At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive sales and support independent retailers to maximise profits and operational effectiveness.
- Company: Join Henderson Group, Northern Ireland's leading foodservice provider with a strong community focus.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, company car, bonus, and extensive employee benefits.
- Other info: Be part of a team that values ambition, teamwork, and integrity while supporting local communities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the food retail sector while developing your career.
- Qualifications: GCSE English & Maths, 3 years in food retail management, and strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Business Development Manager 1 X Permanent Position - Province wide 1 X Temporary Maternity Cover (9-12 Months) Belfast/Co. Down
Attractive Salary, Benefits, Company Car, Bonus
36.5 Hour week Field Based
Who are we? Henderson Group are proud to be Northern Ireland's leading foodservice provider. Our group encompasses Henderson Wholesale, Henderson Retail, Henderson Foodservice and Henderson Group Property. We employ over 5,700 colleagues and have been placed 3rd in Ulster Business Top 100 Companies 2025. We're proud to be an Investors in People accredited employer, and our culture is lived out through our four core values - Ambition, Customer First, Teamwork and Integrity.
A look into the role:
- Reporting to the Regional Sales Manager, the successful candidate will be responsible for providing support and guidance to a group of independent retailers within the Independent SPAR estate.
- Main responsibilities will include advising on promotional activity, range-review, store layout and operational effectiveness, with the primary objective of growing retailer profit through margin management, turnover growth, and cost control while maximising business available to Henderson Wholesale.
- Drive sales at both Wholesale and Retail levels to ensure maximum performance versus budgets.
- Develop marketing plans in your territory to help promote and grow retail sales of individual stores as required, in line with the overall Marketing Strategy.
- Manage customer loyalty and purchasing targets across all commodities, ensuring retailers purchase all products either through the warehouse or via central billing agreements, using reports to manage imagery loans and loyalty rebates.
- Monitor planning and development activity in the territory to identify retail development opportunities.
- Work with Retail Services to ensure that retail development projects are carefully managed to achieve satisfactory outcomes.
- Develop and implement effective business development plans for the SPAR neighbourhood stores.
- Analyse retailers Profit & Loss accounts giving guidance on performance to allow the stores to achieve their net profit targets.
- Build relationships with other departments within the Henderson Group and establish external relationships always promoting the Company.
- Develop and coach retailers to support continual improvement, introducing effective plans to increase customers' margins and reduce costs.
- Develop a substantial knowledge of our competitor marketplace.
Skills for Success:
- GCSE English & Maths (or equivalent) at Grade C or above.
- Minimum 3 years experience of managing a store within food retail / Convenience / Supermarket sectors or at an account management level.
- Experience of driving retail sales or purchases against set budgets.
- Experience of NI food retail market.
- Proficient in MS Office packages.
- Current UK/EU Driving License.
The Attributes you'll need include:
- Influencing and Persuading skills.
- Excellent Presentation and Communication skills.
- Organisational & Planning Skills, setting clear objectives.
- Customer-focused mindset.
- Team player.
- Build and maintain effective relationships with customers and colleagues.
It is desirable if you have:
- Experience of dealing with independent retailers within food convenience sector.
- Ability to analyse Profit & Loss accounts.
Are we right for you? As part of this role, it will be important that you feel aligned with the values that we live and work by:
- Ambition: We always strive to be better. We seek new challenges and look for ways to do things better.
- Customer First: We provide exceptional service. We put customers at the heart of everything and support our communities.
- Teamwork: We succeed together. We help colleagues to succeed, and we share our knowledge and skills.
- Integrity: We are fair, honest and ethical. We treat everyone with dignity and respect. We are inclusive and champion diversity.
The Reward:
The impact you can make with Henderson Group goes far beyond your day to day. You will be part of a business supporting defibrillator installations and school sports days. In the last year Henderson group staff and retail stores raised over £1 million for charity partners. Our business has been recognised externally for delivering excellence in employment. We value employee development and heavily invest in our people. Benefits include market competitive salary, company car, bonus, contributory pension scheme, private medical insurance, life assurance, employee assistance programme, social club, Perks Offers/Discount scheme throughout UK/Ireland, staff discount (grocery/fuel) at SPAR/EUROSPAR Henderson Group company-owned stores and many more.
This is a full-time position working 36.5 hours per week. Working hours will be 8:45am-4:45pm Monday to Thursday and 8:45am-3:45pm Friday.
If you'd like to speak with us before making your application, our Talent Acquisition Specialist - Joanne McClelland would be happy to have a confidential chat with you about the role on offer - email to get in touch. Completed applications must be submitted online by midnight on Wednesday 18th February 2026. We are an equal opportunities employer.
Skills: Retail Management, Sales, Influencing, Persuasion, Profit & Loss
Benefits: Pension Fund, Bonus, Car, Medical Aid / Health Care, Fuel Allowance
Business Development Manager BDM in Newtownabbey employer: Henderson Group
Henderson Group is an exceptional employer, recognised for its commitment to employee development and community support. With a strong focus on teamwork, integrity, and customer-first values, employees enjoy a collaborative work culture that fosters growth and innovation. The attractive benefits package, including a competitive salary, company car, and private medical insurance, alongside opportunities to make a meaningful impact in the local economy, makes Henderson Group a rewarding place to work.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Development Manager BDM in Newtownabbey
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join relevant groups on social media, and don’t be shy to reach out to potential colleagues or mentors. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their values, especially those like ambition and teamwork that they hold dear. This will help you tailor your responses and show them you’re a perfect fit for their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience aligns with the role of Business Development Manager. Highlight your skills in driving sales and managing relationships, and don’t forget to showcase your customer-focused mindset.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team at Henderson Group. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
We think you need these skills to ace Business Development Manager BDM in Newtownabbey
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the Business Development Manager role. Highlight your experience in retail management and any achievements that demonstrate your ability to drive sales and manage budgets.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're passionate about the role and how your values align with ours. Don’t forget to mention specific examples of how you've successfully influenced and persuaded in previous roles.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills:Since analysing Profit & Loss accounts is key for this role, make sure to include any relevant experience you have in this area. We want to see how you've used data to drive decisions and improve performance in your past roles.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role and our company culture there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Henderson Group
✨Know Your Numbers
As a Business Development Manager, you'll need to be comfortable with figures. Brush up on your understanding of Profit & Loss accounts and be ready to discuss how you've used data to drive sales or improve margins in previous roles.
✨Showcase Your Customer Focus
Henderson Group values a customer-first mindset. Prepare examples of how you've put customers at the heart of your decisions and how that has positively impacted sales or relationships in your past experiences.
✨Demonstrate Teamwork
This role requires collaboration across various departments. Think of instances where you've successfully worked as part of a team to achieve a common goal, and be ready to share those stories during your interview.
✨Align with Company Values
Familiarise yourself with Henderson Group's core values: Ambition, Customer First, Teamwork, and Integrity. Be prepared to discuss how you embody these values in your work and how they resonate with your personal work ethic.
