At a Glance
- Tasks: Build and grow emerging drinks brands through new partnerships and market opportunities.
- Company: Established UK drinks business with a focus on innovation and brand building.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus, car allowance, and flexible working arrangements.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for creativity and career growth.
- Why this job: Gain ownership and influence in shaping the future of exciting new drinks brands.
- Qualifications: Proven sales experience and strong relationship-building skills.
A rare chance to help build emerging drinks brands from the ground up, opening new customers, partnerships, events and routes to market. This is a home/field-based role with UK customer travel. Customers are spread nationally, so there is flexibility on location, although a South West base may be helpful due to occasional HQ visibility and wider business activity in the region.
The Opportunity
We're supporting a well-established UK drinks business with the appointment of a Business Development Manager to help accelerate growth across a portfolio of emerging and incubator brands. This is not a role where you are simply inheriting a mature account base and maintaining existing relationships. It is much more about getting into the market, spotting opportunities, opening doors and turning early-stage conversations into commercially valuable customer partnerships. You'll be working across a mix of new drinks brands, including moderation-led, spirits-led and event-friendly propositions, with the backing of a wider business that understands brand building, activation, distribution and commercial execution. The role would suit someone who enjoys autonomy, is energised by new business and can move confidently between customers, events, internal teams and commercial planning.
Key Responsibilities
- Build and convert a strong new business pipeline across customers, outlets, events, festivals and partnerships.
- Identify where the brands are not currently visible and create practical routes to market.
- Lead customer conversations, proposals and commercial negotiations.
- Develop event, festival and experiential opportunities that improve visibility and drive value.
- Work closely with Marketing, Revenue Management, Operations and wider commercial teams to make plans commercially viable and deliverable.
- Keep forecasting, trade spend and customer activity well-managed behind the sale.
What We're Looking For
You'll need to be a natural new business developer - someone who enjoys creating momentum, chasing opportunities and building relationships from a standing start. Food, drink or FMCG experience would be very useful, but we are also open to people from broader consumer brand, event-led, hospitality, on-trade, experiential or challenger brand backgrounds if you can show strong commercial judgement and a genuine track record of opening doors.
You'll likely bring:
- Proven sales or business development experience.
- Strong customer relationship-building skills.
- Resilience, energy and confidence in the market.
- Commercial awareness and negotiation ability.
- The discipline to manage forecasting, trade spend and internal follow-through.
- A proactive, open-minded approach to finding new growth opportunities.
Why Join?
This is a good opportunity for someone who wants more ownership, more variety and more influence than a traditional account management role can offer. You'll be close to the brands, close to the customers and close to the decisions. You'll have the chance to help shape where emerging drinks brands show up, how they are activated and how they scale. It offers the pace and creativity of challenger brand work, but with the support, infrastructure and credibility of a larger established drinks business behind it. If you're interested in learning more, we'd be happy to have a confidential conversation.
Business Development Manager - Emerging Drinks Brands employer: Henderson Brown Recruitment
Henderson Brown Recruitment is an excellent employer, offering a dynamic work environment in Portsmouth that values flexibility and competitive pay for its Multi Skilled Maintenance Engineer role. With a strong focus on employee growth and development within the FMCG sector, the company fosters a collaborative culture where innovative ideas are encouraged, making it a rewarding place to build a meaningful career.
Contact Details:
Henderson Brown Recruitment Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Development Manager - Emerging Drinks Brands
✨Leverage Your Network
In sales and business development, who you know can often be as important as what you know. Get involved with local networking events or industry meetups to connect with key players. Don't be shy—share your passion for the field and let folks know you're on the lookout for opportunities!
✨Show Your Skills Through Real-World Results
When targeting a full-time role like Business Development Manager - Emerging Drinks Brands at Henderson Brown Recruitment, presenting tangible results from your previous sales experience can set you apart. Bring along case studies or examples of how you've closed deals or expanded accounts, and don't forget to showcase your problem-solving prowess. It’s all about quantifying your success!
✨Engage with Sales Communities
Dive deep into online sales communities, like Sales Hacker or LinkedIn groups dedicated to sales professionals. Engaging in discussions and sharing insights can boost your visibility and might just put you on the radar of hiring managers looking for fresh talent in business development.
✨Direct Applications Matter
While we all know the online application route, consider sending direct applications to companies you admire, including Henderson Brown Recruitment. Tailor your message to explain why you’re drawn to them and how you can contribute as a Business Development Manager - Emerging Drinks Brands. Sometimes, a personal touch can grab attention faster than a generic application!
We think you need these skills to ace Business Development Manager - Emerging Drinks Brands
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Those Sales Skills:In your CV and cover letter, highlight any previous sales or business development experience you have. Use numbers and examples to showcase your achievements – did you exceed sales targets or bring in new clients? Make those accomplishments shine!
Tailor Your Message for Henderson Brown Recruitment:When writing your cover letter, make sure to tailor your message specifically for Henderson Brown Recruitment. Show that you know the company’s mission and how your skills align with their goals in the sales landscape. This personalised touch will grab their attention!
Keep It Professional Yet Engaging:Sales is all about relationships, so while you want to maintain professionalism in your application, don’t be afraid to let your personality shine through. Engage the reader and demonstrate your enthusiastic approach to sales and business development!
Proof of Performance:Include any relevant certifications or training you’ve undertaken in sales or negotiation tactics. If you’ve attended workshops or courses, list these to showcase your commitment to professional development. This extra touch can set you apart from the competition!
How to prepare for a job interview at Henderson Brown Recruitment
✨Know Your Sales Methodologies
Brush up on popular sales methodologies like SPIN Selling or Challenger Sales. Being able to discuss these techniques and how you've applied them will show Henderson Brown Recruitment that you understand the role and can hit the ground running in the sales game.
✨Demonstrate Your Deal-Making Skills
Prepare to share stories from your past experiences where you closed deals, overcame objections, or started new client relationships. We want to show Henderson Brown Recruitment that you’re not just about numbers but also about building lasting connections in business development.
✨Prepare for Role-Play Scenarios
In a full-time sales interview, don’t be surprised if they throw in a role-play exercise to test your pitching skills. Practising how you would pitch a product or handle an objection will help us shine in this simulation—think of it like a dress rehearsal for your future sales calls!
✨Align Your Goals with the Company’s Vision
Take a moment to reflect on how your career ambitions align with Henderson Brown Recruitment’s objectives. When we articulate how our personal growth ties in with the company’s goals, it shows commitment and a genuine interest in contributing to their success.
