Account Manager - Stone Fruit & Kiwi

The Fresh Produce Centre; Whetsted; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Optional company share scheme

Learning and development opportunities

Free onsite parking

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle to Work scheme

Medicash

Death in service benefit

Job summary

The Fresh Produce Centre is seeking an experienced Account Manager to strengthen partnerships across retailers and overseas growers, ensuring alignment of priorities and a seamless supply chain. You will own performance, use market and competitor insights to spot risks and opportunities, and collaborate with supply-chain and product teams to deliver growth, improved service, and category success.

This role offers a competitive salary, pension, share scheme option, and development opportunities,

Qualifications

• Experience in account management within fresh produce, food, or FMCG.
• Strong knowledge of fresh-produce supply chains and retailer requirements.
• Experience managing retailer relationships with major UK grocers is desirable.
• Commercial awareness and ability to interpret financial and market data.
• Excellent communication, presentation, influencing and negotiation skills.
• Organised, proactive and collaborative in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in Excel, Power BI and MS Office.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day commercial and operational relationship between FreshPLUS, retailers and overseas growers.
• Own account performance, volumes and profitability, monitoring OTIF, forecast accuracy, availability and waste.
• Lead resolution of supply, quality and service issues using sales, market and competitor insights.
• Shape category plans, range reviews and seasonal programmes with retailer teams.
• Lead NPD from concept to launch, collaborating with growers on new varieties and packaging.

Skills

Account management

Fresh produce knowledge

Commercial acumen

Data interpretation

Communication skills

Negotiation skills

Organizational skills

Tools

Excel

Power BI

Job description

If you are an experienced fresh produce, food or FMCG Account Manager who thrives on building customer and grower partnerships, improving service and driving category growth, this could be your next career move.

As Account Manager, you will manage the day-to-day commercial and operational relationship between FreshPLUS, Retailers and a network of overseas growers. You will be the key link between supply and demand, ensuring customer priorities are understood, grower capability is aligned and stakeholders remain connected across the supply chain.

You will own account performance—managing volumes and profitability, monitoring OTIF, forecast accuracy, availability and waste, and leading the resolution of supply, quality and service issues. Using sales, financial, market and competitor insight, you will identify risks and opportunities, support negotiations and deliver clear forecasts and performance reporting.

Working with The retailer’s buying, technical, supply-chain and product-development teams, you will also shape category plans, range reviews and seasonal programmes. You will lead NPD from concept to launch, collaborating with growers on new varieties, formats, packaging and sustainability initiatives that improve sales, margin and customer satisfaction.

Our Perfect Account Manager Would Have

• Account management, commercial or customer-service experience in fresh produce, food or FMCG.
• Strong knowledge of fresh-produce supply chains and major-retailer requirements.
• Experience managing retailer relationships with major UK grocer’s is desirable.
• Commercial awareness and confidence interpreting financial, sales and market data.
• Excellent communication, presentation, influencing and negotiation skills.
• Strong organisation, judgement and problem-solving in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Power BI and Microsoft Office applications.
• A proactive, resilient, collaborative and customer-focused approach.

The Hours You Would Work

• Monday to Friday. 8am–5pm (40hrs per week) with occasional travel overseas.

What We Can Offer You

• A competitive salary.
• 6.6 weeks annual leave incl. bank hols.
• Pension scheme.
• Optional company share scheme.
• Learning and development opportunities.
• Free onsite parking.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Cycle to Work scheme.
• Medicash.
• Death in service benefit.