Business Development Manager - Food Whole

The Newt in Somerset; Bruton; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee Life Cover

Employee Assistance Programme

Spa and swimming pool access

30% staff discount

Job summary

The Newt in Somerset is seeking a Business Development Manager – Wholesale to lead our wholesale growth across the UK. You will own a portfolio of accounts, build strong commercial relationships, and unlock opportunities across bakery, butchery, creamery and farm kitchen offerings, from prospecting to tastings and negotiations.

You will drive listed opportunities, expand distribution, and develop account plans with data-driven insights.

Qualifications

• Proven wholesale, food, FMCG sales experience.
• Commercially driven and ambitious with a growth mindset.
• Experience managing and growing an existing customer portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Own and grow a portfolio of wholesale accounts, driving retention and revenue growth.
• Identify opportunities across the full product portfolio through listings, cross-selling, and distribution.
• Proactively target and win new wholesale customers across priority sectors and channels.
• Build a strong pipeline via prospecting, networking, events, and digital outreach.
• Lead meetings, tastings and negotiations from first contact to trading customer.
• Develop account plans using sales data and market insight to forecast accurately.
• Collaborate with Wholesale Operations and Production to onboard customers and maximise sales.

Skills

Wholesale sales

New business development

Relationship management

CRM experience

Tools

CRM software

Job description

Business Development Manager – Wholesale

Up to £40,000 per annum plus performance bonus and fantastic benefits

40 hours per week across 5 days, Monday – Friday. Based onsite – BA7

Due to the location of the Estate a driving license is recommended for this role

Advert closes: Monday 28th September 2026 at 5pm

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🔗 Learn about The Newt in Somerset

Grow relationships. Win new business. Bring the very best of The Newt to more customers across the UK.

Our Business Development Manager – Wholesale

This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in the growth of The Newt’s wholesale business. Taking ownership of your own portfolio of customers, you’ll build strong commercial relationships, unlock opportunities across our Bakery, Butchery, Creamery and Farm Kitchen ranges, and actively seek out new business. From prospecting and pitching to tastings, negotiations and account development, you’ll have the freedom to make an impact while representing the quality, provenance and story behind The Newt.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and grow a portfolio of wholesale accounts, building strong relationships and driving retention and sales growth.
• Identify opportunities across our full product portfolio through new listings, cross-selling, increased distribution and seasonal activity.
• Proactively identify, target and win new wholesale customers across priority sectors and channels.
• Build and manage a strong new-business pipeline through prospecting, networking, referrals, events, phone, email and LinkedIn.
• Lead customer meetings, reviews, tastings and commercial negotiations, taking opportunities from first contact through to trading customer.
• Use sales data, buying patterns and market insight to develop account plans, identify opportunities and support accurate forecasting.
• Work closely with Wholesale Operations, Production and internal teams to successfully onboard customers, manage availability and maximise sales.
• Represent The Newt at customer meetings, trade events, tastings and networking opportunities, confidently bringing our products, provenance and wholesale proposition to life.

What we can offer

• A positive workplace environment with opportunities to develop both personally and professionally.
• Peace of mind with Employee Life Cover, providing your nominated loved one with 2x your salary.
• Support from our Employee Assistance Programme, including unlimited 24/7 remote GP appointments for you and your family.
• Look after your wellbeing with complimentary access to our Spa and swimming pools and our exclusive benefit of 50% off Spa Treatments.
• Stay in shape with complimentary use of our gym and wellbeing classes.
• Access to our Cycle to Work scheme, supporting wellbeing and sustainable commuting.
• Complimentary staff meal when onsite – crafted by our dedicated kitchen team, often featuring fresh produce from our estate.
• Enjoy shopping in both our shops on estate and online with 30% discount for all our colleagues and free delivery for any online purchases.
• Complimentary garden membership for The Newt and our partner gardens, including the Eden Project, Kew Gardens and The Lost Gardens of Heligan.
• We value your hard work and recognise your achievements through our colleague recognition programme – Newt Awards, with the opportunity to achieve amazing rewards, including a complimentary Hotel Stay.
• Discover exclusive perks with discounted hotel stays for staff, accompanied by a 30% discount at our restaurants.
• A team that knows how to have fun with regular team engagement activities, including Fun Squad events.
• Up to 30 days annual leave each year for our full-time team.

What we're looking for

• Proven experience in wholesale, food, FMCG or a similar sales environment, with a strong track record of winning new business.
• A commercially driven, proactive and ambitious approach with a genuine passion for sales and growth.
• Experience managing and developing an existing customer portfolio and building long-term relationships.
• Confidence presenting, negotiating and closing commercial opportunities with key decision-makers.
• A good understanding of pricing, margin and commercial terms, with confidence using data to support decisions.
• Experience using CRM systems and effectively managing a sales pipeline.
• A resilient, organised and results-focused approach with excellent communication and follow-through.
• Ideally, experience within premium food, drink, hospitality or FMCG, with an understanding of UK wholesale, retail or foodservice markets.

Where you'll be working

The wholesale department distributes estate-produced products from the on-site bakery, butchery, creamery and farm kitchen. The function operates across premium retail, independent trade and food service channels, with a focus on quality, brand integrity and scalable growth.

Who are we- The Newt in Somerset

Nestled within an expanse of rolling fields and steeped in ancient history, our luxury country estate stands as a haven of refined elegance, inviting guests to explore acres of captivating gardens, meandering pathways, and enriching exhibitions - accessible 364 days a year for our members. Our hotel extends a warm welcome, offering a home-away-from-home experience where impeccable service flourishes in an ambiance of unassuming sophistication. Beyond the estate, the Newt's essence remains tangible, with our Ecommerce teams delivering our finest products to homes, while media and membership endeavours keep them informed of our latest developments. Behind the scenes, a tapestry of talented teams - from Housekeeping to HR, Finance to Farming - collaborates harmoniously, crafting an unforgettable journey of growth, development, and innovation, where every contribution creates unparalleled experiences