At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage major UK grocery accounts and drive strategic planning.
- Company: Join a fast-growing, award-winning food manufacturer known for quality products.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, performance bonus, and flexible home-based work.
- Other info: Regular meetings with clients and occasional office visits in South Wales.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment with growth opportunities.
- Qualifications: Experience in account management within the UK grocery sector is essential.
The predicted salary is between 42000 - 84000 £ per year.
Salary up to £60,000 + car allowance + bonus & benefits
Home-based | Yorkshire head office approximately once a week
An established UK bakery manufacturer is looking to appoint an experienced Foodservice National Account Manager to help drive its continued growth across the UK foodservice market.
Part of one of the country’s largest and most successful food groups, the business offers the stability, resources and career opportunities of a major organisation while retaining a focused and collaborative commercial environment.
The company manufactures an extensive range of frozen bakery products, including muffins, sweet pies, garlic breads, baguettes and other savoury bakery lines. It has an established private-label customer base across foodservice, wholesale, contract catering and retail.
This is an especially exciting time to join. The business has recently introduced its own brand to the UK market and is investing several million pounds in its Yorkshire manufacturing operation to support future innovation, capacity and growth.
The opportunity
You will take commercial responsibility for developing the company’s presence across the UK foodservice channel, with a particular focus on managing and growing relationships with major national wholesalers, including Brakes and Bidfood.
Alongside developing existing accounts, you will identify new listings and distribution opportunities, build relationships with foodservice end users and support the continued expansion of the company’s newly launched branded range.
Key responsibilities will include:
- Managing and developing strategic relationships with national foodservice wholesalers
- Creating and delivering customer account plans
- Growing sales, distribution and profitability across existing accounts
- Identifying and securing new product listings
- Working with customers to increase product awareness and engagement
- Developing relationships with foodservice end users to create demand through the wholesale channel
- Leading pricing discussions, commercial negotiations and promotional activity
- Managing forecasts, budgets and account profitability
- Working closely with NPD, marketing, operations and supply chain
- Supporting the growth of both private-label products and the company’s developing branded proposition
About you
You will have a proven background in foodservice national account management, ideally including direct responsibility for Brakes and/or Bidfood.
Experience developing business with foodservice end users—including restaurant groups, pub groups, coffee shops, hotels and contract caterers, would also be highly valuable.
Bakery experience would be beneficial but is not essential. The company is open to candidates from different food categories, provided you have relevant experience selling through the UK foodservice channel.
You will ideally bring:
- National account management experience within the UK food industry
- Strong knowledge of foodservice wholesale
- Experience managing Brakes and/or Bidfood
- A track record of delivering profitable account growth
- Experience securing new listings and increasing product distribution
- Strong commercial, negotiation and relationship-building skills
- The ability to work autonomously within a home-based position
- A collaborative approach to working with internal teams
The package
- Basic salary up to £60,000
- Performance-related bonus
- Pension
- Home-based contract
- Yorkshire head office attendance approximately once a week
- Excellent long-term opportunities within a major UK food group
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National Account Manager employer: FMCG Selection
FMCG Selection is an exceptional employer for those looking to transition from the kitchen to a commercial role in the vibrant hospitality sector. With a competitive salary of up to £34,000, a company car, and 33 days of holiday, employees enjoy a supportive work culture that values passion for food and fosters professional growth through meaningful relationships with clients across Oxford, Cambridge, and North London. This unique opportunity allows you to leverage your culinary expertise while working with a leading supplier of premium desserts, making it a rewarding career choice for food enthusiasts.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land National Account Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Research the company thoroughly before your interview. Understand their product range, recent innovations, and key partnerships with UK retailers. This knowledge will help you demonstrate your genuine interest in the role and how you can contribute to their success.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with current or former employees of the company on platforms like LinkedIn. They can provide valuable insights into the company culture and expectations for the National Account Manager role, which can help you tailor your approach during discussions.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare specific examples from your past experience that showcase your ability to manage accounts, lead negotiations, and drive innovation. Being able to articulate these experiences clearly will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 4
Stay updated on industry trends and competitor activities within the chilled and frozen food sector. This knowledge will not only help you in interviews but also position you as a proactive candidate who is ready to tackle the challenges of the role.
We think you need these skills to ace National Account Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience as a Junior National Account Manager or National Account Executive. Emphasise your achievements in managing grocery retail accounts and any specific projects related to chilled or frozen food.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for the food industry and your understanding of the company's values. Mention specific examples of how you've successfully managed accounts and driven innovation in previous roles.
Highlight Key Skills:In your application, focus on your commercial acumen, negotiation skills, and ability to build long-term customer relationships. Use concrete examples to demonstrate these skills, especially in relation to P&L responsibility and strategic planning.
Show Enthusiasm for the Role:Convey your excitement about the opportunity to take ownership of major UK grocery retail accounts. Discuss how you plan to contribute to the company's growth and align with their strategic vision in your application.
How to prepare for a job interview at FMCG Selection
✨Know Your Numbers
As a National Account Manager, you'll need to demonstrate strong commercial acumen. Be prepared to discuss your experience with budgets, forecasting, and margin delivery. Brush up on key metrics relevant to the grocery sector to show you understand the financial side of account management.
✨Showcase Your Relationship-Building Skills
This role requires building long-term relationships with major UK grocery retailers. Prepare examples of how you've successfully managed client relationships in the past, focusing on your communication skills and ability to foster trust and collaboration.
✨Highlight Your NPD Experience
Innovation is key in this industry. Be ready to discuss any experience you have with new product development (NPD) projects. Share specific examples of how you've contributed to product launches or improvements, especially in the chilled or frozen food sectors.
✨Understand the Competitive Landscape
Familiarise yourself with current trends and competitors in the grocery retail space. During the interview, be prepared to discuss how you would respond to category trends and what insights you have about the competition. This shows you're proactive and knowledgeable about the market.
