LiDestri Food and Drink
Vice President Contract Manufacturing & Customer Success
LiDestri Food and Drink, Fairport, New York, United States, 14450
About LiDestri Foods
LiDestri Foods has grown from our roots as a pasta sauce and salsa manufacturer to become an R&D engine, formulating and producing innovative food products for our national and retailer brand partners. A family-run company based in Rochester, NY, LiDestri employs over 1,000 people across three U.S. locations. We have decades-long partnerships with some of the most respected consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies and the most highly inventive retailer brands.
Excellent Pay and Benefits: Great career-pathing Professional development, including unlimited online training courses Health insurance with premium contributions Dental, vision, HSA 100% company paid
life insurance and long-term disability 401k
- with employer match Paid time off
to include- vacation, sick pay, wellness time off, and 10 holidays Company bonuses And many more.... POSITION SUMMARY:
The Vice President of Sales (Contract Manufacturing) and Customer Success is a senior executive role responsible for developing and executing a unified commercial strategy to drive revenue growth, customer retention, and market share within the private label and contract manufacturing segments. This role owns the entire customer lifecycle-from acquisition through long-term partnership-while aligning sales efforts with company objectives, S&OP planning, and competitive positioning. The VP will lead a high-performing sales and account management team, foster cross-functional collaboration, and deliver exceptional customer experience and value.
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
Sales Strategy & Growth Leadership
Define and lead sales strategy for private label and co-manufacturing to accelerate revenue, increase wallet share, and expand into new markets Build and manage a scalable sales funnel that drives both new customer acquisition and growth within existing accounts Set and achieve targets including revenue, margin, and customer success KPIs Identify opportunities to introduce value-added solutions and services across the customer base Customer Success & Retention
Oversee the customer success function, ensuring best-in-class service, retention, and long-term partnership development Drive post-sale engagement strategies to maximize customer satisfaction, loyalty, and lifetime value Implement success metrics and feedback loops to continuously improve the customer experience Market Intelligence & Competitive Benchmarking
Continuously monitor the competitive landscape, identifying new entrants, service gaps, and pricing pressures Benchmark product, pricing, and service models to guide strategic adjustments and enhance market differentiation Translate market intelligence into actionable insights and commercial opportunities S&OP and Cross-Functional Alignment
Actively contribute to the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process by providing demand forecasts, capacity inputs, and growth insights. Partner closely with Supply Chain, Finance, Operations, and R&D to align sales with operational readiness and margin goals. Collaborate with marketing to ensure alignment of messaging, campaigns, and market positioning. Team Leadership & Organizational Development
Lead, mentor, and develop a high-impact team across sales, business development, and customer success functions Set and monitor team KPIs, territories, and performance goals aligned with business strategy Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and customer-centric execution Executive Communication & Reporting
Serve as a key member of the executive leadership team, reporting on commercial performance, market dynamics, and strategic initiatives Present regular updates on revenue forecasts, funnel metrics, customer health, and growth plans to the CEO and Board QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or related field; MBA strongly preferred 10+ years of progressive sales leadership experience, including executive-level roles in food manufacturing, private label, or co-manufacturing. Proven track record of scaling sales organizations, increasing market share, and improving customer retention. Strong understanding of private label customer dynamics, co-manufacturing economics, and B2B lifecycle management. Demonstrated experience with funnel management, account growth strategy, and sales operations Advanced knowledge of S&OP and cross-functional business integration Highly analytical with strong business acumen and communication skills Proficient in CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce), sales analytics tools, and ERP platforms. Ability to travel (~20%) for key customer meetings, site visits, and industry events. WORKING CONDITIONS:
Regularly required to sit, use hands Occasionally need to lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, with a potential of up to 25 pounds Sedentary office environment Occasional exposure to manufacturing plant floor requiring the use of personal protective equipment (ear plugs, safety glasses, bump cap, skid-resistant leather shoes, etc.); Must follow Good Manufacturing Practice (hair net, no jewelry, no fake nails or eyelashes, no food/drink, gum, etc. in manufacturing Plant).
LiDestri Foods has grown from our roots as a pasta sauce and salsa manufacturer to become an R&D engine, formulating and producing innovative food products for our national and retailer brand partners. A family-run company based in Rochester, NY, LiDestri employs over 1,000 people across three U.S. locations. We have decades-long partnerships with some of the most respected consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies and the most highly inventive retailer brands.
Excellent Pay and Benefits: Great career-pathing Professional development, including unlimited online training courses Health insurance with premium contributions Dental, vision, HSA 100% company paid
life insurance and long-term disability 401k
- with employer match Paid time off
to include- vacation, sick pay, wellness time off, and 10 holidays Company bonuses And many more.... POSITION SUMMARY:
The Vice President of Sales (Contract Manufacturing) and Customer Success is a senior executive role responsible for developing and executing a unified commercial strategy to drive revenue growth, customer retention, and market share within the private label and contract manufacturing segments. This role owns the entire customer lifecycle-from acquisition through long-term partnership-while aligning sales efforts with company objectives, S&OP planning, and competitive positioning. The VP will lead a high-performing sales and account management team, foster cross-functional collaboration, and deliver exceptional customer experience and value.
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
Sales Strategy & Growth Leadership
Define and lead sales strategy for private label and co-manufacturing to accelerate revenue, increase wallet share, and expand into new markets Build and manage a scalable sales funnel that drives both new customer acquisition and growth within existing accounts Set and achieve targets including revenue, margin, and customer success KPIs Identify opportunities to introduce value-added solutions and services across the customer base Customer Success & Retention
Oversee the customer success function, ensuring best-in-class service, retention, and long-term partnership development Drive post-sale engagement strategies to maximize customer satisfaction, loyalty, and lifetime value Implement success metrics and feedback loops to continuously improve the customer experience Market Intelligence & Competitive Benchmarking
Continuously monitor the competitive landscape, identifying new entrants, service gaps, and pricing pressures Benchmark product, pricing, and service models to guide strategic adjustments and enhance market differentiation Translate market intelligence into actionable insights and commercial opportunities S&OP and Cross-Functional Alignment
Actively contribute to the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process by providing demand forecasts, capacity inputs, and growth insights. Partner closely with Supply Chain, Finance, Operations, and R&D to align sales with operational readiness and margin goals. Collaborate with marketing to ensure alignment of messaging, campaigns, and market positioning. Team Leadership & Organizational Development
Lead, mentor, and develop a high-impact team across sales, business development, and customer success functions Set and monitor team KPIs, territories, and performance goals aligned with business strategy Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and customer-centric execution Executive Communication & Reporting
Serve as a key member of the executive leadership team, reporting on commercial performance, market dynamics, and strategic initiatives Present regular updates on revenue forecasts, funnel metrics, customer health, and growth plans to the CEO and Board QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or related field; MBA strongly preferred 10+ years of progressive sales leadership experience, including executive-level roles in food manufacturing, private label, or co-manufacturing. Proven track record of scaling sales organizations, increasing market share, and improving customer retention. Strong understanding of private label customer dynamics, co-manufacturing economics, and B2B lifecycle management. Demonstrated experience with funnel management, account growth strategy, and sales operations Advanced knowledge of S&OP and cross-functional business integration Highly analytical with strong business acumen and communication skills Proficient in CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce), sales analytics tools, and ERP platforms. Ability to travel (~20%) for key customer meetings, site visits, and industry events. WORKING CONDITIONS:
Regularly required to sit, use hands Occasionally need to lift and/or move up to 10 pounds, with a potential of up to 25 pounds Sedentary office environment Occasional exposure to manufacturing plant floor requiring the use of personal protective equipment (ear plugs, safety glasses, bump cap, skid-resistant leather shoes, etc.); Must follow Good Manufacturing Practice (hair net, no jewelry, no fake nails or eyelashes, no food/drink, gum, etc. in manufacturing Plant).