Retail Chain Business Development Representative
Overview
ZERO ERA is seeking a proactive and results-driven Retail Chain Business Development Representative to help expand our presence across grocery, natural retail, lifestyle retail, and distributor channels.
ZERO ERA creates tea fiber–based sustainable everyday essentials, including disposable cutlery, cutlery sets, straws, personal care products, and travel amenity items. Our products are designed as PFAS-free, lower-plastic alternatives to conventional plastic products for modern consumers, foodservice operators, hospitality buyers, and retail partners.
This role will focus on developing retail chain opportunities with grocery stores, natural food retailers, lifestyle retailers, regional chains, and retail distributors such as Superstore, Whole Foods, Save-On-Foods, Sobeys, London Drugs, Costco, KeHE, UNFI, and other retail or specialty channels.
The ideal candidate is confident in outreach, organized with follow-ups, comfortable communicating with buyers and category managers, and motivated to help grow an emerging sustainable consumer goods brand.
Responsibilities
- Identify and pursue new retail business opportunities with grocery chains, natural food stores, lifestyle retailers, independent retailers, and retail distributors.
- Contact retail buyers, category managers, supplier onboarding teams, and distributor representatives through email, LinkedIn, phone, and vendor portals.
- Manage submissions on platforms such as RangeMe, ECRM, KeHE, UNFI, Whole Foods Market, and other retailer or distributor portals.
- Prepare and send product catalogues, brand decks, spec sheets, sample kit information, pricing sheets, product images, and certification documents.
- Follow up with buyers and track all outreach, responses, next steps, and sales opportunities.
- Support private label, seasonal retail, and sustainable hosting opportunities where applicable.
- Gather and organize buyer-required information such as UPCs, MSRP, MOQ, case pack, shelf life, carton dimensions, pallet information, lead time, and product claims.
- Work with internal team members, suppliers, and management to ensure product information is accurate and buyer-ready.
- Monitor retail trends, competitor products, pricing, packaging, and sustainability claims in the disposable dining and personal care categories.
- Build long-term relationships with retail buyers, distributors, and category managers to support future product placement and growth.
Qualifications
- Experience in B2B sales, retail sales, business development, inside sales, buyer outreach, or consumer goods is preferred.
- Experience with grocery, natural products, CPG, foodservice, retail distribution, or sustainability-focused products is an asset.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills in English.
- Cantonese or Mandarin is an asset, but not required.
- Comfortable with cold outreach, follow-up emails, phone calls, LinkedIn outreach, and buyer communication.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail when managing product information, buyer requirements, and follow-ups.
- Ability to understand and communicate product benefits, including PFAS-free positioning, lower-plastic alternatives, food-contact readiness, compostable product formats, and tea fiber–based materials.
- Familiarity with CRM tools, spreadsheets, Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, Salesforce, HubSpot, or similar systems is an asset.
- Self-motivated, professional, and able to work independently while meeting outreach and sales targets.
- Previous experience working with retail buyers, distributor portals, RangeMe, ECRM, KeHE, UNFI, or grocery chains is a strong plus.
Why Join ZERO ERA
This is an opportunity to help build a growing, sustainable products brand from the early stage. You will play a direct role in opening retail partnerships, developing buyer relationships, and bringing safer, lower-plastic everyday products to more consumers and retail channels.
ZERO ERA is looking for someone who is proactive, organized, confident in communication, and excited to grow with a purpose-driven brand focused on better materials, better choices, and a safer everyday future.
Pay: $20.00-$30.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Casual dress
- Flexible schedule
- Work from home
Experience:
- B2B Sales, marketing or technology sales: 1 year (preferred)
Language:
- English (preferred)
- Chinese (preferred)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Vancouver, BC
