National Account Manager

Mr Fothergill's Seeds Ltd; Kentford; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Mr Fothergill's Seeds Ltd. in Kentford is seeking an energetic Account Manager to grow our UK/Ireland and European customer portfolio.

You will nurture existing accounts, win new business and coordinate plans with our Commercial teams to deliver profitable growth. Travel across Europe and Ireland will be regular, and you will promote our Seeds, Darlac and Tools ranges while building lasting partnerships with retailers and distributors.

Qualifications

• Experience in account management or sales role, preferably FMCG/horticulture/consumer goods.
• Proven ability in new business selling and building trust with customers over time.
• Ability to manage multiple customer relationships and deliver commercial results.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills across cultures and markets.
• Commercial awareness with range planning, pricing and promotions.
• Proficiency in MS Office and CRM systems; accurate record-keeping is essential.

Responsibilities

• Develop and nurture long-term relationships with existing customers across UK, Ireland and Europe, promoting the full portfolio.
• Identify and target new customers and channels across UK/Ireland/Europe, promoting Seeds & Tools and category growth.
• Lead participation at trade shows and European garden centre events.
• Support the Chief Commercial Officer in delivering customer plans, targets and forecasts.
• Maintain accurate sales, account and customer records in the CRM system.

Skills

Account management

Sales experience

CRM systems

Interpersonal communication

MS Office

Travel Europe

Multicultural collaboration

Tools

CRM systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

At Mr Fothergills Seed’s we are in the business of bringing gardens to life. Known for our exceptional range of seeds, garden products and horticultural expertise with well-known brands such as Mr Fothergill’s, Johnsons, DT Brown and Darlac our products can be found in garden centres, big retailers and direct to consumers through our websites and catalogues. We have a legacy of quality, a loyal customer base and are committed to inspiring and empowering gardeners of all levels.

We are a passionate team with a strong can-do attitude. We show respect to one another and are keen to innovate on our respective areas of expertise. We value agility, understand the journey our business is on and strive to add our unique mark onto that journey. We work hard but don’t forget to have fun. Our company purpose is “Helping Everyone Grow” and we extend that purpose to everything we do.

As we continue to expand our international footprint, we're looking for an ambitious and commercially minded Account Manager to help grow our customer portfolio across selected accounts in UK/I & Europe. This is an exciting opportunity for a relationship-driven sales professional who enjoys managing strategic accounts, developing new business opportunities, and delivering profitable growth in international markets. This role will be based from our Kentford Offices.

Core Responsibilities:

Existing Customers

• Develop and nurture long-term relationships as the primary contact for existing customers across UK, Ireland and Europe.
• Offer and promote the full Mr Fothergill's portfolio, including branded Seeds, \"In Service of Seed\", Own Label and Darlac products, helping customers drive sales growth and profitability.
• Partner with the International Operations Manager to create, own and manage customer plans and forecasts.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including retail buyers, operational leadership and supply chain teams, ensuring smooth business operations and proactive resolution of challenges.
• Maintain accurate records of account activity, sales performance and customer interactions, ensuring CRM systems are regularly updated.

New Business Development

• Collaborate with Commercial, Marketing, Product Development and Supply Chain teams to develop and implement effective sales strategies by market and channel.
• Identify and target new customers and channels across UK/ Ireland/ Europe, promoting the Seeds & Tools opportunity and the category growth achieved with UK retail partners.
• Build trust and confidence with prospective customers, developing long-term commercial relationships.
• Manage the onboarding of new customers, working closely with the International Operations Manager to coordinate customer setup, phytosanitary requirements and demand planning.
• Lead Mr Fothergill's participation at trade shows and European garden centre events.

Selected UK National Accounts

• Support the Chief Commercial Officer in delivering customer plans, financial targets and demand forecasts in line with budget and growth ambitions.
• Build, align and track Joint Business Plans with key customers, including Private Label, Raven's Haven and Covermount accounts.
• Develop strong relationships with customers and internal stakeholders to deliver sales-driving initiatives and exceptional customer service.
• Maintain accurate sales, account and customer records, ensuring CRM systems are up to date and support informed decision-making.

We are looking for someone who is an energetic, commercially focused account manager and who combines strong relationship-building skills with a passion for winning new business. You will also demonstrate:

• Experience in an account management or other sales role, preferably within FMCG, horticulture, or consumer goods.
• Proven experience in true new business selling and building trust with customers over time.
• Ability to manage multiple customer relationships and deliver commercial results.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to build rapport across diverse cultures and markets.
• Commercial awareness and experience with range planning, pricing strategies, and promotional execution.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and CRM systems; accurate record-keeping is essential.
• Ability to travel regularly within Europe and Ireland.
• Additional European language skills (especially French or German) are desirable.

The world of gardening should be accessible to all and it’s important that our teams reflect the diversity of our customers, ensuring that our products meet everyone’s needs. Therefore, we very much welcome applications from a diverse range of candidates regardless of background, gender, race, religious beliefs, disability, sexual orientation, or age. We’re ‘rooting’ for you!