At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive sales and build strong partnerships with major retailers in the chocolate industry.
- Company: Join a premium chocolate brand committed to ethical sourcing and quality.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, dynamic work environment, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with a focus on innovation and customer relationships.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of expanding a beloved brand while making a positive impact.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in managing retail accounts and strong commercial acumen required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 € 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.
Senior Sales Account Director in London employer: Islands Chocolate
At Islands Chocolate, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that values innovation and collaboration. Our vibrant work culture fosters creativity and encourages professional growth, offering employees the chance to develop their skills while working with premium food brands. Located in a dynamic industry, we provide unique opportunities for meaningful engagement with key retail partners, ensuring that our team members are integral to our mission of delivering high-quality chocolate crafted with care.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Sales Account Director 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 about reaching out to potential contacts. You never know who might help you land that dream role!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their products and values, especially how they relate to your passion for premium food brands. This will help you tailor your responses and show you’re genuinely interested in the role.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to talk about your experience managing national retail accounts and how you've driven sales growth. Highlight specific achievements and be prepared to discuss how you can bring that success to Islands Chocolate.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team and committed to our mission of growing cocoa The Islands Way.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Sales Account Director in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion:When writing your application, let your enthusiasm for premium food brands shine through. We want to see that you share our commitment to quality and craftsmanship, just like we do at Islands Chocolate.
Tailor Your Experience:Make sure to highlight your experience in managing national retail accounts and driving sales growth. We’re looking for someone who can demonstrate a strong track record, so be specific about your achievements and how they relate to the role.
Be Strategic:In your application, showcase your strategic thinking skills. Discuss how you've developed and executed joint business plans in the past, and how you can apply that to expand our distribution and product range.
Keep It Professional Yet Personal:While we love a friendly tone, remember to keep it professional. Use clear language and structure your application well. And don’t forget, applying through our website is the best way to get your foot in the door!
How to prepare for a job interview at Islands Chocolate
✨Know Your Chocolate Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the company’s products and values. Understand the flavour-first approach and how it sets them apart in the market. This knowledge will help you connect with the interviewers and demonstrate your passion for premium food brands.
✨Showcase Your Commercial Acumen
Prepare to discuss your experience with managing P&L and driving sales growth. Bring specific examples of how you've successfully expanded distribution or improved brand visibility in previous roles. This will show that you can take ownership of the retail channel effectively.
✨Build Relationships Before You Even Start
Think about how you can build strong, long-term partnerships with key stakeholders. Be ready to share strategies on how you’ve fostered relationships in the past, especially with buying, supply chain, and marketing teams. This will highlight your relationship management skills.
✨Be Data-Driven
Demonstrate your analytical capabilities by discussing how you’ve used data to inform your strategies. Prepare to talk about how you’ve turned insights into actionable plans that led to measurable sales and margin growth. This will show you’re not just a people person but also a strategic thinker.
