National Account Manager - Field based

About Us

Middleby UK and Lincat are at the forefront of commercial kitchen innovation, offering a wide range of high-quality equipment and solutions tailored to meet the demands of the foodservice industry. Together, we provide a dynamic, collaborative workplace where your contributions make a real impact.

About the Role

As the National Account Manager, you will be at the forefront of our client engagement strategy, working with some of the UK's most prominent accounts. You’ll be responsible for managing and growing relationships, identifying new business opportunities, and ensuring our solutions meet the evolving needs of the foodservice industry.

Key Areas of Responsibility

• Develop, secure and maintain the Middleby and Lincat specification within a selected group of National and Strategical Accounts.
• Negotiate terms of contracts, to grow business, within the guidelines of the Middleby UK Business Plan.
• Develop and maintain successful relationships at all levels from Board to Field Sales along with Purchasing Managers, Equipment Specifiers and Food Development teams.
• Seek out, recommend and develop new product development and key product opportunities by surveying consumer needs and trends and tracking competitors.
• Keep abreast with products, market conditions and competitive activities, advertising and promotional trends through research, reading professional publications and developing and maintaining personal networks.
• Supply management with oral and written reports on customer needs, problems, interests, competitive activities, and potential for new products.
• Work effectively with the internal sales team, external colleagues and partners, developing new business ideas.
• Work effectively with the Middleby and Lincat Marketing department to develop consistent lead generation, new business ideas and opportunities.
• Participate in trade shows, events and conventions.
• Update the CRM system on a daily basis to ensure that the company has a current view of all customer relationships.
• Expedite and support the resolution of customer problems and complaints.
• Structure time and plan journey to ensure effective visits across the UK to account sites and offices.
• Work flexibly as a full team member by covering for holidays and absence, by role re-allocation and carrying out any other duties, which may reasonably be requested of the role when required.
• Create and manage pricing structures, implement price increases when needed.
• Work closely with our culinary team on trials and product implementation.
• Feedback and evaluation with the clients and Middleby and Lincat teams.

Essential Experience

• Successful sales track record preferably in the commercial catering equipment Industry.
• Experience and knowledge of end user and distributor selling, developing accounts to specify products via a distributor and targeted sales growth, developed from specific accounts.
• Be able to use and demonstrate commercial equipment as well as presenting to teams.

Essential Skills and Knowledge

• Proactive approach and able to make decisions and to take appropriate actions, in line with agreed policy and objectives, with minimal reference to the Sales Director.
• High level organisational and time management skills and the ability to pragmatically assess and manage priorities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to deal professionally and empathetically with all clients, internal and external stakeholders.
• The ability to assess customer demand commercially, alongside cost implications and to negotiate skilfully, and confidently.
• A high level of attention to detail in order to ensure accuracy, monitor results.
• Probing and enquiring mind in order to be able to explore options and fully and properly develop business opportunities and ideas.
• Flexible in approach to work and willing to work in all areas of the sales team.
• Computer literate, specifically Microsoft Office, able to use spreadsheet formulae and calculations and to produce accurate and articulate meeting and visit reports, commercially orientated reports and correspondence.
• Knowledge of CRM systems and how to use them to greatest effect.
• Must be available to conduct extensive travel throughout the UK, staying away from home (expect 2-3 days a week).