National Account Manager in Derby

My client is an established plant-based chilled food brand with more than 30 years of heritage. Part of a family-owned European food group, the brand has a strong reputation in its home market and is now being relaunched with investment in its positioning, marketing and product range.

The group is growing internationally and has made a clear strategic commitment to the UK. Rather than managing UK customers from Europe, it is appointing a commercially capable National Account Manager to lead the brand’s return to mainstream UK grocery. This is an opportunity to build a UK business around an established brand with fresh investment behind it.

The role

You will lead the commercial re-entry of the brand into UK grocery, building the case with buying and category teams and working to individual customer range-review cycles. Your immediate focus will be to secure branded listings with the major UK grocers, then build distribution, promotional effectiveness and sustainable rate of sale. You will negotiate pricing, promotional plans, trading terms and customer plans, while ensuring that the commercial proposition is credible, competitive and deliverable.

The UK business has historically been focused on private label and contract manufacturing. Alongside the grocery-growth agenda, you will manage and develop existing business in organic and specialist retail channels. This is a genuinely entrepreneurial role. There is no established UK sales team or mature set of processes to inherit. You will create the pipeline, account plans and reporting rhythm, while working closely with colleagues in marketing, supply chain, finance and customer service at the European head office. You will report directly to the senior leader responsible for European development.

Once the UK grocery plan is well established, you will also support selected export markets, including Ireland and parts of Southern and Eastern Europe, principally through distributor relationships. UK grocery will remain the priority.

About you

You will be an accomplished FMCG Key Account Manager or National Account Manager with direct experience of working with UK grocery head offices. You will bring:

• A strong record of managing and growing major grocery accounts in FMCG.
• Experience securing listings, negotiating commercial terms and building customer plans with buying and category teams.
• A sound understanding of range-review cycles, promotional planning, distribution growth and rate-of-sale management.
• Experience of building, launching or relaunching a branded proposition in UK grocery; this will be particularly valuable.
• The commercial judgement to manage pricing, margin, promotional investment and customer profitability.
• The ability to operate independently, create structure and maintain momentum in a developing business.
• Strong collaboration skills and confidence working cross-functionally with international colleagues.

Experience in chilled food, dairy alternatives, plant-based products or another high-velocity grocery category would be advantageous. Export sales and distributor-management experience would also be useful, but are not essential. You will be based within practical reach of the principal UK grocery buying centres, ideally in the South East or Midlands. The role involves regular UK travel and periodic travel to Europe.

What the role offers

This is a rare opportunity to take an established, well-supported brand back into mainstream UK grocery and shape the commercial foundations for long-term growth. You will have direct access to the senior team, meaningful autonomy and the backing of current investment in the brand, range and marketing proposition. The role offers a competitive salary, dependent on experience, an annual bonus opportunity of up to 20%, car allowance and benefits.

How to apply

Send your CV or contact John Hamilton for a confidential discussion. We will begin initial interviews promptly and aim to make an appointment quickly.