National Account Executive

AAK; Hull and East Yorkshire; On-site; GBP 28,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company car/ cash allowance

Bonus scheme

UK Healthcare scheme

25 days holidays + bank holidays

Group life cover

Group income protection

Job summary

AAK is seeking a National Account Executive to support the UK & Ireland Foodservice team from Hull. The role reports to the Head of Sales Development and focuses on growing key national accounts, managing promotions and ensuring excellent customer service across the UK.

You will collaborate with wholesalers, buying groups and internal teams to deliver volume and profitability while executing category and brand strategies. Travel to customers nationwide is included in the role.

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent.
• Proficient in MS Excel, MS Word and MS PowerPoint.
• Sales experience required within the UK FMCG or Foodservice sector.

Responsibilities

• Support the management of key national foodservice accounts across the UK to achieve sales and growth targets.
• Prepare and deliver customer presentations, business reviews and joint business plans.
• Analyse sales performance, manage promotions and pricing activity, and monitor budgets and opportunities.

Skills

Communication

Numeracy

Under pressure

Team player

Driving

Education

Degree or equivalent

Tools

MS Excel

MS Word

MS PowerPoint

Job description

Our story goes back more than 150 years, to the chilly southern coast of Scandinavia. From our early success in Sweden and Denmark, we’ve grown into the world’s leading specialist producer of plant-based oils, employing more than 4,000 people all across the globe.

We work with our customers to make the products you love even better. The oils we produce go into making your chocolate extra‑creamy or putting the crunch into your croissant. And it’s not just food — we work across industries to make products that are higher quality, healthier and better for the planet.

Everything we do is about Making Better Happen™.

AAK Location

This role is based at our AAK Site in Hull - King Georges Dock.

AAK Hull is located in the heart of an area enjoying significant redevelopment and investment. The Port of Hull is being established as a world‑class centre for renewable energy and manufacturing, and at AAK we feel proud to be part of this important industrial renaissance for Yorkshire and the UK.

At our recently upgraded site at King George Dock we operate the UK’s largest refinery for edible oils and fats. We supply businesses in the sectors of food manufacturing, baking, Foodservice and retail, and we work closely with customers to co‑develop bespoke products.

About The Role

This role is a 12 month FTC role. AAK is seeking to appoint a National Account Executive to work as part of the UK & Ireland Foodservice team. The successful candidate will report to the Head of Sales Development.

Responsible for supporting the management and growth of key national foodservice accounts across the UK. Works closely with customers, wholesalers, buying groups, and internal teams to deliver sales growth, execute account plans, manage promotions, analyse performance, and ensure excellent customer service. Supports commercial negotiations, identifies new business opportunities, and helps deliver volume and profitability targets while building strong customer relationships and ensuring effective execution of category and brand strategies. This role is site based with regular visits to customers across the UK.

Responsibilities

Account Management

• Support the management of key accounts to achieve sales, profit, and growth targets.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with customer contacts and internal stakeholders.
• Assist in the preparation and delivery of customer presentations, business reviews, and joint business plans.
• Ensure customer requirements are met through effective communication and coordination.

Commercial Support

• Prepare and analyse sales reports, forecasts, and performance data.
• Support promotional planning, pricing activity, and customer negotiations.
• Monitor customer performance against budgets and identify opportunities for growth.
• Assist in managing customer pricing files, promotions and contract management.

Business Development

• Identify opportunities to increase distribution, sales, and profitability within existing accounts.
• Support the implementation of new product launches and range reviews.
• Conduct market, competitor, and category analysis to identify trends and opportunities.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with supply chain, finance, marketing, technical, and operations teams to ensure excellent customer service.
• Coordinate customer projects and ensure actions are completed within agreed timelines.
• Support the resolution of customer queries, supply issues, and commercial challenges.

Reporting and Administration

• Maintain accurate customer records, forecasts, and sales reports.
• Prepare regular performance updates for internal stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, procedures, and commercial processes.

About You

The successful candidate will have the following skills and experience:

• Educated to degree level or equivalent
• Proficient in MS Excel, MS Word and MS PowerPoint
• Excellent written, oral and interpersonal skills; effective communicator across all levels of the organisation
• Good numeracy skills to effectively present figures to customers
• Ability to work effectively under pressure
• Sales experience required within the UK FMCG or Foodservice sector
• Self‑motivated, with a willingness to learn and gain an understanding of the Foodservice market
• Team Player
• Flexibility to travel to and from customer base so a driver’s licence is essential.

In return AAK offer

• 10% non‑contribution pension.
• Company car/ cash allowance.
• Bonus scheme.
• UK Healthcare scheme.
• 25 days holidays plus bank holidays.
• Group life cover.
• Group income protection scheme.
• Ride2Work scheme.

About AAK

Everything AAK does is about Making Better Happen™. We specialise in plant-based oils that are the value‑adding ingredients in many of the products people love to consume. We make these products better tasting, healthier, and more sustainable. At the heart of AAK’s offer is Customer Co‑Development, combining our desire to understand what better means for each customer, with the unique flexibility of our production assets, and a deep knowledge of many products and industries, including Chocolate & Confectionery, Bakery, Dairy, Plant-based Foods, Special Nutrition, Foodservice and Personal Care.

Our 4,000 employees support our close collaboration with customers through 25 regional sales offices, 15 dedicated Customer Innovation Centers, and with the support of more than 20 production facilities. Listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and with our headquarters in Malmö, AAK has been Making Better Happen™ for more than 150 years.

AAK prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, religion, veteran status, and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under state or federal law in any aspect of the access to, admission, or treatment of students in its programs and activities, or in employment and application for employment.