Business Unit Director - Retail in London

The Business

Our client is one of the largest private-label food manufacturers in Europe, partnering with the UK’s leading grocery retailers. With deep commercial capabilities across chilled food categories and a dynamic innovation pipeline, they are investing heavily in category leadership, operational excellence, and long-term strategic partnerships. Their three-year strategic ambition is to master the elusive balance of delivering outstanding quality alongside unbeatable value in their core ranges, while simultaneously pioneering new areas of food development that will create entirely new revenue streams. This is a business with substantial group-level investment and long-range planning already in place. Having successfully restructured for growth, they are now ready to accelerate. This role is central to that ambition.

The Role

As Business Unit Director- Retail, you will take full ownership of two of the most strategically important retail partnerships in the UK grocery market. Your remit will span commercial strategy, customer development, team leadership, and long-range planning. This is more than a customer-facing role. You will drive a change agenda across your business unit, embedding new ways of working, shaping internal collaboration, and setting a new benchmark for commercial excellence. You will own the strategic blueprint for both short-term commercial performance and long-term growth. You will lead a large, high-value portfolio across chilled categories, navigating both traded high-volume lines and more complex innovation-led areas such as ready-to-cook and added-value prepared foods. You will operate at the most senior level with your retail partners and be a core voice at the strategic table within the group. This is a high-visibility, high-influence leadership position.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and lead the total commercial agenda for two of the UK’s largest grocery retailers.
• Deliver long-term category growth, P&L performance, and margin enhancement.
• Shape and implement a five-year strategic roadmap whilst delivering short-term and mid-term deliverables.
• Inspire, lead, and elevate a first-class Commercial Team, delivering exceptional service levels and creating clear competitive separation within the major retailer channel.
• Actively contribute at board level, shaping the broader strategic agenda, driving operational effectiveness, and maximising profitability across the business.
• Provide a compelling vision to key customers and suppliers, building deep strategic partnerships that protect and grow existing business while securing new wins.
• Refine and implement the business strategy, ensuring it unlocks sustainable category growth and delivers on stretching sales, volume, and profit objectives. The board has set an expectation to achieve approximately 40 percent growth over the next four to five years.
• Develop and execute a commercial strategy that positions the UK business as a modern, innovative private label powerhouse, building substantial equity and future-proofing market leadership.
• Identify and define growth categories and consumer need states, then lead the origination and delivery of innovation that fully capitalises on these opportunities.
• Coach, develop, and empower a high-performing commercial and support team, fostering an entrepreneurial spirit and embedding a dynamic performance culture across the organisation.

Why Apply?

• Own two of the most critical UK retail accounts in a business unit valued in the hundreds of millions.
• Operate at the highest level of commercial strategy, working directly with the board and customer leadership teams.
• Shape and deliver a business unit strategy with clear growth, investment, and team development.
• Join a company with deep resources, long-term commitment, and a roadmap for category leadership.
• Build a platform for broader executive leadership roles, including future Commercial Director or GM pathways.

Candidate Profile

We are seeking an experienced commercial leader with a strong track record in UK grocery retail. You might currently be a Sales Director, Head of Sales, high-performing Business Unit Director or even a Commercial Director looking for a bigger stage. Proven experience leading major retail accounts, ideally in chilled food or added-value categories. Strong P&L ownership, commercial strategy, and team leadership experience. Excellent customer influence skills with existing senior relationships across UK retail. Track record of delivering volume, value, and margin growth over time. Inspirational leader who thrives in pace, drives accountability, and builds trust. Agile, strategic thinker with strong financial and planning capability. Comfortable working across matrix structures and in high-visibility roles.