UK Commercial Lead

Lime Talent is partnering with a purpose-led premium food business to recruit a UK Commercial Lead who will take ownership of its next phase of growth. The business has established an excellent reputation within the premium food market and works with leading chefs, chocolatiers, pastry professionals, bakeries, hospitality operators and specialist retailers. Its products are underpinned by a strong commitment to sustainability and protecting the communities and environments from which its ingredients are sourced.

This is not a traditional sales management role. The successful candidate will be responsible for building the UK market, creating commercial structure and developing the partnerships needed to deliver sustainable, profitable growth. Working closely with the wider senior leadership team, you will combine strategic market development with hands-on business development and account leadership.

The Role

• You will own the UK commercial agenda, developing and delivering a clear growth plan across hospitality, specialist makers, distribution partners and strategic accounts.
• Key responsibilities will include:
• Developing and executing the UK commercial strategy, with ownership of revenue, profitability and market growth.
• Building a strong new business pipeline across hospitality, premium foodservice, specialist manufacturers and strategic customers.
• Strengthening relationships with distribution partners through joint business planning, improved market coverage and shared growth initiatives.
• Developing the business’s presence outside London and identifying new regional growth opportunities.
• Growing relationships with chefs, chocolatiers, pastry chefs, bakeries and other influential figures within the premium food community.
• Managing and developing strategic customer accounts, identifying opportunities to broaden and deepen commercial partnerships.
• Working closely with Marketing and PR to maximise the commercial impact of events, campaigns and industry partnerships.
• Introducing clear commercial processes, KPIs, forecasting and performance reporting.
• Collaborating with Finance, Operations and the wider leadership team to ensure growth is scalable and profitable.
• Helping to shape and build the future UK commercial team as the business grows.

About You

This role would suit an entrepreneurial commercial leader who enjoys building businesses rather than simply managing an established customer base. You are likely to have:

• Strong commercial experience within premium food, hospitality, foodservice or FMCG.
• A proven track record of growing a market, brand, channel or business unit.
• Significant experience in business development and strategic account management.
• The ability to move comfortably between developing strategy and delivering it personally.
• Experience working with distributors or route-to-market partners.
• A strong network within UK hospitality, premium foodservice or the specialist food community.
• Commercial and analytical capability, with experience managing revenue and profitability.
• A structured approach to pipeline management, forecasting and commercial planning.
• The confidence to work closely with senior international stakeholders.
• A genuine interest in premium food, sustainability and purpose-led brands.

You will be commercially ambitious, highly collaborative and comfortable working within an entrepreneurial environment where you will have the autonomy to create rather than inherit.

The Opportunity

This is an opportunity to take ownership of one of the business’s most important international markets and play a central role in shaping its future. You will work directly with the senior leadership team, have significant influence over the UK strategy and, as the market grows, have the opportunity to build and lead the commercial organisation around you. The business offers a values-led, open and non-hierarchical culture, alongside competitive remuneration based on experience.