Customer Development Manager - Food

Caldic; Chesterfield; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work Fridays (dependent on role

Annual bonus

25 days holiday + bank holidays

Pension with employer contribution

Health & wellbeing program

Eyecare

Free onsite parking

Learning platform

Job summary

Caldic in Chesterfield is seeking a Customer Development Manager to lead direct commercial sales and build long-term customer partnerships within Bakery & Nutrition markets. You’ll create opportunities, work with existing customers and new prospects, and tailor solutions from our broad portfolio to drive success.

You’ll leverage your entrepreneurial mindset to develop strategic relationships, translate insights into action, and contribute to innovation in bakery and nutrition products across the

Qualifications

• Entrepreneurial mindset and proactive approach to business development.
• Strong communicator with confident presentation skills.
• Experience selling food ingredients to manufacturers (3–5 years).
• Degree in a food-related discipline preferred.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain strong relationships with existing customers.
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities within the Bakery & Nutrition customers.
• Meet & Succeed Sales Targets focused on Material Margin.
• Develop understanding of product portfolio and applications to offer solutions.
• Gather market feedback and collaborate with Product Management and team members.
• Utilize CRM Tools to track customer interactions and manage opportunity pipeline.
• Prepare and deliver Sales Plans to support growth in the territory.
• Act as liaison between Caldic Ingredients and clients, ensuring customer satisfaction.
• Attend Supplier Training to ensure a wide range of product knowledge.
• Attend Sales Meetings to present and collaborate with team members.

Skills

Entrepreneurial mindset

Strong communicator

Negotiation

Networking

Analytical thinking

Presentation skills

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Degree in a food-related discipline

Tools

CRM software

Job description

About The Role

Are you ready to take the lead in shaping our growth within the Bakery & Nutrition markets? As a Customer Development Manager, you’ll be responsible for driving direct commercial sales while building and nurturing long-term customer partnerships.

In this role, you’ll take a proactive approach to business development, not just waiting for opportunities, but creating them. You’ll work closely with existing customers and new prospects to understand their challenges and goals, offering tailored solutions from our broad product portfolio to support their success.

If you’re motivated by developing strategic relationships, turning customer insights into action, and contributing to the innovation behind bakery and nutrition products across the market, then this role is baked for you.

Key Responsibilities

• Build and maintain strong relationships with existing customers.
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities within the Bakery & Nutrition customers
• Meet & Succeed Sales Targets focused on Material Margin
• Develop a deep understanding of our product portfolio and applications to offer solutions to the customers.
• Gather Market feedback from customers and collaborate with Product Management and team members.
• Utilize CRM Tools to track customer interactions and manage opportunity pipeline.
• Prepare and deliver and follow Sales Plans to support growth plans within the territory
• Act as liaison between Caldic Ingredients and clients, ensuring customer satisfaction.
• Attend Supplier Training to ensure a wide range of product knowledge
• Attend Sales Meetings to present and collaborate with team members

Job Requirements

We’re looking for a candidate with an entrepreneurial spirit and a “can-do” approach to business. You should be a strong communicator with confident presentation skills and the ability to engage effectively with different stakeholders. You enjoy solving problems and are energized by change and innovation.

Your personality is best described as enterprising, enthusiastic, and energetic. You’re detail-oriented and efficient, with a structured approach to accurate reporting. You think in solutions, act on results, and bring strong analytical skills to the table.

In this role, you’ll act as a full partner to customers, suppliers, and colleagues, building lasting relationships and staying up to date with any developments that could improve the quality and value we deliver to our customers.

You Bring Insight And Experience In

• Strong customer and results focus, with a proactive and entrepreneurial mindset
• Proven negotiating skills and the ability to build and maintain strong relationships
• Market-oriented, with a solid understanding of industry dynamics
• Skilled in networking and developing new business opportunities
• Resilient and persistent, with the drive to follow through on long‑term goals
• Strong analytical abilities and a structured approach to problem‑solving
• Degree in a food-related discipline preferred
• Minimum 3–5 years of relevant commercial experience, ideally selling food ingredients to manufacturers
• Solid technical knowledge related to food ingredients
• Experience in the bakery sector is highly desirable

About Caldic

At Caldic, we’re a global leader in distribution solutions, serving diverse markets across the world. Joining us means becoming part of an entrepreneurial, collaborative, and innovation‑driven team.

We Offer

• A salary that meets the knowledge and experience you bring
• Performance‑related remuneration (annual bonus and capital‑forming benefits).
• You have 25 days' holiday per year plus Bank Holidays.
• Additional holidays for long service
• Option to work from home on Fridays (dependent on role).
• An internal learning platform with a wide range of courses you can use to develop both professionally and personally.
• Pension with 5% contribution by employee, 6% by employer.
• We care about the mental well‑being of our employees with free and unlimited access to Health Assured Employee Assistance Program.
• Corporate Eyecare - Specsavers
• Free onsite parking
• Thirsty? Water, Tea, and coffee are part of our business.
• Team‑oriented corporate culture, together we are better than alone.
• A truly international and diverse workplace that values every background and gives you the opportunity to work with people from all around the world.

We operate in 43 countries around the world. Our innovative solutions are tailored to meet the needs of industries such as food, pharma, personal care, and industrial markets, ensuring sustainable success for all stakeholders. To learn more, visit: www.caldic.com

Equal Opportunity Employer

Calic celebrates diversity and is committed to fostering an inclusive work environment. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, or any other characteristic.

Location: Chesterfield, DBY, GB, S42 5UG City: Chesterfield Country/Region: GB