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- Tasks: Lead retail relationships and drive profitable growth for major UK retailers.
- Company: Join a values-led food business with ambitious growth plans.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, benefits, and leadership progression opportunities.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team influencing company direction and retail strategy.
- Qualifications: Experience in senior commercial roles within food manufacturing is essential.
- Other info: Potential for board-level involvement and collaboration across teams.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
This range is provided by The Oval Partnership. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.
Base pay range
Direct message the job poster from The Oval Partnership
Food Industry Recruiter – Recruitment Specialist – Headhunter – Food Manufacturers – FMCG – Branded – Own Label – Chilled Food – Produce – Meat…
Head of Retail
Location: Hertfordshire
Contract Type: Full-Time, Permanent
Salary: Competitive + Benefits + Leadership Progression Opportunity
We are seeking a commercially driven and strategically minded Head of Retail to join our senior leadership team. This high-impact role holds full P&L accountability for a major retail portfolio valued at circa £60 million, spanning Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, and Iceland. With a clear pathway to potential board-level involvement, this role is ideal for an ambitious leader who brings experience from both food manufacturing and retail.
You will be the primary commercial voice of the business to our retail partners shaping growth strategies, managing key relationships, and driving profitable outcomes across a dynamic, fast-paced food manufacturing environment.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead and manage all aspects of the retail commercial relationship, acting as the senior point of contact for Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, and Iceland.
- Own full P&L responsibility across the retail portfolio, driving profitable growth and sustainable account performance.
- Identify and lead new commercial opportunities, securing business wins and deepening long-term partnerships with key customers.
- Maintain strong day-to-day relationships with retail counterparts, acting as a trusted advisor and problem solver.
- Partner with NPD and Innovation teams to shape and deliver successful new product launches, attending all relevant development sessions and ensuring critical path ownership.
- Ensure all retail-related project timelines, briefs, volumes, and responsibilities are clearly communicated and aligned across internal teams.
- Support and lead compelling commercial proposals with robust pricing, category insights, and market data.
- Oversee stock management, forecast alignment, and promotional tracking to optimise availability and margin.
- Collaborate with Technical and Operations teams to address quality concerns and customer complaints, driving fast resolution and root cause closure.
- Deliver quarterly business reviews including financial performance, product performance, innovation progress, and future growth plans.
- Ensure the product database is consistently updated and reflective of current retail ranges and business capabilities.
- Drive strategic expansion into other retail and foodservice accounts, using your market knowledge and network to open new doors.
- Support the board and executive team with wider commercial initiatives as required.
What We’re Looking For:
- Proven experience in a senior commercial or account management role within food manufacturing, working directly with major UK retailers.
- Strong commercial acumen with a track record of owning P&L responsibility and driving account growth.
- Clear understanding of food supply chain dynamics, cost structures, and retailer expectations.
- Comfortable working cross-functionally with NPD, Technical, Operations, and Finance teams to deliver end-to-end commercial solutions.
- Excellent relationship-building and influencing skills, with the ability to engage credibly at all levels both internally and externally.
- Strategic thinker with hands-on drive able to balance daily operations with long-term planning.
- Highly resilient, responsive, and comfortable in a fast-paced, evolving environment.
- Experience with chilled food, ambient or frozen categories is advantageous.
Why Join Us?
- Join a high-performing, values-led food business with a strong track record and ambitious growth plans.
- Be part of the senior leadership team with direct influence over company direction and retail strategy.
- Genuine scope to progress to board-level in line with business needs and personal impact.
- Work in a collaborative, commercially astute team where innovation, pace, and passion for food come together.
Seniority level
-
Seniority level
Mid-Senior level
Employment type
-
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
-
Job function
Sales and Manufacturing
-
Industries
Food and Beverage Manufacturing, Food and Beverage Retail, and Food and Beverage Services
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Head Of Sales employer: The Oval Partnership
Contact Detail:
The Oval Partnership Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Of Sales
✨Tip Number 1
Network with professionals in the food manufacturing and retail sectors. Attend industry events, webinars, or local meetups to connect with key players and learn about potential opportunities. Building relationships can often lead to referrals or insider information about job openings.
✨Tip Number 2
Research the major retailers mentioned in the job description, such as Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, and Iceland. Understand their current strategies, challenges, and market positioning. This knowledge will help you engage in meaningful conversations during interviews and demonstrate your commercial acumen.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience with P&L responsibility and how you've driven account growth in previous roles. Be ready to share specific examples of successful strategies you've implemented, as this will showcase your ability to deliver results in a similar position.
✨Tip Number 4
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in the food industry, particularly in chilled, ambient, and frozen categories. Being knowledgeable about current market dynamics will not only enhance your credibility but also allow you to contribute valuable insights during discussions with the hiring team.
We think you need these skills to ace Head Of Sales
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in food manufacturing and retail. Focus on your P&L responsibility and any successful account management roles you've held, especially with major UK retailers.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, emphasise your strategic thinking and relationship-building skills. Mention specific examples of how you've driven profitable growth and managed key relationships in previous roles.
Showcase Your Commercial Acumen: Demonstrate your understanding of the food supply chain and retailer expectations. Use metrics and data to illustrate your past successes in driving account growth and managing commercial opportunities.
Prepare for Interviews: Be ready to discuss your approach to managing retail relationships and driving innovation. Prepare examples of how you've collaborated with cross-functional teams to deliver successful outcomes in a fast-paced environment.
How to prepare for a job interview at The Oval Partnership
✨Understand the Retail Landscape
Familiarise yourself with the major UK retailers mentioned in the job description, such as Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, and Iceland. Be prepared to discuss their market strategies and how your experience aligns with their expectations.
✨Showcase Your P&L Experience
Since this role involves full P&L accountability, be ready to provide specific examples of how you've successfully managed budgets and driven profitable growth in previous positions. Highlight any relevant metrics or achievements.
✨Demonstrate Relationship-Building Skills
Prepare to discuss your approach to building and maintaining strong relationships with retail partners. Share examples of how you've acted as a trusted advisor and problem solver in past roles.
✨Highlight Cross-Functional Collaboration
This position requires working closely with various teams like NPD, Technical, and Operations. Be ready to explain how you've effectively collaborated across departments to deliver successful commercial solutions and product launches.
