At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead commercial relationships and drive sales growth with key national retail customers.
- Company: Wasabi, a thriving Asian food brand with a focus on innovation and growth.
- Benefits: Free sushi, 50% discount, financial wellbeing support, and a great working environment.
- Other info: Exciting career development opportunities in a vibrant and supportive culture.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team and make a real impact in a fast-growing company.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing FMCG grocery accounts and strong relationship-building skills.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Founded in 2003, Wasabi's vision is to lovingly create and serve delicious Asian food for a busy nation. Wasabi now has 42 thriving restaurants across London and major UK cities and 4 in New York. In 2019, we introduced Wasabi Home Bento, launching exclusively in Sainsbury’s. Building on that success, the grocery business broadened its reach to Tesco in September 2022, followed by exciting launches in Co‑op and Morrisons in 2024. Wasabi grocery has seen phenomenal growth and is now a £62m RSV brand, proudly standing as the No. 2 chilled ready‑meal brand in the market.
As we prepare for our next phase of growth and innovation, we have an incredibly exciting opportunity for a National Account Manager to join our Grocery Team based in Park Royal. This is a 6‑month fixed term contract role.
The Role
This role will be responsible for leading commercial relationships with our key national retail customers. You will be responsible for driving sales growth, profitability, and category performance through strategic account planning, negotiation, and execution. You will ensure that the brand and commercial strategies are effectively delivered while maximizing distribution, visibility, and promotional impact.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage and grow strategic relationships with our national retail accounts.
- Develop and execute joint business plans (JBPs), including annual negotiations, pricing, and trade terms.
- Ensure that all data, information, and admin required to support the customer relationship is rigorously and robustly managed.
- Lead business reviews with your customers to track performance and identify new opportunities.
- Grow your network and engagement across retail customer teams.
- P&L management – deliver sales, volume and margin targets for your customers.
- Ownership of the commercial P&L for your customer, ensuring budgets are met and we are investing in the right areas to drive business growth.
- Manage investment budgets (shopper, trade spend, promo, ORD) ensuring maximum ROI.
- Drive distribution gains, shelf visibility, and compliance with agreed plans.
- Identify and action growth opportunities and risk mitigation strategies.
Forecasting & Planning
- Undertake sales analysis and reporting for your accounts using internal systems, customer data, and category insight tools.
- Build accurate bottom‑up customer forecasts for review in internal S&OP process – lead and present M2 meets (customer demand meet) as part of S&OP process.
- Align customer plans with internal commercial and brand strategies.
- Field sales – planning, managing budget for most effective ROI, implementing, and reporting for your account.
Cross‑Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with marketing, category, supply chain, and finance teams to ensure strong customer execution.
- Partner with demand planning to maintain high service levels and in‑store availability and forecast accuracy.
- Share insights on customer needs, competitor activity, and category trends.
- Be the commercial lead on ad hoc assigned projects (e.g., NPD, EPD, new categories, new customers).
- Support in the evolution and improvement of key business processes and control documents.
- Embed Seiyaku ESG commitments (Net Zero, Sustainable Sourcing, Reduce Waste, Socially Responsible) into customer joint business plans, identifying and delivering initiatives that support both commercial growth and ESG targets.
Category & Insight‑Led Selling
- Use sales, insight and category data (IRI, Kantar etc.) to build compelling stories for customers.
- Monitor market performance, promotional activity, and category dynamics.
- Recommend improvements to product mix, pricing, and promotional strategy.
Our Requirements
- Proven experience managing branded FMCG grocery accounts.
- Commercially astute.
- Good understanding & appreciation of supporting functions (supply chain, food, procurement etc).
- Ability to build strong business relationships and mutually profitable business solutions.
- Adaptable and agile with excellent organisation and project management skills.
- Ability to use data and insights to solve problems and identify opportunities.
- Pro‑active with growth‑orientated mindset.
- Experience in short shelf life chilled highly desirable.
- Experience and confidence using Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
Benefits
- A great working environment.
- Refer A Friend Scheme.
- Free Sushi or hot food (vegan options available).
- 50% discount in our Branches.
- Employee Assistant Programme (a service providing health and wellbeing support).
- Wagestream – a financial wellbeing benefit that lets you access your pay as you earn it in real time and manage savings.
- Electric Vehicle Scheme through Octopus.
- Free on‑site parking.
- A variety of discounts (shopping, food & drink, entertainment and health & fitness) through Perkbox.
- The opportunity to develop your skills within a growing company.
Our people make us who we are. If you're looking for an exciting challenge and this sounds like the job for you please apply today as we can't wait to hear from you.
National Account Manager (6 month FTC) in London employer: Wasabi Sushi and Bento
Wasabi is an exceptional employer that fosters a vibrant and inclusive work culture, offering employees the chance to thrive in a dynamic environment. With a strong focus on personal and professional growth, team members benefit from comprehensive training, a supportive atmosphere, and unique perks such as free meals and flexible financial options. Located in Park Royal, this role provides an exciting opportunity to contribute to a rapidly expanding brand known for its innovative approach to Asian cuisine.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land National Account Manager (6 month FTC) in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join relevant groups on social media, and don’t be shy to reach out to current employees at Wasabi. You never know who might help you land that interview!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by researching Wasabi’s products and their growth strategy. Show them you’re not just another candidate; you’re genuinely interested in their mission and how you can contribute to their success.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to discuss your experience managing FMCG accounts and how you can drive sales growth for Wasabi. Tailor your examples to highlight your commercial acumen and relationship-building skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the Wasabi team. Let’s make it happen!
We think you need these skills to ace National Account Manager (6 month FTC) in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the National Account Manager role. Highlight your experience with FMCG grocery accounts and any relevant achievements that showcase your commercial acumen.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should tell us why you're the perfect fit for Wasabi. Share your passion for Asian food and how your skills align with our growth strategy. Be genuine and let your personality shine through!
Showcase Your Data Skills:Since data analysis is key in this role, mention your experience with tools like Excel and how you've used data to drive sales or improve performance in previous roles. We love numbers!
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 don’t miss out on any important updates from our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Wasabi Sushi and Bento
✨Know Your Numbers
As a National Account Manager, you'll need to demonstrate your understanding of sales metrics and P&L management. Brush up on key figures related to your previous accounts and be ready to discuss how you drove growth and profitability.
✨Showcase Your Strategic Thinking
Prepare to talk about your experience with joint business plans and negotiations. Think of specific examples where you successfully aligned customer needs with commercial strategies, and be ready to share how you identified growth opportunities.
✨Understand the Market
Familiarise yourself with Wasabi's product range and their position in the market. Be prepared to discuss category insights and how you would leverage data to enhance product visibility and drive sales in grocery channels.
✨Build Relationships
Highlight your ability to foster strong relationships with retail partners. Prepare anecdotes that showcase your collaboration with cross-functional teams and how you've effectively communicated insights to drive mutual success.
