Area Sales Manager- Ipoh/ Perak

Who We Are

Suntory Beverage & Food strives to be the most locally beloved beverage company in every market we serve. Guided by our founding principles of "Growing for Good," "Yatte Minahare" (the spirit of bold ambition), and "Giving Back to Society", we pursue sustainable growth, bold innovation, and meaningful social impact. Across the Asia Pacific region, we proudly offer trusted brands including Ribena®, Lucozade Sport™, BRAND'S® Essence of Chicken, Tea+, BOSS Coffee, V Energy - delivering quality products that honor our commitment to harmony with people and nature.

At Suntory Malaysia, we are proud to be part of the global Suntory Group, a Japanese multinational renowned for its unwavering commitment to health, wellness, and enriching lives. With a legacy deeply rooted in innovation and natural science, we deliver high-quality health enrichment and functional beverages tailored to the needs of Malaysian consumers.

Guided by our mission to “Inspire the Brilliance of Life”, we blend cutting-edge research with a profound respect for nature to support holistic well-being — from the inside out.

We are the proud brand owner of several iconic products with strong cultural heritage and consumer trust:

• Ribena – the beloved blackcurrant drink rich in Vitamin C.
• BRAND’S® – a trusted name in health supplements, including the renowned BRAND’S® Essence of Chicken.
• C.C. Lemon – a refreshing lemon-flavored drink packed with Vitamin C, offering a zesty boost for your daily wellness.

About your role

The Area Sales Manager - Perak/ Ipoh is responsible for planning and achieving sales growth by developing and implementing regional trade strategies and action plans. This role involves managing a team of sales representatives and Preferred Distributors (PDs) within the region, optimizing trade spend efficiency, and ensuring accurate sales forecasting.

What You'll Do

Commercial Deliverables:

• Sales Monitoring: Track sales achievements and initiate actions to meet targets.
• Forecast Accuracy: Ensure accurate monthly sales forecasts and maintain sufficient stock levels in PD warehouses.
• Sales and Profit Goals: Achieve sales targets and profit objectives, ensuring OTIF for MT.
• Trade Fund Management: Optimize trade funds and achieve planned trade spend KPIs, including rebate management.
• Promotional Opportunities: Identify and pursue distribution and sales opportunities through promotional activities.
• Category Marketing Knowledge: Apply understanding of category marketing by channel to develop commercial strategies for the General Trade channel.

Commercial Works/Executions, Others:

• Promotional Effectiveness: Analyze and track the effectiveness of promotional activities and trade investments, and work with Trade Marketing to drive GT business growth.
• Promotion Coordination: Ensure coordinated execution of promotions and displays between the sales team, PDs, and retailers.
• Cross-Functional Coordination: Drive sales and delivery coordination with internal departments and PDs.
• Trade Visits: Conduct weekly trade visits to monitor sales force execution.
• Business Reviews: Lead monthly business reviews with PDs and quarterly reviews with top management.
• Route to Market Efficiency: Work closely with PD’s sales manager and team to ensure effective active selling outlet (ASO) management.
• Value per Outlet (VPO): Focus on MUST SELL list to meet company VPO goals.
• Key Deliverables: Analyze and follow up on key sales deliverables with actionable plans.
• Route Management: Oversee monthly route management, census checks, call cards, and chiller deployments within PDs.
• Inventory Management: Ensure PD’s inventory levels meet business needs and company stock cover expectations.

Other Business Functions:

• Collaboration: Work closely with demand planners and supply chain to meet regional KPIs.
• Talent Development: Foster a high-performance culture and ensure strong team morale.

#LI-DNP

What's in it for you

Line manager: National Operation Manager (North & South)
Total GT team size: 20

What You need to be successful

Knowledge:
Business Graduate

Technical/Work-based Skills:
Minimum 5 years of experience in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry, specifically in General Trade.

General skills/ attributes:
Strong understanding of the business environment and its dynamics.
Demonstrates strong leadership attributes.
Excellent interpersonal skills, strong commercial acumen, resilience, and a positive attitude.
Thorough understanding of company directions, business essentials, and capabilities.
Strong analytical skills.

Experience:
Proven experience in independently managing General Trade within the FMCG sector.
Strong portfolio in General Trade and Key Contacts.

Qualifications:
Proven sales track record.

Our DEI Commitment

At Suntory, we recognize that diverse knowledge, perspectives, and backgrounds contribute to our collective success. We are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where all individuals can bring their whole selves to work every day, regardless of race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, or any other protected characteristic.

Our recruitment and selection processes are designed to highlight what Suntory offers as an employer while allowing candidates to share their unique skills and experiences. We understand that career trajectories vary, and if you believe your experience/background can benefit our team, we encourage you to apply. We endeavor to make our interview process as inclusive as possible and offer reasonable accommodations as needed. Together, we can cultivate a workplace where everyone can thrive and propel our mission of Growing for Good.