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- Tasks: Lead grocery sales strategy and build strong relationships with major supermarket customers.
- Company: Established soft drinks manufacturer with a focus on taste and natural ingredients.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, company car, annual bonus, private health cover, and pension scheme.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team and drive retail expansion in a fast-paced industry.
- Qualifications: Proven track record in grocery sales and strong communication skills required.
- Other info: Flexible working options and excellent career progression opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 86000 - 115000 £ per year.
About the Company
Our client is an established soft drinks manufacturer with an enviable track record both UK & Internationally. Promoting taste, authenticity and natural ingredients to its consumers, our client has developed their brands organically into all major channels including On Trade, Grocery, Online & International. They pride themselves on having an inclusive culture, where Senior Directors and Colleagues work side by side to achieve their goals. Employees benefit from a friendly and professional environment that remains true to its founding values despite years of success.
About the Role
We are looking to hire a Head of Sales (Grocery Channel) to guide this innovation led drinks supplier through its next period of retail expansion. Reporting to the Group Commercial Director you will play a pivotal role in delivering the commercial offering, liaising with a mix of supermarket customers and internal stakeholders to meet growing consumer demand.
Key Responsibilities
- Relationship Management: Build, nurture, and extend high-value relationships within all major grocery customers Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Co-op & Sainsburys, acting as a trusted partner to drive mutual growth and deliver outstanding commercial results.
- Strategy and Direction of Travel: You will be responsible for writing and implementing the Go-To-Market Strategy within your channel.
- Team Leadership & Stakeholder Engagement: Manage and influence a team of SNAMs, NAMs & NAEs, ensuring alignment and collaboration with wider business functions (Supply Chain, Finance, Category / Brand Marketing & Operations) to achieve shared objectives.
- Complex Joint Business Planning: Develop and execute robust Joint Business Plans (JBPs) that align the company-wide strategic goals with customer objectives, leveraging data-driven insights and market trends.
- Commercial Negotiation: Lead top to top negotiations on commercial terms, promotional plans, and pricing to achieve sales, volume, and profit targets while ensuring effective investment decisions and account profitability.
- Account Performance & P&L Management: Oversee full channel P&L, analyse financial metrics, and make informed decisions to maximise profitability and sustainable growth.
Qualifications
It is essential that you have a successful track record of building profitable and lasting relationships within top grocery customers. Extensive Tesco or Sainsburys exposure would be preferable but working knowledge of wider retail customers on behalf of a recognised food or drinks manufacturer will be considered.
Required Skills
- Confident Communicator: Demonstrates strong communication skills, able to address conflict constructively and engage in challenging conversations with professionalism and empathy.
- Leadership by Example: Sets high standards for self and others, consistently modelling integrity, accountability, and a commitment to excellence.
- Relationship & Rapport Building: Excels at building trust and rapport with colleagues, customers, and stakeholders, fostering collaborative and productive working relationships.
- Organisational & Time Management: Highly organised, with exceptional time management skills; able to prioritise effectively and deliver results in a fast-paced environment.
- Analytical & Numerate: Applies analytical thinking and numerical skills to solve problems, make data-driven decisions, and drive commercial success.
Preferred Skills
Experience of selling branded food or drink products into major supermarket customers to at least a National Account Controller level is essential in this high profile role. Branded Soft Drinks is a dynamic and pacy category, a previous track record in these markets would be favourable and allow you to get up to speed quicker! The successful candidate must have the ambition and ability to develop into a Sales Director UK&I in a well resourced but agile drinks supplier within the next career step.
Pay Range and Compensation Package
- Basic Salary: Circa £100,000 - £110,000 (DOE)
- Company Car
- Annual Bonus
- Private Health Cover
- Contributory Pension Scheme
- Softer Benefits
Location
The successful candidate will be based from a group head office and manufacturing facilities near Bristol an average of 2-3 days per week. The role will offer the flexibility for home working (Fully Homebased Contract on Offer). You will also be expected to attend retail customer visits and trade events when required.
Interview Process
Screening Calls and Interviews taking place throughout February 2026. Please reach out to info@bluerice.co.uk to register an interest.
Head of Grocery employer: BLUE RICE - FMCG Talent Selection
Contact Detail:
BLUE RICE - FMCG Talent Selection Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Grocery
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the grocery sector. Attend industry events, join relevant online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential contacts on LinkedIn. Building relationships can open doors that a CV just can't.
✨Tip Number 2
Research is key! Dive deep into the companies you’re interested in, especially their grocery channels. Understand their products, values, and recent news. This knowledge will help you stand out in conversations and interviews, showing you’re genuinely interested.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! You never know when you’ll meet someone who could help you land that Head of Grocery role. Prepare a concise and engaging summary of your experience and what you can bring to the table. Confidence is contagious!
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! We’ve got loads of opportunities waiting for you. By applying directly, you’ll ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it shows you’re proactive and keen to join our team!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Grocery
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Head of Grocery role. Highlight your experience with major grocery customers and any relevant achievements that align with the job description. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share your passion for the drinks industry and how your skills can help us achieve our goals. Keep it engaging and personal!
Showcase Your Relationship Management Skills: Since relationship management is key for this role, make sure to include examples of how you've built and maintained strong relationships in previous positions. We love seeing how you’ve driven mutual growth with clients!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any updates. Plus, we love seeing applications come directly from our site!
How to prepare for a job interview at BLUE RICE - FMCG Talent Selection
✨Know Your Grocery Landscape
Before the interview, dive deep into the grocery market trends and the specific retailers mentioned in the job description. Understanding their strategies and how your potential employer fits into that landscape will show your genuine interest and preparedness.
✨Showcase Relationship Management Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully built and maintained relationships with key grocery customers. Be ready to discuss specific instances where your efforts led to mutual growth, as this role heavily relies on strong relationship management.
✨Demonstrate Strategic Thinking
Think about a Go-To-Market strategy you’ve implemented in the past. Be prepared to discuss how you would approach writing and executing a winning grocery plan for this company, using data-driven insights and market trends to back up your ideas.
✨Highlight Leadership Experience
As a Head of Sales, you'll need to lead a team effectively. Share your leadership style and provide examples of how you've influenced teams to achieve shared objectives. Emphasise your ability to foster collaboration across different business functions.
