Sales Manager - Fresh Produce

Are you a commercially driven sales professional who understands the fast-moving world of fresh produce? Our client is an established and ambitious fresh produce business supplying customers across the UK, with a broad product portfolio covering vegetables, salads and other fresh produce sourced from both UK and international suppliers. As part of their continued growth plans, they are now looking to appoint a Sales Manager to join their team in Worcestershire and play a key role in developing both existing and new customer relationships.

The Role

This is very much a hands-on commercial position.

You will work closely with the senior team to develop sales across the business, build stronger relationships with existing customers and identify new commercial opportunities across the UK fresh produce marketplace.

Responsibilities will include:

• Developing and growing existing customer accounts
• Identifying and winning new customers and commercial opportunities
• Building strong, long-term relationships across the fresh produce sector
• Understanding customer requirements and matching these with available products and supply
• Working closely with procurement and supply colleagues
• Negotiating pricing and commercial terms
• Keeping close to market movements, product availability, seasonality and pricing
• Helping identify new products, customers and routes to market
• Playing an active role in the continued commercial growth of the business

The Person

We are looking for someone who understands the fresh produce sector and, importantly, knows how to build relationships and sell. You could currently be working within a grower, importer, wholesaler, distributor, foodservice business, produce supplier or another commercially focused fresh produce environment.

You might already be operating as a Sales Manager, Account Manager, Commercial Manager, Sales Executive or Fresh Produce Trader and now be looking for an opportunity where you can make a genuine commercial impact.

Whatever your current title, you will need to be:

• Commercially minded and naturally sales focused
• Experienced within fresh produce or a closely related fresh food sector
• Confident developing new business as well as managing existing accounts
• A strong communicator and relationship builder
• Comfortable negotiating with customers and suppliers
• Numerate, organised and commercially aware
• Able to operate effectively within a fast-moving trading environment
• Ambitious and keen to contribute to the growth of an independent business

Above all, we are looking for someone who understands that fresh produce is a people and relationships business and who enjoys getting on the phone, talking to customers, finding opportunities and making things happen.

The Opportunity

This is an excellent opportunity to join an established independent fresh produce business with significant experience in the sector and genuine ambitions for further growth. The successful individual will be joining a close-knit commercial team and will have the opportunity to make a visible impact on the future development of the business. The position will be based from the company’s Evesham / Worcestershire area office, so candidates will need to be within a sensible commuting distance or prepared to relocate.

Salary: Competitive and negotiable depending on experience, plus benefits.