ideal candidate would be located in the Atlanta, GA, Birmingham, AL, or Nashville, TN areas.
Why It's Important?
This recruitment highlights Land O'Lakes' strategic focus on strengthening its presence and sales within the vital agricultural retail sector in the Mid-South. By investing in a dedicated Senior Feed Sales Representative, the cooperative aims to enhance brand visibility and product distribution, directly impacting its market share and revenue in a competitive industry. The emphasis on developing relationships with retail employees and managing a broker team underscores a commitment to localized market penetration and support, which is crucial for agricultural products that often require tailored advice and service. Success in this role could lead to increased sales for Land O'Lakes' Purina feed products, benefiting the cooperative's farmer- and retail-owners through stronger annual performance. Furthermore, the role's extensive travel requirement and regional focus indicate the importance of direct engagement and on-the-ground support for retailers and farmers, ensuring that product knowledge and sales strategies are effectively implemented across a diverse agricultural landscape.
What's Next?
The immediate next step for Land O'Lakes is to successfully fill the Senior Feed Sales Representative position. Once hired, the individual will be tasked with executing the outlined responsibilities, including elevating the Purina Feed brand, training retail staff, and managing broker teams across the Mid-South. The effectiveness of this new hire will be measured by their ability to drive sales growth and strengthen relationships within the Farm & Ranch Agricultural Retail channel. Land O'Lakes will likely monitor sales data and market feedback to assess the impact of this strategic hire on regional performance. The cooperative's ongoing commitment to its member-owners suggests that successful implementation of this role could lead to further investments in regional sales and support initiatives, potentially expanding similar roles in other key agricultural markets. The company's benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, PTO, and a 401k, aims to attract qualified candidates, ensuring a robust talent pool for this critical position.
Beyond the Headlines
The creation of this role reflects broader trends in the agricultural sector, where direct engagement and specialized sales expertise are increasingly vital for market success. As agriculture becomes more complex, with evolving feed technologies and consumer demands, companies like Land O'Lakes are recognizing the need for highly skilled professionals who can not only sell products but also provide valuable training and support to retailers. This approach fosters stronger partnerships within the supply chain, ensuring that farmers receive the best possible products and advice. The focus on the Mid-South region also underscores the economic significance of this area for agricultural production and retail. Moreover, Land O'Lakes' identity as a farmer- and retailer-owned cooperative highlights a business model that prioritizes the success of its members, making roles like this Senior Feed Sales Representative integral to its foundational mission of creating shared success and championing farming's potential.
