Commercial Manager - UK Grocery Retail Startup

ZipRecruiter; London; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A dynamic grocery retail startup in London is seeking a Commercial Manager to drive product sourcing and supplier management. This role offers the opportunity to shape the commercial strategy from the ground up in a fast-paced environment. Ideal candidates will have strong grocery retail experience and thrive in ambiguity, taking ownership of day-to-day operations.

Qualifications

• Experience in grocery retail, either startup or established brands.
• Strong ability to navigate ambiguity in fast-paced environments.
• Confident in cross-functional teamwork and delivering results.

Responsibilities

• Identify commercially viable grocery products balancing quality and customer demand.
• Manage supplier relationships, sourcing, and negotiations.
• Define pricing and promotion strategies for optimal margins.

Skills

Commercial Acumen

Supplier Management

Negotiation

Problem Solving

Attention to Detail

Tools

Modern IT Tools

Job description

Job Description

Commercial Manager – UK Grocery Retail Startup

Location: Central London

Position Type: Full-Time

Reporting to: CEO

About us:

We are a group of start up and retail experts, launching a new grocery concept in the UK. We are ambitious, dynamic and on a mission to create something exciting and unique.

We're fast-moving, so flexibility, ownership, and a willingness to jump in wherever needed are key. You'll be joining a team where no job is too small or too big, and speed matters. If you're motivated by building from scratch, driving impact, and growing with a company, we'd love to meet you.

About the Role:

We are seeking a commercially driven, resourceful, and strategic individual to join our growing grocery retail venture in the UK. This role is ideal for someone who understands commercial strategy, product sourcing, pricing strategy, and supplier management — with a proven ability to operate effectively in fast-paced, hands-on environments.

You will work closely with the founding team to help shape the commercial strategy from the ground up. This is a unique opportunity to contribute meaningfully to a business in its early stages.

Key Responsibilities:

• Identify which grocery products are commercially viable, balancing quality, pricing, and customer demand
• Build and manage supplier relationships, handling sourcing, negotiations, and performance oversight
• Define pricing and promotion strategies to optimize margins and category performance
• Manage the full supply chain directly — from coordinating deliveries and managing shelf life to ensuring timely and accurate in-store execution
• Lead the rollout of products for new store openings and category launches, ensuring all commercial and operational elements are in place
• Take full ownership of day-to-day tasks — including supplier negotiations, troubleshooting delivery issues, and last-minute problem solving
• Operate with energy, initiative, and a strong sense of ownership — this role is for someone who thrives on taking responsibility

Candidate Profile:

• Strong commercial acumen, with a background in grocery retail (startup or established brand experience both welcome)
• Experience managing supplier relationships and negotiating terms
• Confident in navigating ambiguity and comfortable in a rapidly changing environment
• Demonstrated ability to work cross-functionally, solve problems, and deliver results
• Self-starter with a hands-on mindset and strong attention to detail
• Familiarity with the UK grocery landscape, particularly in or around London
• Savvy in using modern IT tools incl AI to enhance productivity of the commercial team

Compensation:

• Competitive base salary