National Account Manager

At Mr Fothergill's Seeds we are in the business of bringing gardens to life. Known for our exceptional range of seeds, garden products and horticultural expertise with well-known brands such as Mr Fothergill’s, Johnsons, DT Brown and Darlac our products can be found in garden centres, big retailers and direct to consumers through our websites and catalogues. We have a legacy of quality, a loyal customer base and are committed to inspiring and empowering gardeners of all levels.

We are a passionate team with a strong can-do attitude. We show respect to one another and are keen to innovate on our respective areas of expertise. We value agility, understand the journey our business is on and strive to add our unique mark onto that journey. We work hard but don’t forget to have fun. Our company purpose is “Helping Everyone Grow” and we extend that purpose to everything we do.

The National Account Manager will be responsible for managing and expanding Mr Fothergill’s Seeds' portfolio of accounts, both existing and prospective, for all Garden Centre Groups. The role will ensure the effective presentation and promotion of all Fothergill’s Branded & Own Label products on Seed, In service of Seed & Gifting. This role will work closely with internal and external stakeholders to create, align and execute Joint Business Plans that drive sales and profitability whilst managing key relationships and identifying new business opportunities in line with the company’s growth strategy.

Core Responsibilities:

• Account Management: Lead the day-to-day management of key national garden centre accounts, acting as the primary point of contact and ensuring our products are effectively positioned to maximize sales.
• Business Development: Identify opportunities to grow share within existing accounts and open new ones through proactive outreach and insight-led proposals.
• Range Planning: Develop bespoke product ranges—including Mr Fothergill’s branded seeds, own-label offerings, and “In Service of Seed” ranges—aligned with each retailer’s strategy and shopper needs.
• Joint Business Planning: Create and manage tailored business plans with customers, incorporating range, space, promotional plans, and availability, while tracking performance through internal and EPOS data.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with marketing, product, supply chain and our field sales team to align strategy and ensure flawless execution at store level.
• Customer Engagement: Build long-term relationships with retail buyers, supply chain teams, and merchandising staff, as well as representing the brand at trade shows and customer events.
• Performance & Reporting: Maintain accurate account records and performance data, using insights to make recommendations and deliver targets.

We are looking for someone who has Proven experience in the Garden Centre Channel, ideally as a National Account Manager or in wider National Account Management of retailers (ideally horticulture, but FMCG considered). You will also have Excellent communication skills and ability to build trust with customers, suppliers, and internal teams through presentations, one on one meetings and at Trade Shows. You will also demonstrate:

• Proven success of Account Management, Joint Business Plan creation, sales strategy, and ranging.
• Data literacy, with proven ability to manipulate data to review the business & generate compelling narratives to help grow it.
• Strong organisational skill with the ability to manage multiple accounts and priorities effectively.
• Commercial focus with a track record of driving sales growth and profitability.
• Experience in merchandising and managing promotional activities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint)
• Self-motivation, proactivity, and capability of working independently and as part of a team.

The world of gardening should be accessible to all and it’s important that our teams reflect the diversity of our customers, ensuring that our products meet everyone’s needs. Therefore, we very much welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates regardless of background, gender, race, religious beliefs, disability, sexual orientation, or age. We’re ‘rooting’ for you!