Client Business Development Manager

RND Recruitment; Welwyn Garden City; Hybrid; GBP 68,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading agro-food sector company is seeking a Client Business Development Manager to enhance growth in the UK HoReCa channel. The ideal candidate is experienced in high-value sales, has a strong network in the food industry, particularly HoReCa, and is adept at solution-based selling. This role encompasses key account management and collaboration with R&D for tailored solutions. Competitive salary up to £80k, with further incentives and career development opportunities offered.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Quarterly bonus

Car allowance

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience in senior sales or business development within the food industry.
• Strong network in HoReCa, national accounts, wholesale, and distribution.
• Proven success in a consultative, solution-led sales environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead business development across the HoReCa channel.
• Grow existing accounts while onboarding new customers.
• Collaborate with R&D to support customer-driven product development.

Skills

Strategic sales approach

Strong communication skills

Negotiation skills

Stakeholder management

CRM experience

High emotional intelligence

Tools

SAP

Job description

Client Business Development Manager - HoReCa & Foodservice

Location: Hybrid, National role with 1-2 weekly visits to the office in Hertfordshire.

Our client is a major international player in the agro-food sector, recognised for its vertically integrated production model, strong brand portfolio, and rapidly growing presence within the UK foodservice market. With advanced R&D capabilities, they focus on delivering innovative, tailored solutions to the HoReCa sector.

The position became available for an experienced Client Business Development Manager to drive growth across the UK HoReCa channel. The ideal candidate is a senior food industry sales professional with a strong network in groups, national accounts, wholesalers, and distributors.

About the Role

This is a strategic, customer-facing position responsible for expanding the company's footprint across foodservice. You will manage key accounts, secure new business, and work closely with internal teams to deliver bespoke, value-added solutions not just products.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead business development across the HoReCa channel, targeting national accounts, hotel & restaurant groups, wholesalers, and distributors
• Grow existing accounts while identifying and onboarding new customers
• Adopt a consultative, solution-driven sales approach to understand customer needs and co-develop tailored products
• Collaborate with R&D, NPD and production to support customer-driven product development
• Build and manage customer sales forecasts, plans, and delivery schedules
• Track and analyse market, pricing, and trend data to support commercial strategy
• Represent the company professionally with senior stakeholders
• Contribute to monthly, quarterly, and annual sales forecasting
• Travel within the UK and internationally as required

Candidate Profile

• Experience in senior sales or business development within the food industry
• Strong Network in HoReCa, national accounts, wholesale, and distribution
• Background in poultry or meat is an advantage; seafood, fish, and wider food categories also considered
• Proven success in a consultative, solution-led sales environment
• Experience managing high-value accounts and achieving sales targets
• CRM experience; SAP is an advantage
• Strong communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills
• Strategic, commercially minded, with high emotional intelligence

What Makes This Opportunity Attractive

• Work with a fast-growing, internationally recognised food producer
• Influence NPD and customer solutions directly
• Career development opportunities within a global organisation

Package

Competitive basic salary (up to £80k) + quarterly bonus (up to 20%) + car allowance

If you are a senior food industry sales professional with a solid HoReCa network and a passion for solution-based selling, we would be pleased to hear from you.