At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive wine growth by collaborating with sales teams and delivering engaging training sessions.
- Company: Join a leading wine wholesaler known for excellence and innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, flexible working options, and opportunities for professional development.
- Why this job: Be the wine expert and make a real impact in a dynamic industry.
- Qualifications: WSET Level 2 required; strong wine knowledge and commercial acumen essential.
- Other info: Fast-paced environment with great potential for career advancement.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
The Wine Development Manager is the wine expert within their specific region, working in close partnership with the sales team to deliver wine growth targets. This role combines collaboration with accountability, partnering with the sales team to share wine knowledge and best practice, and co‑create solutions that achieve wine targets, improve product mix, and unlock premium opportunities. With a strong commercial focus and growth mindset, you will drive mix improvement, deliver training, and engage customers to position our business as the leading wine wholesaler and elevate our reputation for wine excellence.
Responsibilities
- Partner with Area Sales Managers (ASMs) or Key Account Managers (KAM's) to deliver wine targets and drive profitable growth within your designated RSM/KAM region.
- Take ownership for wine performance metrics in the region, tracking progress and reporting results.
- Win and grow new quality wine‑led customers on behalf of the ASMs / KAM's.
- Proactively identify and target high‑potential customers to increase wine distribution and share.
- Improve product mix across existing accounts, unlocking Good, Better, Best opportunities and creating smart value solutions for price‑sensitive customers.
- Support strategic and targeted wine growth in the on‑trade, focusing on premium and agency wines to maximize return.
- Collaborate with ASMs / KAM's in customer conversations, co‑creating proposals that meet commercial and quality objectives.
- Deliver wine tastings and provide tailored support for wine lists, menu development, POS, and promotional activity to enhance customer experience.
- Host supplier visits, trade tastings, and consumer events to showcase our portfolio and strengthen relationships.
- Provide wine training for customer staff and internal sales teams to build confidence and capability.
- Share best practice and insights across regional teams to drive consistency and excellence in wine selling.
- Champion agency and premium wine distribution within customer segmentation strategies.
- Drive activation of wine initiatives and ensure execution at outlet level.
Qualifications
- WSET Level 2 (minimum) required; WSET Level 3 preferred or equivalent advanced wine qualification.
- Strong understanding of wine styles, regions, and food pairing principles.
- Knowledge of on‑trade channel dynamics and customer segmentation.
- Commercial understanding of pricing, margin, and mix strategies.
- Ability to identify opportunities, negotiate effectively, and deliver profitable growth.
- Skilled at building trust and credibility with internal teams and customers.
- Confident delivering tastings, training sessions, and engaging presentations.
- Ability to interpret data and identify trends to inform decisions.
- Works effectively with ASMs and cross‑functional teams to achieve shared goals.
- Manages pipeline, prioritises opportunities, and ensures timely execution.
- Proactively seeks opportunities to improve performance and drive results.
- Takes ownership for wine performance in the region and delivers against targets.
- Focused on creating value and enhancing customer experience.
- Shares knowledge and best practice to build capability across the business.
- Thrives in a fast‑paced, changing environment.
Wine Development Manager employer: C&C Group
Contact Detail:
C&C Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Wine Development Manager
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the wine industry! Attend tastings, trade shows, and local events to meet potential employers and showcase your passion for wine. Remember, it’s all about building relationships that can lead to job opportunities.
✨Show Off Your Expertise
When you get the chance to chat with hiring managers or industry professionals, don’t hold back on sharing your wine knowledge. Discuss trends, styles, and your favourite pairings. This will not only demonstrate your expertise but also show your enthusiasm for the role.
✨Tailor Your Approach
Every conversation is an opportunity! Make sure to tailor your discussions based on the company’s focus and values. If they’re big on premium wines, highlight your experience in that area. This shows you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in their business.
✨Follow Up and Stay Engaged
After meeting someone or having an interview, don’t forget to follow up! A quick thank-you email can go a long way. Keep the conversation going by sharing relevant articles or insights about the wine industry. This keeps you on their radar and shows your commitment.
We think you need these skills to ace Wine Development Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Wine Passion: When writing your application, let your love for wine shine through! Share your experiences with different wine styles and regions, and how they’ve shaped your understanding of the industry. We want to see that you’re not just knowledgeable but genuinely excited about wine.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your application to highlight how your skills align with the role of Wine Development Manager. Mention specific experiences where you've collaborated with sales teams or driven growth in previous roles. This shows us you understand what we’re looking for!
Quantify Your Achievements: Use numbers to back up your claims! If you've improved sales or expanded customer bases in the past, share those figures. This helps us see the impact you've made and how you can contribute to our wine growth targets.
Keep It Professional Yet Personal: While we love a friendly tone, remember to keep it professional. Share your personality, but also ensure your application reflects your understanding of the wine industry and the commercial focus of the role. Apply through our website to make sure we get your application directly!
How to prepare for a job interview at C&C Group
✨Know Your Wine Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your wine knowledge, especially the styles, regions, and food pairings. Be prepared to discuss how you can leverage this expertise to drive growth and improve product mix in your region.
✨Showcase Your Collaboration Skills
Since this role involves working closely with Area Sales Managers and Key Account Managers, think of examples where you've successfully collaborated in the past. Highlight how you can co-create solutions and share best practices to achieve wine targets.
✨Prepare for Practical Scenarios
Expect to be asked about how you would approach specific challenges, like winning new quality wine-led customers or improving product mix. Have a few strategies ready that demonstrate your commercial understanding and ability to identify opportunities.
✨Engage with Confidence
You'll likely need to deliver tastings and training sessions, so practice your presentation skills. Be ready to engage the interviewers as if they were your customers, showcasing your ability to build trust and credibility.