Vice President of Sales
We are seeking an experienced VP of Sales with CPG experience. Someone who can open doors, build relationships, and make things happen in the convenience retail world. If you have deep C-store and CPG connections and you know how to move product through distributors and retailers, keep reading.
GateDrop makes ultra-convenient, ultra-portable, microdosable energy gummies. Each gummy contains 25 mg of natural caffeine plus energy-focused vitamins, allowing customers to dial in the exact lift they need. We are building a disruptive energy brand designed for impulse channels like convenience stores, gyms, and specialty retail.
This role will own our retail expansion strategy, with a heavy focus on convenience store chains, distributors, and high-velocity retail channels.
What you will own
• C-store expansion
Build the pipeline with regional and national convenience store chains, secure meetings with buyers, land pilots, and drive product into new doors
• Distributor strategy
Identify and activate convenience distributors, manage relationships, negotiate terms, and ensure strong post-launch velocity
• Retail partnerships
Work directly with chains, franchise groups, and independent operators to create programs that drive sell-through
• Direct sales engine
Develop outreach, sampling programs, and field activation that supports convenience retail velocity
• Industry relationships
Leverage your existing C-store and CPG network to accelerate introductions and close new opportunities
• Forecast and discipline
Maintain clean CRM practices, run weekly pipeline reviews, and provide accurate revenue forecasting
• Market feedback
Translate insights from retailers and distributors into improvements in pricing, pack sizes, and messaging that increase turns
What success will look like
• 30 days
Launch with early retail partners and begin opening conversations with convenience distributors and chains
• 90 days
Distributor introductions underway, multiple retail pilots live, and a repeatable outreach playbook established
• 6 months
75 to 125 convenience store doors activated with clear velocity data, multiple recurring B2B accounts ordering regularly
• 12 months
Multi-region distributor coverage, predictable reorder cadence, and a sales model ready to scale with additional hires
What the right candidate will bring
• Hunger, grit, and intensity
• You love the chase, you open doors others cannot, and you finish plays
• Strong CPG (ideally CPG energy) and convenience experience
• 5+ years in food, beverage, supplements, or energy products with real wins in the convenience store channel
• Industry relationships
• Existing contacts with C-store buyers, distributors, and CPG operators
• Wholesale expertise
• Experience pitching to buyers, negotiating programs and margins, and managing trade spend
Direct selling ability
• Cold outreach, in-person meetings, trade shows, and closing new accounts with measurable results
Operational discipline
• Pipeline management, forecasting, and simple sales models that guide decision making
• Communication that persuades
• Clear, concise, and effective when speaking with buyers, distributors, and partners
Nice to have
Existing distributor relationships in convenience retail
Experience with energy drinks or functional products
Experience launching products at industry events such as NACS or ECRM
How we work
• High intensity, high ownership, low drama
• Speed over ceremony, tight loops with the founders
• Travel for buyer meetings, distributor visits, trade shows, and samplings as needed
Location
Remote first, with occasional team meetings in New Hampshire.
Compensation
Commission and bonus to start with early equity potential in an emerging national energy brand. Market-rate base salary introduced at defined revenue milestones.
How to apply
Send a short note describing your biggest wholesale or convenience retail win, your resume or LinkedIn, and a few lines on how you would get GateDrop into its next 100 convenience store doors.
