Area Sales Manager

About the role

The Area Sales Manager will be responsible for overseeing all sales activities in the Johannesburg South area, driving profitability and growth in line with PepsiCo’s strategic objectives. This role requires a blend of strategic planning, market analysis, and team leadership to ensure the region meets its revenue and market‑share targets.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and execute 90‑day sales plans for the area.
• Capture sales potential, set goals and targets aligned with corporate objectives.
• Grow volume and value, driving market share according to KPIs.
• Forecast future sales trends using market analysis and historical data.
• Conduct market research to identify new opportunities and monitor competition.
• Create and implement strategies to increase revenue, expand the customer base and enter new markets.
• Track profitability of sales efforts and ensure contributions to the cluster’s bottom line.
• Monitor sales KPIs, distributor performance and manage budgets, promotions and pricing.
• Oversee route riding, order management and ensure optimal cost structures.
• Lead, coach and evaluate the sales team, setting KPIs, providing feedback and conducting performance reviews.
• Hire, train and mentor sales staff, fostering a high‑performance culture.
• Collaborate with warehouse, merchandising, marketing and operations to ensure on‑time delivery and alignment of campaigns.

Required profile

• Proven leadership experience in a sales environment.
• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to predict trends and prepare accurate forecasts.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to set clear KPIs, provide constructive feedback and drive team motivation.
• Commitment to consumer‑centricity, compliance and continuous improvement.

Required skills

• Business Intelligence (BI) tools for sales reporting and analysis.
• Distribution Management (DRM) system proficiency.
• Experience with bakery scorecard reporting and daily sales report interpretation.