Commercial Director - Food Retail

COREcruitment; London; Hybrid; GBP 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading food business seeks an experienced commercial leader to drive its expansion into international retail markets. This pivotal senior role involves developing strategies, managing key partnerships, and leading a high-performance team to achieve substantial growth across the UK and Europe.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of experience in FMCG, ideally in food categories.
• Strong exposure to UK and European retail markets.
• Demonstrated leadership in managing international teams.

Responsibilities

• Develop commercial strategy for UK and European markets.
• Manage partnerships with major retailers like Tesco and Carrefour.
• Oversee sales performance and product launches.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Commercial skills

Analytical skills

Leadership

Communication

Job description

Up to £130,000 | London or Home Counties | Hybrid

About the Role

An ambitious, fast-growing food business is looking for an experienced commercial leader to spearhead its next phase of international retail expansion.With products already stocked by major supermarkets, the brand is entering a pivotal stage of growth across the UK and continental Europe.

This is a high-impact, senior position offering the chance to shape commercial strategy, build strong partnerships with leading retailers, and lead a growing international sales team.The ideal candidate will bring a mix of strategic thinking and hands-on execution, with a proven track record of delivering results in fast-paced FMCG environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and lead the commercial strategy for retail growth across the UK, France, Spain, and wider European markets.
• Manage and expand partnerships with major retailers (e.g.Tesco, Waitrose, Ocado, Carrefour, Monoprix).
• Oversee sell-in and sell-out activities, including promotions, product launches, and in-store execution.
• Define pricing and margin strategies aligned with company objectives.
• Build and lead a high-performing commercial team across multiple geographies.
• Manage distributor and wholesale relationships to extend market reach.
• Collaborate closely with internal teams including Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance, and Quality.
• Monitor sales performance, analyse key metrics, and take corrective action where needed.
• Represent the business externally at trade events and buyer meetings, strengthening market presence.

The right person

• A senior commercial professional with 15+ years of FMCG experience, ideally in food or world food categories.
• Strong UK and European retail exposure, with a successful track record of delivering profitable growth.
• Experience managing both direct retail accounts and indirect distributor channels.
• Demonstrated leadership experience across international teams.
• Strong commercial and analytical skills, with the ability to balance strategy and execution.
• Highly credible and influential at retail buyer level.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
• Fluent in English and French (required).
• Confident, collaborative communicator with a hands-on approach and clear sense of ownership.

Location: London or nearby (Home Counties), with flexibility for European travel.