Produce Specialist
Company: Sysco
Location: Fremont
Posted on: March 20, 2026
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Job Description:
Position Summary: This is a professional sales position
responsible for growing new business within the fresh produce
category, with the expectation of achieving assigned business goals
while enhancing the customer experience. This will be accomplished
through maintaining industry and category specific certification
status and direct selling of the category to customers. Specialists
will prioritize time, targets, and Total Team Selling efforts based
on market insights and data analytics. Specialists are responsible
for building customer loyalty that will grow market share:
assessing customer needs to recommend the best service model:
Broadline, Specialty, or a hybrid service, without favoring one
channel over another. As noted in Sysco’s Leadership Framework;
On-target performance includes exhibiting the following framework
components; Core Qualities, Shaping the Future, and Delivering
Business Results. Responsibilities: Develop and execute targeted
produce sales strategies to achieve region and individual annual
total team selling business goals, delivering profitable sales
growth and penetration across the fresh produce category, specialty
segments, and Sysco brand Identify the needs of customers and
prospects to assemble a product mix that delivers solutions and
helps achieve business objectives Utilize data analytics to
prioritize produce opportunities Actively seek, qualify, and
support top prospect conversion to Sysco Be informed of market
conditions, product innovations, and competitors' products, prices,
and sales; share information with customers as part of value-added
services provided Track activities and results, collaborate on
opportunities, and champion the team selling process through use of
Salesforce (Sysco’s CRM tool) Leverage sampling in a
solutions-oriented manner to close sales Provide feedback to
specialty companies and merchandising on product quality, product
integrity, product mix, customer satisfaction, perceived value and
competition Develop and maintain relationships with customers,
chefs and sales team members Support execution of prioritized sales
strategies through direct selling and engagement of customers and
prospects at Sysco events (e.g. food shows, industry events)
Collaborate with Sysco Specialty companies to grow market share,
focusing on results rather than a specific delivery channel. Assess
customer needs and recommend the best service model — Broadline,
Specialty, or hybrid — without favoring one approach. Leverage
market insights and data to guide sales efforts and identify key
targets. Foster strong, lasting customer relationships and
collaborate across company teams to enhance loyalty. Stay current
on Broadline and Specialty offerings, produce assortments, pricing,
and go to market strategies. Communicate evolving customer needs to
merchandising teams. QUALIFICATIONS Education/Experience: Minimum:
High School Diploma or GED and 3 years of sales experience within a
retail, broker, wholesale or distribution environment (deep
technical expertise of produce categories) Preferred: Bachelor's
degree in a related field or equivalent educational level Knowledge
& Skills: Proficiency in produce knowledge and trends required
(Internal Certification & External Certification may be required)
Analytical problem-solving skills, including familiarity with
analyzing reports and deriving insights from data Ability to
express information in terms of profit and loss, food cost and
expense ratio Strong financial acumen and ability to properly plan
and execute business plans Flexible; readily accepts change; open
to new ideas Track record of success in the area of consultative
selling, networking and negotiations Proficient communication and
interpersonal skills and ability to work with and influence a
variety of key stakeholders Experience building trust with
prospective customers and securing new business Strong business and
restaurant operations acumen to manage sophisticated customers
Ability to learn the use of proprietary CRM tools for planning and
forecasting sales growth Proficient in Microsoft Applications Suite
(Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) Proactive and self-directed,
with the ability to structure a weekly schedule to be successful
Demonstrated ability to deliver against deadlines and produce
high-quality results (accuracy, thoroughness in the deliverables
they are producing) Excellent organizational and project management
skills, including the ability to execute multiple initiatives at
the same time Understanding of marketing principles, product lines,
ordering procedures and Sysco’s credit terms
Keywords: Sysco, Modesto , Produce Specialist, Sales , Fremont, California
