At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive sales and build strong relationships with key retail accounts in the chocolate industry.
- Company: Join a premium chocolate brand committed to ethical farming and exceptional quality.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, performance bonuses, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities to collaborate across various teams and drive innovation.
- Why this job: Be part of a passionate team making a real impact in the food industry.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in managing national retail accounts and strong commercial acumen.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 € per year.
Today, we work directly with farming partners who share our commitment to growing cocoa The Islands Way: with respect for people, place and craft. Farmed, fermented and crafted with a flavour-first approach, our chocolate is trusted by the UK’s leading baristas, bakers, chefs and connoisseurs.
The Senior National Account Manager will take full ownership of Islands Chocolate’s retail channel, managing and growing relationships across key accounts including major grocers, online retailers, and independent outlets. This is a highly commercial role focused on driving sales, increasing brand presence, and building strong, long-term partnerships. You’ll combine strategic thinking with hands-on execution to deliver growth across all retail formats.
- Fully own and proactively manage all retail accounts across grocery, online and wholesale.
- Build strong, cross-functional relationships with key customer contacts (buying, supply chain, category, marketing, e-commerce).
- Expand distribution and product range across all formats (main estate, convenience, online, cafés, front of store).
- Maximise sales performance through effective use of customer systems (availability, compliance, promotions, ranging).
- Deliver standout in-store and online visibility through activation (POS, secondary displays, sampling, digital placements).
Account Management & Commercial Growth
- Develop and execute joint business plans with key retail customers to deliver sustainable growth.
- Identify opportunities to increase distribution, product range, and brand visibility across all retail channels.
- Lead commercial discussions and support negotiations relating to pricing, promotional activity, and trading terms.
- Relationship building - build trusted, long-term partnerships with key stakeholders across customer organisations.
- Take full ownership of the retail channel P&L.
- Monitor performance against targets and implement corrective actions where required.
- Monitor competitor activity, category trends, and retailer performance to inform strategy.
Promotions & Shopper Marketing
- Build and execute commercially effective promotional plans aligned to key trading periods.
- Collaborate with marketing teams to deliver compelling shopper marketing initiatives both in-store and online.
- Analyse campaign and promotional performance to optimise future activity and ROI.
- Work closely with marketing, supply chain, finance, and operations teams to ensure seamless execution across accounts.
- Support successful product launches and new product development initiatives with retail partners.
Proven experience managing and growing national retail or FMCG accounts. Strong commercial acumen with experience owning or influencing P&L performance. Demonstrated track record of delivering measurable sales and margin growth. Confident negotiator with resilience, credibility, and strong relationship management skills. Strong analytical capability with the ability to turn data into actionable insights. Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills. Passion for premium food brands and building exceptional customer partnerships.
Sales - Senior Account Manager in London employer: Islands Chocolate
Islands Chocolate is an exceptional employer that values its employees and fosters a collaborative work culture focused on growth and innovation. With a commitment to sustainability and quality, we offer our team members opportunities for professional development and the chance to work with leading brands in the food industry. Located in a vibrant area, our workplace encourages creativity and teamwork, making it an ideal environment for those passionate about premium products and building lasting relationships.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Sales - Senior Account Manager in London
✨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 contacts. You never know who might help you land that Senior Account Manager role!
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your skills! When you get the chance to meet hiring managers or recruiters, be ready to talk about your achievements in managing retail accounts. Use specific examples that highlight your commercial acumen and relationship-building skills.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its competitors. Understand their market position and think about how you can contribute to their growth. This will show you’re genuinely interested and ready to take ownership of the retail channel.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged. Plus, it’s a great way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Let’s get you that dream job together!
We think you need these skills to ace Sales - Senior Account Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:Let your love for premium food brands shine through in your application. We want to see how your passion aligns with our commitment to quality and craftsmanship in chocolate.
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in managing retail accounts and driving sales. We’re looking for specific examples that demonstrate your commercial acumen and relationship-building skills.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to tell us why you’re the perfect fit for the Senior Account Manager role. Be sure to connect your past experiences with the responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from our team.
How to prepare for a job interview at Islands Chocolate
✨Know Your Chocolate
Before the interview, dive deep into the company's products and values. Understand their commitment to quality and sustainability in chocolate production. This knowledge will not only impress your interviewers but also show that you share their passion for premium food brands.
✨Showcase Your Sales Savvy
Prepare specific examples from your past experiences where you've successfully managed retail accounts or driven sales growth. Be ready to discuss how you’ve built strong relationships with key stakeholders and how your strategic thinking has led to measurable results.
✨Master the Numbers
Brush up on your analytical skills! Be prepared to discuss how you've used data to inform your strategies in previous roles. Highlight any experience you have with P&L management and how you've turned insights into actionable plans that drove sales performance.
✨Engage with Enthusiasm
During the interview, express your genuine enthusiasm for the role and the brand. Talk about how you can contribute to expanding distribution and visibility across various retail channels. Your passion for building exceptional customer partnerships will resonate well with the interviewers.
