Commercial - Business Development Manager

Finsbury Food Group; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading specialty bakery manufacturer is seeking a Business Development Manager. This role involves driving growth by winning new business and developing strategic account plans. The ideal candidate should have a strong track record in account management within FMCG, excellent relationship-building skills, and the ability to generate new business. Benefits include enhanced maternity leave, pension schemes, and development opportunities.

Benefits

Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Leave

Enhanced Pension Scheme

Death in Service Benefit

Employee Assistance Programme

Retail discounts via Benefits Hub

Company shop at sites

Refer a Friend Scheme (£300 per referral)

Learning & Development opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven ability to generate new business within Foodservice or FMCG.
• Results-oriented with proactive problem-solving skills.
• Strong commercial and negotiation skills.

Responsibilities

• Win new profitable business for Lees and JFS sites and manage these accounts.
• Identify opportunities to expand product listings.
• Monitor sales performance and adjust strategies.
• Develop and execute account plans aligned with customer needs.

Skills

New business generation

Account management

Communication skills

Proactive problem-solving

Negotiation skills

Data analysis

Job description

Location:

East Kilbride and Coatbridge

Shift:

Monday to Friday

Salary:

Competitive + Benefits

We have an opportunity for a Business Development Manager to join our Commercial team.

Finsbury Food Group is a leading speciality bakery manufacturer. We constantly raise quality and efficiency standards and build long-term relationships with major retailers and the foodservice channel. We produce a variety of baked goods including bread, cakes, and treats, serving the UK market.

The Business Development Manager (BDM) will drive growth by winning new business, developing strategic account plans, and ensuring customer satisfaction. They will build strong relationships with customers to meet sales and profitability targets.

This role requires a proven track record in account management within the out-of-home or FMCG industry, with strong communication skills to maintain stakeholder relationships and deliver excellent customer service.

The position is based across Lees & JFS sites with regular travel for meetings, which could be weekly or monthly. Home working may be considered, but regular travel to Scottish sites is required.

This role offers a great opportunity to gain experience with a major UK bakery business, working with a friendly team and offering growth and career development opportunities.

Key Responsibilities:

• Win new profitable business for Lees and JFS sites and manage these accounts.
• Identify opportunities to expand product listings and growth through NPD and range extensions.
• Monitor sales performance and adjust strategies to meet KPIs and financial goals.
• Develop and execute account plans aligned with customer needs and company objectives.
• Forecast sales and coordinate with supply chain and production teams.
• Collaborate with customers on category insights and growth initiatives.
• Liaise with internal teams for project delivery and product launches.
• Provide regular updates and reviews to senior leadership.

Ideal Candidate:

• Proven ability to generate new business within Foodservice or FMCG.
• Results-oriented with proactive problem-solving skills.
• Experience in account management in foodservice or FMCG industries.
• Strong commercial and negotiation skills.
• Excellent relationship-building and communication skills.
• Data analysis skills to inform plans.
• Ability to work under pressure and challenge the status quo.
• Experience with NPD, especially in bakery or similar categories, is a plus.
• Flexibility to travel for meetings and events.

Benefits:

• Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Leave
• Enhanced Pension Scheme
• Death in Service Benefit
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Retail discounts via Benefits Hub
• Company shop at sites
• Refer a Friend Scheme (£300 per referral)
• Learning & Development opportunities, including sponsorships and courses

Our vision is to be the UK's leading specialty bakery group. We value our employees and support their growth to help our business succeed. If you're interested, please contact us to learn more!