Flexible UK location | c£75,000 plus bonus plus car/allowance | Career-defining opportunity
Do you have the experience and ambition to the lead the UK&I expansion for one of Europe’s top suppliers of premium bakery and pastry products?
bfpeople is retained by a €500m European food group to appoint a commercially minded sales manager who will launch and grow the business in the UK&I grocery markets. This is a rare opportunity to build a brand and customer base from the ground up, backed by a business with a strong track record of quality, innovation, and success across Europe.
About the Company
The company supplies a wide range of breads, viennoiserie, and pastries to major retailers and foodservice operators across Europe. Known for its quality, flexibility, and product innovation, it is now looking to establish a serious UK and Ireland presence, initially through own-label partnerships.
It already has a small UK footprint, with positive early feedback on locally tested products. Now it’s time to scale.
The Role
As the first UK based Sales Manager, you will:
- Lead market entry and business development in UK & Ireland
- Secure listings with major grocery retailers
- Develop and execute a go-to-market strategy with clear growth goals
- Collaborate with NPD and production teams to tailor offerings for local consumers
- Build strategic relationships with key buyers and lead commercial negotiations
- Manage tenders, JBPs, and promotional plans to support successful launches
This is a hands-on, entrepreneurial role with long-term strategic impact. Your brief is to establish a credible, competitive presence in the UK market within five years.
About You
You are:
- Well-connected in UK grocery retail, especially with the supermarkets and foodservice operators
- Experienced in building new business and launching products, in bakery, pastry, or a closely related FMCG category
- Adept at managing the full sales cycle from strategy to execution and from product development to promotion
- Commercially sharp, with a strong grasp of own-label product development, pricing structures, and promotional frameworks
- A confident negotiator who can secure and manage major accounts
- Comfortable working autonomously and cross-functionally, reporting to a European Commercial Director
This is not an account management role. We’re looking for someone who can build, lead, and deliver.
What’s on Offer
- A generous and flexible salary package
- Performance-related bonus
- Company car or allowance
- A pivotal, career-defining opportunity with the backing of a market-leading European group
Location is flexible within the UK, but you must be within easy reach of the major customers and an airport for regular travel to Europe.
Apply using the form below, or call John Hamilton on 07831688173, for a confidential discussion.