National Account Manager - Grocery Retail

National Account Manager - Grocery Retail

Full-Time 50000 - 65000 £ / year (est.) Home office (partial)
Henderson Brown Recruitment

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Manage a major grocery retail account and drive sales growth in a fast-paced environment.
  • Company: Join a leading fresh products business with strong customer relationships.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus potential, car allowance, and private healthcare.
  • Other info: Opportunity for career growth and to manage others in the future.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact on a significant account and influence product decisions.
  • Qualifications: Proven account management experience in FMCG or grocery retail.

The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.

A high-profile grocery account role managing a major retail customer within a fast-moving fresh category.

This is a strong commercial opportunity with a leading fresh products business, managing a major UK grocery retail account of £40m with potential for the scope to grow further within a key category. You'll take ownership of a significant customer relationship, working closely with the Senior Commercial Manager and wider cross-functional teams to deliver sales, service, product development, range performance and profitable growth. The account is already substantial, with further potential to grow as the customer explores wider opportunities across plants. It's a role for someone who enjoys being close to the customer, close to the detail, and able to turn commercial plans into action.

Key Responsibilities

  • Manage the day-to-day relationship with a major UK grocery customer across buying, merchandising, marketing, product development and supply chain contacts.
  • Support account planning, range reviews, promotional activity and trading performance.
  • Work closely with internal teams across technical, procurement, operations, product development and supply chain to deliver customer requirements.
  • Review sales, forecasts, product performance and promotional activity, identifying opportunities to improve sales, margin and service.
  • Support new product development, range changes and customer projects from brief through to delivery.
  • Monitor competitor activity and use customer/category insight to shape future plans.

What We're Looking For

You’ll need proven account management experience within FMCG, grocery retail, fresh produce, horticulture, food or another fast-moving retail supply environment. You’ll be commercially sharp, confident with customers and comfortable working cross-functionally to get things done. The role needs someone who can balance relationship management with strong attention to detail, pace, planning and follow-through. Experience working with major UK retailers would be highly relevant. Flowers, plants, fresh produce or short shelf-life experience would be useful, but the bigger priority is strong grocery account management capability.

Why Join?

This is a chance to manage a genuinely meaningful customer account in a category that is fast-paced, seasonal, commercially demanding and highly visible. You’ll be joining a business with scale, strong customer relationships and the operational capability to support major retail growth. The package is strong, the customer exposure is excellent, and the role gives you the chance to influence range, product, promotional and commercial decisions across a significant account. There may also be scope to support or manage others over time, depending on the person’s interest and how the role develops. If you’re interested in learning more, we’d be happy to have a confidential conversation.

Henderson Brown Recruitment

Contact Details:

Henderson Brown Recruitment Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land National Account Manager - Grocery Retail

Get Your Retail Game On

Start by getting to know the local retail scene. Make a list of stores that align with your vibe and visit them. You'll be surprised at how many job openings come from chatting with staff or managers in-store. Plus, showing that you have a genuine interest in their brand can make you stand out when applying for that full-time role!

Join Retail Networks and Forums

Tap into retail-specific communities and forums, whether online or in-person. Platforms like Retail Week or local retail meetups can provide invaluable insights and connections. You never know who might drop a tip about an upcoming job at companies like Henderson Brown Recruitment, so don’t miss out on building those relationships!

Be Ready for Busy Season Opportunities

Keep your eyes peeled for seasonal hiring windows, especially in the run-up to major shopping periods. Retailers often look for full-time staff to carry through busy times and may even keep you on after the season. Stay proactive by regularly checking in with your favourite retailers about their hiring plans.

Show Off Your Customer Service Skills

Retail’s all about customer interactions, so make sure you showcase any relevant experience in your conversations and interviews. Share specific examples of your customer service skills and how they’ve led to positive outcomes. This is your moment to shine when applying to roles at places like Henderson Brown Recruitment!

We think you need these skills to ace National Account Manager - Grocery Retail

Account Management
Customer Relationship Management
Commercial Acumen
Cross-Functional Collaboration
Sales Forecasting
Product Development
Promotional Planning

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any experience where you've dealt with customers, whether it’s resolving issues or enhancing the shopping experience. Use concrete examples to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to handle difficult situations with ease.

Tailor Your CV for Retail:When applying for a full-time role like this one at Henderson Brown Recruitment, customise your CV to reflect retail-specific buzzwords. Include any relevant skills such as inventory management or visual merchandising, and if you have experience with POS systems, shout about it! This will show you’re serious about joining the retail team.

Craft a Genuine Cover Letter:Don’t just repeat your CV in your cover letter! Use it as a chance to explain why you're excited about the opportunity at Henderson Brown Recruitment and how your values align with their brand. Mention specific aspects of the company that resonate with you and let your enthusiasm shine through!

Highlight Your Adaptability:In retail, things can get busy and unpredictable, so demonstrate how adaptable and flexible you are. Share examples of times you've had to adjust your approach on the fly or take on new responsibilities. This will show Henderson Brown Recruitment that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!

How to prepare for a job interview at Henderson Brown Recruitment

Show Off Your Customer Service Skills

Retail is all about providing an exceptional customer experience, so be ready to discuss your past customer service stories. We should have examples on hand of how we've handled difficult situations or gone above and beyond to meet a customer's needs. These anecdotes will bring your application to life!

Familiarity with Point of Sale Systems

Many retail roles require us to work with Point of Sale (POS) systems, so it's a good idea to brush up on any relevant software you’ve used before. If you’re familiar with systems like Shopify or Square, don’t forget to mention this during the interview. Highlighting technical proficiency can set us apart from other candidates!

Understand Product Knowledge

Be prepared to discuss the products that the store sells and how we can contribute to their sales. Showing enthusiasm for the products and a willingness to learn can impress interviewers. We should research popular items or trends in the industry before the interview, so we can speak confidently about them.

Be Ready for Role-Playing Scenarios

Many retail interviews include role-playing scenarios where we might have to deal with a difficult customer or upsell a product. Practising these scenarios with a friend or family member can help us feel more comfortable. The key here is to showcase our problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure!