Business Development Manager

Gleeson Recruitment Group

Commercial Manager – Food (Retail Partnerships)

An established food manufacturing business is looking for a dynamic and results-driven Commercial Manager to take ownership of branded retail partnerships with leading UK supermarkets.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a commercially minded professional with a strong background in food retail account management to play a key role in shaping strategy, leading commercial negotiations, and driving profitable growth through major grocery channels.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day relationships and performance of key grocery accounts (e.g., Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Aldi).
• Develop and maintain strong partnerships with retail buyers and category teams.
• Lead the creation and execution of joint business plans, pricing strategies, and annual trading agreements.
• Drive category performance through market analysis and insight-led promotional planning.
• Support new product development initiatives in collaboration with technical, marketing, and innovation teams.
• Ensure accurate forecasting and alignment between supply chain and customer needs.
• Represent customer interests internally, influencing cross-functional teams to deliver service excellence.
• Monitor and report on commercial KPIs, risks, and opportunities.

What We’re Looking For

• Proven experience managing major UK supermarket, grocery accounts or wholesalers
• Background ideally in chilled, frozen, or ambient categories.
• Strong commercial acumen with excellent negotiation and analytical skills.
• Confident managing complex commercial discussions and contracts.
• Proficient in sales forecasting tools and data platforms (e.g., Excel, Power BI).
• Effective communicator, skilled at stakeholder management across all business levels.

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