Business Development Manager - Foodservice and QSR (6 month FTC)

We have an incredible opportunity for a Business Development Manager (6 month FTC) to join our team at Florette at our Agrial Fresh Produce Factory in Wigan, WN5 0LB. This new role is ideal for a proactive, persuasive, and approachable person who will bring strong existing knowledge of UK Wholesalers, QSR's, Foodservice, and wider industry. The successful candidate will have contacts in the Foodservice and QSR industry across the board and will move to network the Florette Foodservice brand into new customers as the business continues to expand our offerings, which could lead to this position being made into a permanent role for the right candidate in the future.

You will demonstrate networking knowledge and capability to develop business across the UK Wholesalers & end-QSR operators as well as with the Contract Caterers, in order to build relationships with key decision-making contacts to support our business growth. Notable experience in Business Development and an existing network within the Food sector is essential for this role. Fresh Produce experience, or another FMCG environment, is highly desirable.

Working hours: Mon-Fri, 08:30am - 17:00pm, 37.5 hours per week

Pay: £Competitive with car allowance

Main Responsibilities 

• To win and grow new customers within the Hotel, Pubs & Restaurant channels (focusing on QSR’s) and Contract Catering sector by leveraging the routes to market.
• Develop new sales strategy for customer, sales volumes, value and profitability in accordance set within objectives and budgets.
• Create and consolidate the most effective relationships with customers by illustrating excellent account management through customer service and providing relevant data within agreed timescales.
• Coordination and effective execution of feasible EPD & NPD launches internally and with Customers, ensuring Projects are fully costed and approved internally prior to customer proposals and launches.
• Report internal commercial updates effectively to relevant departments and meeting forums using MS Excel and PowerPoint formats ensuring data accuracy, with updates clearly presented in a professional manner.
• Negotiate and manage the Seasonal & Annual price contracts with selected customer base ensuing all agreed profit levels are delivered on time
• Manage newly onboarded accounts in a proactive and long-term perspective.

Skills and Experience Required 

• Notable experience in Business Development within the Food sector is essential for this role. Fresh Produce experience, or another FMCG environment, is highly desirable.
• An existing network, knowledge of, and track record with Foodservice customers and the larger food supplier industry.
• Quickly develop a comfortable understanding of Agrial’s P&L and be able to quickly spot any discrepancies & opportunities before rectifying with a clear action plan.
• Ability to deliver tactical & strategic plans, that underpin Category vision, by utilising Marketing insights for the channels to enhance Agrial’s product & company offerings.
• Not being afraid to challenge ways of working and being able to evaluate whether a risk is worth taking; to be able to find creative solutions to a challenge both internally and externally.
• Customer centric, entrepreneurial, reactive, tenacious, and with a hunger and a passion to succeed in the right way.
• Able to quickly turn insights into decisions and subsequently turn those decisions into actions, as well as being capable and comfortable with working at speed in a fast-moving environment, both internally and with the customer base.. 

What You Will Get In Return  

A competitive annual salary with a car allowance, and a range of employee benefits you’d expect from a market leading business, including:

• Life Assurance: 3x your basic salary paid to your nominated beneficiary.
• Employee Assistance Programme: Providing a Remote GP service along with a 24/7 helpline for financial, legal, medical and life issues.
• Annual leave entitlement: 33 days annual leave per annum pro rata inclusive of UK Bank Holidays.
• Training and Development: Personalised induction as well as regular training and development courses and schemes.
• Benefits Platforms: Employee discount platform for multiple retailers as well as salary finance schemes for bicycles, gyms, and financial assistance.
• Other: Recognition awards, Regular Employee Engagement days, attendance incentives, an annual volunteering day, as well as access to a free physio and our on-site Occupational health nurse.

About Us 

Agrial Fresh Produce is one of three UK food manufacturing factories within Agrial Fresh Produce Ltd, which is an autonomous part of the larger 22,000 employee strong French co-operative group, Agrial. 

Our Wigan site is a well-established business unit that processes and distributes pre-packed, ready to eat, fresh salad bags and bowls to some of the UK's well-known retailers and restaurants. We are based on Martland Park Industrial Estate, which is ideal for travel on the M61, M6 and M62. The business has other operations in the UK, known commonly with our recognisable Florette salad brand and we are one of the UK’s leading producers in the industry. In total, we sell on average around 600,000kg of products every week - an unbe-leaf-able amount!

Agrial has operations across 18 regions, with 280 farming outlets and 5 different divisions, which comprise Beverage, Dairy, Meat, Fresh Produce & Agricultural operations; it’s not just about lettuce! As well as 2 factories we also have a farming operation – Agrial Fresh Farms. All UK sites operate under the name of Agrial Fresh Produce Limited and fall under Agrial's vegetable division. We have a recipe for success through our EPIC values and working together as one team. 

Next Steps 

It’s an exciting time to join our business as we look for new starters to join us in innovating in everything we do! We’re looking for positive and driven people to join our professional team. If you have the skills and experience we are looking for, and want a fresh challenge we would love for you to join us on our journey!  

Please apply directly or alternatively contact Will Kaye, Recruitment Officer for a totally confidential discussion. 

Agrial Fresh Produce reserve the right to close this vacancy once we have received sufficient applications. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
 
VISA Sponsorship: Agrial Fresh Produce is not a licensed UK VISA sponsor, and therefore cannot employ anyone who does not have the legal right to live and work in the UK. Our recruitment process will ask you to provide evidence of your Right to Work in the UK.

Agrial Fresh Produce Ltd is an Equal Opportunities employer. In addition, as part of Responsible Recruitment, Agrial Fresh Produce Ltd believes in the Employer Pay Principle. No worker should pay for a job – the costs of recruitment should be borne not by the worker but by the employer. 

We are committed to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of all of our staff. That’s why we’ve taken the Mental Health at Work Commitment and are currently delivering a programme of activities to ensure that everyone can have open and honest conversations about their wellbeing in the workplace and feel supported. We encourage applications from persons with experience of poor mental health and are committed to supporting our employees to fulfil their potential and perform at their best in work.