Food additive salesperson; Agro-food additive technician.

Sales technicians specialised in food additives and aromas manage a portfolio of clients (agro-food companies), to which they sell manufacturing additives for a profit. However, unlike the traditional salesperson, this sale has a technical aspect, since many times this individual develops different custom-made formulations of additives and/or aromas for each company and/or product. They also advise clients on matters related to the research and development (R&D) of specific products, the formulation, production conditions and the new developments in the market.

• Carry out work in a customer-oriented fashion in order to meet their needs in a pleasant manner and obtain their loyalty.
• Collect the specifications of the product requested by the client in order to define: how it will be presented (appearance, container, storage), the organoleptic characteristics and raw materials, in other words, all the details that will define the end product and how it is to be manufactured.
• Conduct tests in the laboratory and at the pilot plant (like the real ones but on a smaller scale) in order to adapt the formulations to the client's technical specifications.
• Advise on the factory tests and adapt, if necessary, the dosages and the process.
• Coordinate the sales with the administration and production departments.
• Provide technical support to the rest of the company's salespersons.
• Align their actions with the company's objectives and strategies.
• Achieve profitable sales of the additives of the company for which they work.
• Sell additives, adjuvants and/or food aromas from the catalogue of the company for which they work.
• Negotiate the price lists, variations by volume and supply agreement.
• Provide information to the company on client needs and/or the state of the market and its trends.
• Attend training courses and stay up-to-date with the new developments in the additives sector and with the demand trends of the agro-food industry.
• Conduct research in the laboratory on the technical characteristics of the competition's products.

Regulated training and graduates

• Professionalism Certificate: Sales activities (Level 2)
• Professional Training Course (s) in the field of Food Industries - Intermediate Level: Production of food products
• Professional Training Course(s) in the field of Trade and Marketing - Intermediate Level: Trade activities
• Professional Training Course(s) in the professional family of Food Industries - Advanced Level: Process and quality in the food industry
• Grau: Química
• Grau: Enginyeria agrària i alimentària
• Grau: Enginyeria en tecnologies industrials
• Grau: Enginyeria química
• Grau: Enginyeria agroalimentària
• Grau: Enginyeria de Ciències Agronòmiques
• Grau: Enginyeria alimentària
• Grau: Farmàcia
• Grau: Nutrició humana i dietètica
• Grau: Veterinària

Complementary training

Other specific skills

Strategic orientation: Level 2

Customer orientation: Level 3

Planning and organisation: Level 2

Learning and use of knowledge: Level 2

Initiative: Level 2

Negotiation: Level 1

Customer service

Direct and personal interaction with people and relating to the public are highly-motivating activities for individuals who have an interest in the field of customer service. A focus on people and on satisfying customers' needs is key in the occupations included in this field. These jobs entail the need to know suitable techniques for attending to the public and being able to give appropriate service that is tailored to their needs and expectations. Good examples are activities which offer assistance and guidance during functions, trips or at facilities, and those which provide advice in relation to products and services.

Expert in food safety and quality

Expert researcher in new foods

Wine producer

Expert in Food Packaging Applications

Municipal environmental management and energy efficiency technician

• Work hours

  Full-time, adapted to the current projects and the customer's needs.

• Salary

  Between 19.256 and 29.387 euros (annual gross salary, with the possibility of incentives based on objectives achieved). Median: 23.788 euros annum gross. This figure is for informational purposes only and depends on the company's size and the individual's experience and qualifications.
  
  Source: Report "Observatory of Jobs and Salaries of the Labour Market. Barcelona Activa", elaborated by ICSA Grupo. April 2015.

• Other features

  In many cases, however, they work directly in the client's home, especially during the last development phases.

• Professional category

  Technician

• Human resources and equipment

  In many cases they work at the client's home, but the consultant can also have a small pilot plant (small-sized company) in which to carry out tests. In this last case, it will be necessary: to have a premises, either owned or rented, in a location suitable for carrying out the activity; to have available capital to pay for the adaption of the establishment (especially if a laboratory is set up, although the analyses can be outsourced); and to fulfil the legal requirements (activity permit, etc). Administration or analysis assistants can also be hired.

• Initial investments

  The following will be necessary: a management system (software and hardware), a means of communication (phone and fax), as well as the payment of expenses related to rental or transfer, the relevant licences and the purchase of machinery.