Business Development Manager
Northern England (North West to Scotland) | Hybrid Field-Based Role
We are delighted to be supporting the appointment of two commercially focused and ambitious Business Development Managers to join a growing, market-leading food manufacturing business.
This is a varied commercial role offering a blend of business development, account management and customer engagement, giving you the opportunity to drive growth through both new and existing customer relationships. Covering the Northern region, you'll spend the majority of your time in the field, working closely with wholesalers, cash & carry operators, independent customers and end users to build long-term partnerships and maximise sales opportunities.
With ambitious growth plans across foodservice and bakery channels, this is an excellent opportunity for an experienced sales professional who enjoys building relationships, identifying opportunities and being highly visible in the market.
What you'll do
Manage and develop a portfolio of approximately 50 existing customer accounts
Identify and convert new business opportunities across the Northern region
Build strong relationships with wholesalers, cash & carry operators, independent customers and foodservice businesses
Develop and execute territory growth plans aligned with commercial objectives
Identify upselling and cross-selling opportunities within existing accounts
Conduct customer visits, product demonstrations, sampling activities and promotional events with end users
Increase engagement with pizzerias, bakeries, foodservice operators and other target customers
Build relationships with key decision-makers and buying contacts
Manage and maintain an active sales pipeline through Salesforce CRM
Monitor market trends, competitor activity and customer developments to identify growth opportunities
Represent the business at trade shows, exhibitions and industry events
Work collaboratively with internal teams to ensure excellent customer service and account support
Contribute to increasing market share and revenue across the region
What we're looking for
Proven success within a Business Development, Territory Sales, Area Sales or Account Management role
Experience selling into wholesale, cash & carry, foodservice, food distribution or the wider food & beverage sector
Strong account management skills with the ability to develop and grow existing customer relationships
Demonstrable success in winning new business and exceeding sales targets
Commercially astute with a proactive and solution-focused approach
Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
Comfortable engaging with customers at all levels, from independent business owners to senior buying contacts
Experience using CRM systems, ideally Salesforce
Self-motivated, highly organised and capable of managing a large geographical territory
Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel extensively across the region
Package
Competitive base salary, bonus & car allowance
Daily food allowance
Company pension
Life insurance
Employee benefits platform
Employee Assistance Programme
24/7 GP access
Hybrid working
Comprehensive onboarding and product training
Ongoing development and career progression opportunities