Business Development Manager - Foodservice

VanRath; Northern Ireland; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the FMCG sector is seeking an outstanding salesperson for a field-based role focusing on the foodservice sector. The ideal candidate will be responsible for developing new business opportunities while maintaining strong relationships with clients across the UK and Ireland. Competitive salary and benefits package are offered, including a company car.

Benefits

Benefits pack including pension

Company car package

Qualifications

• Proven background in lead generation, business development, or sales within FMCG.
• Comfortable travelling across the UK and Ireland.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

• Identify and develop new business opportunities across the region.
• Maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders.
• Provide timely sales forecasts and performance reports.

Skills

Communication

Negotiation

Organisation

Lead Generation

CRM proficiency

Commercial Acumen

Self-motivation

Tech-savvy

Tools

Microsoft Office

CRM Software

Job description

We are seeking an outstanding salesperson to take on this FMCG solution sales role, your aim will mainly be the foodservice sector.

This role is primarily field-based, with an office in Newry.

Salary/ Benefits

• Salary of £30,000 - £35,000 + bonus + car package
• Benefits pack including pension

The Ideal Person

• Comfortable travelling across the UK and Ireland for client meetings, site visits, and relevant events.
• A confident and persuasive communicator, skilled in building relationships and handling negotiations effectively.
• Strong organisational abilities with the capacity to manage multiple opportunities and shifting priorities.
• Proven background in lead generation, business development, or sales preferrable within FMCG or food production industries.
• Proficient in CRM software for tracking pipelines, client data, and sales activity.
• Commercially minded, with an ability to assess profitability and understand what drives customer decision-making.
• Self-motivated and results-oriented, with a natural drive to meet and exceed targets.
• Tech-savvy, with solid knowledge of Microsoft Office tools, especially Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Holds a full UK driving licence with no endorsements.

Responsibilities

• Proactively identify and develop new business opportunities across the region, from initial contact through to successful on-boarding and handover.
• Build and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with key stakeholders to gain deep insight into their business needs and objectives.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with teams such as NPD, marketing, operations, and finance to ensure the delivery of tailored, customer-focused solutions.
• Manage a portfolio of existing customer accounts through regular engagement, strategic account planning, and consistently high service levels.
• Ensure all sales activities, pipeline progress, and client interactions are accurately recorded and updated within the CRM system.
• Keep abreast of market movements and competitor actions to anticipate potential risks and uncover new growth opportunities.
• Provide timely and accurate sales forecasts, performance reports, and activity summaries to the Head of Sales.
• Represent the brand professionally at trade shows, customer meetings, and industry events.
• Guide new clients through the on-boarding journey, ensuring a smooth transition and setup experience.

Check out some of your candidate feedback-

''I would highly recommend Vanrath. Very friendly and helpful staff. They very informative and kept me up to date throughout the interview process and answered any questions I had.''

''I was contacted by VANRATH in regards to a job I had applied for. They were extremely helpful and gave me a number of positions to apply for. They had interviews set up in a number of hours and I secured a position within days. They kept we well informed throughout the process and has continued to touch base after I have started my new role. Couldn't recommend enough.''

''The team at VANRATH were extremely helpful in helping me find my new role. They kept me up to date on my application and provided excellent advice throughout the interview process. Overall the process could not have gone smoother or any quicker and I would definitely recommend reaching out to them if you are on the lookout for a new role.''