Sales Activation Manager - Barebells & NOCCO (Chicago Market)

At Vitamin Well Group, we provide great-tasting drinks, snacks, and protein products. Our brands Vitamin Well, NOCCO, and Barebells are available across most of Europe, North America, the MENA region, and parts of Asia Pacific. With a revenue of 650 million euros, we operate in over 40 markets, with headquarters in Stockholm and offices in fourteen countries around the world.

Vitamin Well Group in the US 

Vitamin Well made its debut in the US market in 2019, initially introducing NOCCO, followed by the launch of Barebells in 2020. Since then, the company has witnessed remarkable growth, with its products now widely available across the country in various gyms, gas stations, and grocery stores. Our team is characterized by its high level of engagement, agility, and a shared passion for ensuring our brands become a staple in households across the US.

The US market has rapidly emerged as having one of the most significant volume increases across our markets. In response to this success, we have developed and launched products specifically designed to meet the unique preferences and needs of the US consumer.

About the Role 

The Sales Activation Manager will represent us in and around metropolitan cities across the US. This position focuses on making an impact in the field, with our current National, Regional, and Independent accounts across all channels.

In this role, you’ll work with our National Field Sales Manager to prioritize your time focusing on the highest impact customers, while working with our distribution partners and third-party sales resources in the region to deliver on growth at the highest level. You’ll be opening new doors, gaining more points of distribution, all while exciting customers and the market around our products. If you’re looking for a fast-paced environment, an opportunity for personal growth and responsibility, and enjoy having fun along the way, then this is a role you’ll thrive in!

Role requires presence in assigned markets:

• This is a field-based role – 95% of time will be spent in the field of your assigned territory/city (Chicago).

• Must possess and maintain a valid US Driver’s License with clean driving record.

The Position:

Build the Brand

• Conduct weekly visits to high-volume accounts, identify growth opportunities, and achieve monthly/quarterly KPIs.

• Drive sales execution through expanded SKU distribution, shelf space, displays, cooler placements, and promotions.

• Manage relationships with retailers, brokers, and third-party merchandising partners.

• Identify and develop new business opportunities within the independent channel.

• Support chain retailers with new item launches and retail programs.

• Assist with merchandising, stocking, and display execution, including lifting product cases as needed.

• Gain additional placement within accounts, including secondary points of purchase and cooler placement.

• Provide timely, accurate reporting through retail execution and field management tools (e.g., Repsly).

• Support regional sales initiatives and participate in weekly sales reviews and planning calls.

• Partner with field marketing teams to execute programs that increase market share and sales performance.

Relationship Building with Retailers

• Build strong relationships with key store contacts to secure incremental display and promotional opportunities.

• Consistently service an assigned territory (approximately 10–20 stops per day) with purposeful follow-up.

• Plan and prioritize weekly account visits based on business needs and opportunities.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for customers, identifying needs and implementing plans to drive sales growth.

• Establish trust and credibility with accounts through reliable execution and partnership.
  

What you will need to succeed:

• 2–3+ years of consumer goods sales experience, preferably in beverage, distributor sales, or related industries.

• Experience in Conventional, Natural, Convenience, and Independent retail channels strongly preferred.

• Strong business acumen with an entrepreneurial mindset.

• Comfortable with daily face-to-face customer interactions.

• Proficient with CRM platforms and field sales reporting tools.

• Excellent communication, relationship-building, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

• Passion for understanding consumer behavior and identifying opportunities to drive growth.

• Must reside within the assigned territory.

• Ability to regularly lift up to 40 lbs and build large product displays.

• High school diploma or equivalent required.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; experience with Teams preferred.

• Ability to analyze data and translate insights into actionable recommendations.

• Valid U.S. driver’s license with a clean driving record.

• Travel required up to 95%, including occasional support for other markets, retailers, and trade shows.

• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, overnight shifts, and other non-standard hours as business needs require.

The anticipated salary range for this position is $55,000–$65,000 per year, based on qualifications and experience. In addition, this role is eligible for a biannual bonus.

We appreciate LinkedIn, but to get a full picture of your experience, we ask you to also include a CV.

Vitamin Well USA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

Life at Vitamin Well Group

Our growing family is made up of over 600 employees, representing a variety of cultures, experiences and diverse backgrounds. This diversity is a great asset as we continue our expansion and evolve our portfolio. At the same time, Vitamin Well is still very much a Swedish company, promoting Swedish values when it comes to both business and people. We treat each other in a fair and equal way, and we respect one another based on our qualities. As we expand Vitamin Well Group’s business, we are also committed to minimizing our environmental impact and continuously strive to lower emissions from for example production, logistics, and packaging.

Working at Vitamin Well, we provide a dynamic environment defined by ambition, dedication, and an entrepreneurial spirit. In our action-oriented culture, the ability to make swift decisions is paramount in bringing ideas to fruition. We are committed to fostering an atmosphere where every individual's unique strengths contribute to our collective success. As a health and exercise-oriented company, we inspire an active lifestyle by partnering with top-performing athletes, but we also promote and support exercise among our employees.

As part of the recruitment process, we may ask you to conduct a personality test as well as a test that measures logical ability. The purpose of the tests is to evaluate candidates as objective as possible and identify the best possible match for the role. The tests are based on solid research and are taken through our partner Alva Labs.