At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a retail division, shape strategy, and drive growth at scale.
- Company: Join Sofina Foods, a dynamic international food group.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career progression, and a collaborative work environment.
- Other info: Opportunity to work with a diverse team and develop your skills.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a high-profile role with significant influence.
- Qualifications: Senior commercial leadership experience in FMCG or food manufacturing required.
The predicted salary is between 72000 - 108000 £ per year.
Lead a core retail division. Shape strategy. Deliver growth at scale.
Our new VP, Retail Sales will take full commercial ownership of one of Sofina Foods Europe’s most significant retail divisions. This is a pivotal role for a commercially astute and visionary leader ready to take a high-performing team and well-established customer base to the next level. This role combines strategic direction with hands-on commercial leadership. You’ll be accountable for the performance of a well-established, high-value customer portfolio, while setting the vision for future growth, customer partnerships and team capability. Working cross-functionally across operations, innovation and technical teams, you’ll ensure customer strategies are commercially robust, executable and aligned to Sofina’s wider European retail agenda. Based in North Yorkshire, this role requires significant presence onsite at our Head Office, and will require frequent travel to customers and Sofina sites.
Your Key Responsibilities
- Owning and delivering the end-to-end commercial strategy for your business unit
- Leading revenue, margin and profit performance, with full P&L accountability
- Building and strengthening strategic partnerships with major retailers
- Shaping customer joint business plans with clear commercial intent and discipline
- Leading, developing and motivating a multi-disciplinary commercial team across sales, category and customer marketing
- Owning forecasting, budgeting and commercial planning cycles
- Collaborating closely with operations, technical and innovation teams to deliver customer-led solutions
- Ensuring customer plans align with Sofina Foods Europe’s broader retail growth strategy
The Ideal Candidate
You will be an experienced commercial leader with a strong understanding of UK grocery and/or convenience retail and will:
- Bring senior commercial leadership experience within FMCG or food manufacturing, with proven experience across chilled, frozen and ambient categories
- Have a proven track record of managing and growing major UK retail accounts
- Demonstrate strong commercial and financial capability, including margin management and forecasting
- Be a confident relationship builder with credibility at senior customer level
- Lead with clarity, purpose and accountability, developing high-performing teams
- Be comfortable operating in a fast-paced, evolving environment
- Balance strategic thinking with practical, execution-focused delivery
Why Sofina Foods?
This is a rare opportunity to lead a high-profile retail business unit within a growing, international food group supplying many of the UK and Europe’s best-known retailers. You’ll shape strategy, influence customer direction and develop a strong leadership team, while working in a business that values ambition, collaboration and customer-led growth. The role offers genuine long-term scope for impact, influence and progression within Sofina’s European leadership community.
Company Information
Sofina Foods isn’t just a food company - It’s a place to build your future. With a team of over 13,000 people across 40 sites in Canada and Europe, we’re passionate about delivering quality meats and seafood products to consumers around the world. Join a company where innovation, sustainability, and customer satisfaction drive everything we do. At Sofina, you’ll grow your skills, make a real impact, and work with responsibly sourced products from more than 50 protein sources across five continents. Our vision is bold: to be the most successful food company in the world. If you’re looking for a rewarding career in the food industry, there’s a place for you at Sofina Foods.
Equal Opportunities
Sofina Foods is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences – regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.
Schedule: Monday to Friday
Location: Malton, North Yorkshire
Hours of Work: Full-time
Company: Sofina Foods
Country Code: GB
VP, Retail Sales - Commercial Business Unit Lead in Malton employer: Sofina Foods Europe
Sofina Foods is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment in North Yorkshire where innovation and collaboration thrive. As a leader in the food industry, we provide our employees with ample opportunities for professional growth and development, while fostering a culture that values diversity and inclusion. Join us to make a meaningful impact in a high-profile role that shapes the future of retail sales within a globally recognised company.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land VP, Retail Sales - Commercial Business Unit Lead in Malton
✨Get Your Retail Game On
Start by getting to know the local retail scene. Make a list of stores that align with your vibe and visit them. You'll be surprised at how many job openings come from chatting with staff or managers in-store. Plus, showing that you have a genuine interest in their brand can make you stand out when applying for that full-time role!
✨Join Retail Networks and Forums
Tap into retail-specific communities and forums, whether online or in-person. Platforms like Retail Week or local retail meetups can provide invaluable insights and connections. You never know who might drop a tip about an upcoming job at companies like Sofina Foods Europe, so don’t miss out on building those relationships!
✨Be Ready for Busy Season Opportunities
Keep your eyes peeled for seasonal hiring windows, especially in the run-up to major shopping periods. Retailers often look for full-time staff to carry through busy times and may even keep you on after the season. Stay proactive by regularly checking in with your favourite retailers about their hiring plans.
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail’s all about customer interactions, so make sure you showcase any relevant experience in your conversations and interviews. Share specific examples of your customer service skills and how they’ve led to positive outcomes. This is your moment to shine when applying to roles at places like Sofina Foods Europe!
We think you need these skills to ace VP, Retail Sales - Commercial Business Unit Lead in Malton
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Customer Service Skills:In retail, customer service is key! Make sure your CV highlights any experience where you've dealt with customers, whether it’s resolving issues or enhancing the shopping experience. Use concrete examples to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to handle difficult situations with ease.
Tailor Your CV for Retail:When applying for a full-time role like this one at Sofina Foods Europe, customise your CV to reflect retail-specific buzzwords. Include any relevant skills such as inventory management or visual merchandising, and if you have experience with POS systems, shout about it! This will show you’re serious about joining the retail team.
Craft a Genuine Cover Letter:Don’t just repeat your CV in your cover letter! Use it as a chance to explain why you're excited about the opportunity at Sofina Foods Europe and how your values align with their brand. Mention specific aspects of the company that resonate with you and let your enthusiasm shine through!
Highlight Your Adaptability:In retail, things can get busy and unpredictable, so demonstrate how adaptable and flexible you are. Share examples of times you've had to adjust your approach on the fly or take on new responsibilities. This will show Sofina Foods Europe that you’re ready to jump in and contribute right away!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sofina Foods Europe
✨Show Off Your Customer Service Skills
Retail is all about providing an exceptional customer experience, so be ready to discuss your past customer service stories. We should have examples on hand of how we've handled difficult situations or gone above and beyond to meet a customer's needs. These anecdotes will bring your application to life!
✨Familiarity with Point of Sale Systems
Many retail roles require us to work with Point of Sale (POS) systems, so it's a good idea to brush up on any relevant software you’ve used before. If you’re familiar with systems like Shopify or Square, don’t forget to mention this during the interview. Highlighting technical proficiency can set us apart from other candidates!
✨Understand Product Knowledge
Be prepared to discuss the products that the store sells and how we can contribute to their sales. Showing enthusiasm for the products and a willingness to learn can impress interviewers. We should research popular items or trends in the industry before the interview, so we can speak confidently about them.
✨Be Ready for Role-Playing Scenarios
Many retail interviews include role-playing scenarios where we might have to deal with a difficult customer or upsell a product. Practising these scenarios with a friend or family member can help us feel more comfortable. The key here is to showcase our problem-solving skills and ability to remain calm under pressure!
