Business Development Manager

We’re Henley Bridge Ingredients, a food ingredients distribution company stocking thousands of specialist products from dozens of the world’s leading brands. Everything we do comes back to one core purpose – helping our customers, food producers, to succeed. We’re an enthusiastic partner here to support them in their quest to create moments of enjoyment through food and build a business they’re proud of. Alongside our purpose we're also driven by our six core values:

• Customer focus - we put the customer at the centre of all we do
• Positive vibes - we’re relaxed, friendly, caring and like to have fun
• Team work - we work together, look out for and support each other
• Trust - we respectfully say it like it is and deliver on our promises
• Excellence - we take the initiative and set high standards
• Can do - we take ownership and have a positive outlook

We serve customers nationwide from our base in Lewes and are part of the Albex Group.

The Role: Following significant and sustained growth, we are seeking a talented Business Development Manager to help accelerate growth across South East England. Reporting to the Sales Director, you will be responsible for managing a portfolio of valued customers while also demonstrating your flair for new business development. Key customer channels include foodservice wholesalers, distributors as well as Bakers, Chocolatiers and Gelato manufacturers.

To proactively promote and maximise all sales and margin opportunities to existing and potential customers within specified customer sectors ensuring all financial KPI’s are achieved or exceeded. Ongoing development of customer relationships ensuring Henley Bridge maintains and grows its business. Be a Henley Bridge ambassador demonstrating sector knowledge and be involved in product application demonstrations and assisting clients with the use of products supplied by HB Ingredients. Actively seek out new business opportunities and follow up and develop leads provided by the Internal Sales Support function. At all times work with other internal functions to positively contribute towards the overall company sales strategy and targets.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop robust and innovative initiatives that build on existing strong customer relationships while driving sales, profit, and volume growth
• Proactively target and acquire new customers, establishing long-term business partnerships
• Identify and introduce new product development opportunities, working with internal departments to bring new ideas to market
• Monitor competitor activity and market trends to ensure Henley Bridge remains the partner of choice
• Embrace change with enthusiasm and a positive, solutions-focused mindset

Your profile:

The ideal candidate for this role will:

• Demonstrable experience of working within a customer focussed sales environment.
• Experience of selling products within the food industry.
• A good understanding of the food industry and its methods of operation.
• Good influencing and negotiation skills.
• Ability to build excellent relationships with both customers and colleagues.
• Excellent written, oral and listening skills.
• Strong numerical, analytical, and presentation skills.
• Be able to effectively influence both customers and internal business partners.
• Have the ability to analyse sales data to identify opportunities, trends and issues to create and implement clear action plans.
• Good administrative and IT skills particularly in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook.
• Understanding of sales budgeting, forecasting and P&L’s.
• Strong commercial awareness and able to identify and adapt to customers’ needs.
• Must be a team player with strong interpersonal, listening, communication skills and excellent time management.
• Full Driving licence.
• Knowledge of the chocolate, bakery, Food Service and ice cream sectors.
• Experience of working with a CRM framework.

Benefits:

• Highly competitive basic salary
• Car allowance (£7,200)
• Mileage reimbursement rate at 45p per mile first 10k and 25p thereafter
• 10% company bonus
• Contributory pension scheme
• 25 days’ holiday per year plus an additional day off for your birthday
• Life insurance
• Home-based contract

Location: This is a home-based, field sales role. The successful candidate must currently reside within South East England.

Contact: Should you have experience as outlined above, please apply below or contact our retained consultant Aidan at FMCG Selection on 01943 667280 or via aidan@fmcgselection.co.uk. Please note all applications will be forwarded to FMCG Selection.