At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a major UK retail partnership and drive sustainable growth.
- Company: Join Sofina Foods, one of Europe's largest food businesses.
- Benefits: Car allowance, company bonus, pension scheme, and enhanced sick pay.
- Why this job: Shape your career while making a real impact in a fast-paced environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing major grocery retail accounts and strong commercial judgement.
- Other info: Enjoy autonomy, collaboration, and excellent progression opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 ÂŁ per year.
Own a flagship UK retail partnership and shape commercial growth at scale.
Benefits: Car Allowance, Company Bonus Scheme, Company Pension Scheme, Enhanced Sick Pay.
The Role: Our new National Account Lead will take ownership of one of Sofina Foods’ most significant UK retail relationships, playing a central role in driving sustainable growth, collaboration and commercial performance. This role sits at the heart of the business, bringing together customer insight, commercial thinking and cross‑functional leadership. You’ll act as the key connector between the retailer and Sofina, shaping joint plans, influencing internal teams, and ensuring delivery in a fast‑moving food environment. The role offers high visibility, autonomy and genuine scope to make an impact.
Key Responsibilities:
- Own and develop a priority UK retail account that represents a significant part of the business.
- Build and deliver joint business plans aligned to shared growth, sustainability and service objectives.
- Act as the primary point of contact for the customer, developing trusted, long‑term relationships.
- Provide day‑to‑day leadership across the account, supporting and mentoring account managers and executives.
- Work closely with operations, supply chain and logistics to ensure consistent, right‑first‑time delivery.
- Manage commercial performance, including forecasting, promotional activity and cost control.
- Identify opportunities to improve ways of working, unlock value and strengthen partnership.
- Represent the customer internally and influence senior stakeholders across Sofina.
Ideal Candidate: We’re looking for a commercial leader with deep experience managing major UK grocery retail accounts, ideally within food, fresh produce, or chilled categories. You’ll thrive in complexity, enjoy autonomy, and bring a sharp strategic and analytical mindset.
You’ll Bring:
- Experience managing major UK grocery retail accounts within FMCG or food.
- A strong understanding of trading within fast‑moving or short shelf‑life categories.
- Confidence owning joint business plans and leading customer conversations.
- A collaborative approach, with the ability to influence across functions and levels.
- Experience supporting or leading other account team members.
- Commercial judgement balanced with a practical, solutions‑focused mindset.
- Comfort working with data and insight to inform decisions (without being overly technical).
Why Sofina Foods: Join a growing, supportive commercial team within one of Europe’s largest food businesses. You’ll gain senior stakeholder exposure, own a major customer relationship, and have the freedom to shape your career. We offer real progression, a fast‑moving culture, and a chance to make a difference.
Equal Opportunities: As an equal opportunities employer, Sofina Foods is committed to the equal treatment of all employees and does not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership. We aspire to have a diverse and inclusive workplace and strongly encourage suitably qualified applicants from a wide range of backgrounds to apply.
Senior National Account Manager employer: Sofina Foods Europe
Contact Detail:
Sofina Foods Europe Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior National Account Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join relevant groups on LinkedIn, and don’t be shy about reaching out to current employees at Sofina Foods. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research Sofina Foods thoroughly and understand their values and goals. Think about how your experience managing major UK grocery retail accounts aligns with their needs. Practise answering common interview questions and have some examples ready to showcase your skills.
✨Tip Number 3
Follow up after your interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in showing your enthusiasm for the role. Mention something specific from your conversation to remind them of your fit for the position. It keeps you on their radar and shows you’re genuinely interested.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team at Sofina Foods. Keep an eye on new openings and get your application in early!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior National Account Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Senior National Account Manager. Highlight your experience with UK grocery retail accounts and any relevant achievements that showcase your commercial acumen.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Mention specific examples of how you've driven growth and built relationships in previous roles.
Showcase Your Analytical Skills: Since the role requires a sharp strategic mindset, don’t forget to mention your comfort with data and insights. Share examples of how you've used data to inform decisions and improve performance.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and get you on our radar!
How to prepare for a job interview at Sofina Foods Europe
✨Know Your Retail Account Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the specifics of the retail account you'll be managing. Understand their business model, recent performance, and any challenges they face. This will not only show your commitment but also help you discuss how you can drive growth and collaboration effectively.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Mindset
Prepare to discuss your experience with joint business plans and how you've successfully influenced internal teams in the past. Use specific examples that highlight your analytical skills and strategic thinking, especially in fast-moving environments. This will demonstrate your capability to lead and shape commercial performance.
✨Build Rapport with Your Interviewers
Remember, this role is all about relationships. During the interview, focus on building a connection with your interviewers. Ask insightful questions about their experiences and the company culture. This will not only make you memorable but also showcase your collaborative approach.
✨Be Data-Driven Yet Practical
While discussing your past roles, emphasise how you've used data to inform decisions without getting too technical. Share examples where your commercial judgement led to successful outcomes, particularly in managing promotional activities or cost control. This balance will resonate well with the interviewers.