Business Development Manager

D R Newitt & Associates; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

D R Newitt & Associates is seeking a Business Development Manager to drive sales growth across the Durham, Cleveland, and North Yorkshire region. You will manage a portfolio of foodservice accounts, developing relationships and maximizing long-term profitability.

The role requires visiting customers, identifying new opportunities, and building product knowledge across a wide range of dairy, bakery, ambient, frozen, fresh, and non-food products. A full UK driving licence is essential.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a Sales Executive, Field Sales, or Account Management role within the food industry.
• Experience managing and developing a portfolio of existing customers.
• A passion for food and a genuine interest in learning about a broad range of food products and solutions.
• Strong negotiation and relationship-building skills.
• An enthusiastic, customer-focused approach to sales.
• A driven mindset with a desire to succeed and grow accounts over time.
• Experience dealing with local or regional businesses.
• A full UK driving licence (essential due to the nature of the role).

Responsibilities

• Managing a portfolio of foodservice accounts, focused on profitable retention and growth.
• Visiting existing customers to develop relationships and maximise account potential over the long term.
• Identifying and winning new business opportunities within the region.
• Building strong, lasting relationships with customers, acting as a trusted partner rather than a transactional salesperson.
• Developing strong product knowledge across the company’s full range, including dairy, bakery, ambient, frozen, fresh, and non-food products, and confidently selling across multiple categories.
• Contributing to the achievement of sales targets within your geographical area.
• Driving growth in both turnover and profit margin.

Skills

Sales experience

Account management

Negotiation

Relationship building

Customer-focused selling

Growth mindset

Local/regional business experience

Driving licence

Job description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Business Development Manager to join a family-owned and run foodservice wholesaler based in the North East.

As a business with ambitious growth plans, they are looking for an individual capable of driving sales growth in a structured and profitable manner across the Durham, Cleveland, and North Yorkshire region.

The role will involve managing and developing a designated area of foodservice accounts, with a focus on profitable retention, sustainable growth, and new account acquisition. The successful candidate will work closely with customers to understand their evolving needs and position the full breadth of the company’s offering as a long-term solution.

Key responsibilities include:

• Managing a portfolio of foodservice accounts, focused on profitable retention and growth.
• Visiting existing customers to develop relationships and maximise account potential over the long term.
• Identifying and winning new business opportunities within the region.
• Building strong, lasting relationships with customers, acting as a trusted partner rather than a transactional salesperson.
• Developing strong product knowledge across the company’s full range, including dairy, bakery, ambient, frozen, fresh, and non-food products, and confidently selling across multiple categories.
• Contributing to the achievement of sales targets within your geographical area.
• Driving growth in both turnover and profit margin.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Previous experience in a Sales Executive, Field Sales, or Account Management role within the food industry.
• Experience managing and developing a portfolio of existing customers.
• A passion for food and a genuine interest in learning about a broad range of food products and solutions.
• Strong negotiation and relationship-building skills.
• An enthusiastic, customer-focused approach to sales.
• A driven mindset with a desire to succeed and grow accounts over time.
• Experience dealing with local or regional businesses.
• A full UK driving licence (essential due to the nature of the role).