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- Tasks: Lead and develop retail strategies for major UK grocery accounts.
- Company: Fast-growing UK food manufacturing business with a dynamic culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, leadership role, and opportunity to shape retail strategy.
- Other info: Join a collaborative team and enjoy excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a thriving food business and drive innovation.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing UK retail accounts and strong commercial skills.
The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 £ per year.
An ambitious and fast-growing UK food manufacturing business is seeking a commercially driven Head of Retail to lead and develop its retail channel. This is a senior leadership role with full commercial accountability for a portfolio worth approximately £60 million across major UK grocery retailers, including Tesco, Asda, Morrisons and Iceland. The successful candidate will be responsible for managing strategic customer relationships, driving profitable growth, and leading cross-functional collaboration across NPD, Technical, Supply Chain and Operations to deliver best-in-class retail partnerships. This role offers the opportunity to play a key role in shaping the retail strategy of a dynamic and entrepreneurial food business.
Key Responsibilities
- Strategic Retail Leadership
- Own and lead the commercial strategy for major UK retail accounts, delivering sustainable revenue and margin growth.
- Hold full P&L responsibility across the retail portfolio.
- Identify and deliver new commercial opportunities, driving category expansion and profitable growth.
- Act as the senior commercial contact for retail partners, building strong and trusted relationships at multiple levels.
- Customer Relationship Management
- Serve as the primary point of contact for all commercial queries across retail accounts.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with buying teams and key stakeholders across customers’ organisations.
- Deliver regular business reviews covering sales performance, profitability, product performance and future growth opportunities.
- Commercial Delivery & Account Performance
- Analyse sales performance, forecasts and promotional activity to optimise account performance.
- Work closely with internal commercial teams to develop pricing strategies based on market insight and cost inputs.
- Manage stock levels and demand planning in collaboration with supply chain teams where applicable.
- Innovation & Product Development
- Work closely with the NPD team to drive innovation across retail customers.
- Attend product development sessions to ensure retail opportunities are maximised.
- Manage critical paths for new product launches, ensuring clear accountability and delivery timelines.
- Support the development of compelling customer presentations supported by pricing, market insight and commercial rationale.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Partner with Technical teams to manage customer feedback and resolve product issues effectively.
- Work with procurement, operations and supply chain teams to ensure seamless delivery of customer requirements.
- Ensure internal teams remain aligned on customer priorities and commercial opportunities.
- Portfolio Development
- Conduct regular product and range reviews to ensure a strong and relevant product offering across accounts.
- Maintain accurate product databases used across retail channels.
- Identify opportunities to expand the customer base within retail and foodservice sectors.
- Leadership
- Lead, mentor and develop two commercial team members.
- Support the wider leadership team in driving commercial strategy and business growth.
Skills & Experience
- Proven experience managing major UK retail grocery accounts within food manufacturing.
- Strong commercial background with full P&L responsibility.
- Demonstrated success in driving account growth and winning new retail business.
- Experience leading product development and innovation with retailers.
- Strong negotiation, influencing and relationship management skills.
- Ability to translate commercial insight into actionable strategies.
- Comfortable operating in a fast-paced entrepreneurial environment.
Personal Attributes
- Highly commercial with a growth mindset.
- Strategic thinker with strong execution capability.
- Confident communicator able to influence at senior level.
- Collaborative leader who thrives in cross-functional environments.
- Proactive, resilient and results-driven.
Apply with your CV today or contact us for more information about this excellent opportunity in a leading food business.
Head Of Retail - Meat in Borehamwood employer: The Oval Partnership
Contact Detail:
The Oval Partnership Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Of Retail - Meat in Borehamwood
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with industry folks on LinkedIn or at events. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can land you that dream job.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by researching the company inside out. Understand their products, values, and recent news. We want to see you shine and show them you’re genuinely interested in being part of their team!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! You need to be able to sell yourself just like you would a product. We suggest rehearsing your key achievements and how they relate to the role you’re applying for. Confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way. It shows your enthusiasm and keeps you fresh in their minds. We’re rooting for you to make that lasting impression!
We think you need these skills to ace Head Of Retail - Meat in Borehamwood
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the Head of Retail role. Highlight your achievements in managing major UK retail accounts and driving profitable growth, as these are key to what we’re looking for.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Use your cover letter to tell us why you’re the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've successfully led commercial strategies and built strong relationships with retail partners. We love a good story!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Since this is a senior leadership position, don’t forget to emphasise your experience in leading teams and mentoring others. We want to see how you’ve developed talent and driven results in your previous roles.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity in our dynamic food business!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Oval Partnership
✨Know Your Numbers
Before the interview, brush up on your financial acumen. Be ready to discuss P&L responsibilities and how you've driven revenue growth in previous roles. Having specific figures and examples at your fingertips will show that you understand the commercial landscape.
✨Build Relationships
Since this role involves managing strategic customer relationships, think about how you can demonstrate your relationship-building skills. Prepare anecdotes that highlight your ability to connect with key stakeholders and resolve issues effectively.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Thinking
Be prepared to discuss your approach to developing and executing a commercial strategy. Think of examples where you've identified new opportunities or driven category expansion, and be ready to explain your thought process behind those decisions.
✨Collaborate and Communicate
This position requires cross-functional collaboration, so be ready to talk about how you've worked with different teams in the past. Highlight your communication skills and provide examples of how you've led teams to achieve common goals, especially in fast-paced environments.