Catering Sales Manager

At Booker, we pride ourselves on delivering a diverse range of high-quality food and drink products to caterers, restaurants, pubs, and other food service businesses. We believe that a diverse and inclusive environment establishes a sense of belonging among our employees, making them feel welcome, and more connected and productive. Our dedication to excellence and customer satisfaction distinguishes us in the industry, and we aim to build on this success!

To support our continued growth in catering sales, we are seeking a talented Catering Sales Manager to elevate our sales and foster long-lasting relationships with our customers. In return, we offer the potential to earn additional fixed payments for achieving stretch growth in your designated areas.

Curious about what sets us apart? Here are some key features and benefits of our business:

• UK's Largest Food and Drink Wholesaler - we are the biggest and fastest-growing supplier to the independent catering market.
• Leading Catering Butcher - with over 20% of the UK's master butchers working for us, we offer expert advice to enhance dishes and increase our customers' menu options and profits.
• Award-Winning Own Label Brands - our brands are recognised for their quality and value.
• Experienced Team - we have a network of over 100 Catering Sales Managers who excel in building great customer relationships.
• Excellent Delivery Service - we offer delivery, click & collect and in-person shopping experiences in our nationwide branch network with a multi-temp offering, ensuring we cater to all our catering customer needs.

A Place To Get On - Our commitment extends beyond sales; we're dedicated to supporting your career development every step of the way. Here, you'll find opportunities for bitesize upskilling, mentorship, and professional growth, ensuring that you can reach your full potential and achieve your career goals.

Every Voice Matters - At the heart of our cultural transformation is a commitment to our colleagues, where we encourage you to share your insights and ideas on how we can shape our business together, fostering an environment where everyone's contributions are valued.

What is in it for you:

• 10% off all Booker purchases, with double discount events up to three times a year.
• Access to a Tesco Colleague Clubcard after three months, offering additional discounts and perks across the Tesco Group.
• Up to 30% off insurance products such as Pet, Home & Car.
• Save As You Earn Scheme.
• Health and Wellbeing support for you and your family via our Virtual GP and Employee Assistance Programme, accessible 24/7, plus many more benefits!
• A company-wide performance related bonus scheme up to 6%.
• A car allowance is available, where applicable.
• Training & development and opportunities to progress.
• Catering sales incentive scheme for additional earning opportunity.

You will be responsible for:

• Identifying and developing new and existing business opportunities within your targeted area.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with existing and prospective customers.
• Collaborating with internal teams to ensure we meet customer needs and drive sustainable profits.
• Staying up to date on market trends and sharing this knowledge with customers and the business.
• Representing the company at industry events and trade shows.
• Following our Business Code of Conduct and always acting with integrity and due diligence, championing diversity and inclusion.

You will need:

• Proven track record in sales, account management, or business development, ideally within the food/catering sector (other sectors considered).
• Solid understanding of the catering/food service market or willingness to learn.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with active listening to understand customer needs and provide appropriate solutions.
• Ability to quickly build rapport and adapt your style to meet customer needs.
• Willingness to learn and quickly understand our products, club cards, and rewards.
• Ability to handle objections and maintain a positive attitude in challenging situations.
• Self-motivated, goal-oriented, and able to work autonomously as well as part of a team.
• Good commercial awareness to support profitable decisions.

About us: Booker is the UK's leading food & drink wholesaler. We are privileged to serve independent retailers, caterers and small businesses, from locations across the country. We operate over 190 cash and carry branches, eight distribution centres, five Best Food Logistics sites, as well as six support centre locations across the UK.

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) at Booker means that whoever you are and whatever your background, we always want you to feel represented and that you can be yourself at work. In short, we're a place where Everyone's Welcome.

We know life looks a little different for each of us. That's why at Booker and Best, we always welcome conversations about flexible working. Some people are at the start of their careers, some want the freedom to do the things they love. Others are going through life-changing moments like becoming a carer, nearing retirement, adapting to parenthood, or something else. So, talk to us throughout your application about how we may be able to support you.

We're proud that Booker is a Disability Confident Committed employer and we're committed to providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process. For further information on the accessibility support you can expect, please contact recruitment@bookergroup.com.

Please note: We can only accept candidates over the age of 18 if the role requires working before 6:15 am or after 9:45 pm or involves working in areas such as the warehouse, beers, wines & spirits, and driving roles. On the occasions where we have high volumes of applicants, some roles may close earlier than the advertised end date in order for us to manage all of the applicants appropriately. We will only be able to offer individual feedback to those candidates who attend an interview.