National Account Manager – Grocery

The Oval Partnership; Manchester; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

The Oval Partnership in the United Kingdom is seeking a National Account Manager for a food business to own grocery accounts, drive profitable sales and shape account strategy from Manchester.

You will develop customer business plans, expand distribution and collaborate with marketing, finance and supply chain to deliver results and sustainable growth.

Qualifications

• FMCG grocery national account management experience.
• Strong sales and negotiation skills.
• Understanding of profitability, promotions and distribution growth.
• Experience developing customer business plans.
• Strong analytical skills to turn data into actions.
• Excellent communication, organisation and stakeholder management.
• Proactive, commercially focused and able to work independently.

Responsibilities

• Deliver sales, volume and profit targets across accounts.
• Develop annual account plans and joint business plans.
• Identify opportunities to grow product ranges and listings.
• Lead customer negotiations and agree profitable terms.
• Plan and evaluate promotions for incremental sales and ROI.
• Review account performance and drive improvements.
• Collaborate with marketing on product launches and activity.
• Coordinate with finance and supply chain for reporting and payments.
• Monitor market trends to inform decisions.

Skills

FMCG experience

Sales & Negotiation

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Independent work

Communication

Organisation

Job description

We are recruiting a National Account Manager for a food business, with responsibility for growing grocery accounts and delivering profitable sales.

This role offers the opportunity to take ownership of customer relationships, shape account strategy and identify new opportunities for growth. You will develop customer business plans, increase distribution and work closely with colleagues across marketing, finance and supply chain to deliver results.

The role

As the main commercial contact for your accounts, you will build strong customer relationships and translate business priorities into clear, measurable account plans. Your focus will be on increasing sales, improving profitability and securing sustainable growth.

Key responsibilities

• Deliver agreed sales, volume and profit targets across your accounts.
• Develop annual account plans and joint business plans aligned with the wider grocery strategy.
• Identify opportunities to grow product ranges, secure new listings and increase permanent and seasonal distribution.
• Lead customer negotiations and agree commercial terms that support profitable growth.
• Plan and evaluate promotional activity, ensuring investment delivers incremental sales and a strong commercial return.
• Review account performance regularly and identify actions to improve results.
• Work with marketing teams on product development, launches and customer activity.
• Coordinate with finance and supply chain to support customer service, accurate reporting and timely payment.
• Monitor market trends, competitor activity and customer developments to inform commercial decisions.

What we are looking for

• A successful track record in FMCG grocery national account management, ideally within food.
• Strong sales and negotiation skills, with experience building productive relationships with grocery buyers.
• A clear understanding of account profitability, promotional investment and distribution growth.
• Experience developing and delivering customer business plans.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to turn market and sales data into practical actions.
• Excellent communication, organisation and stakeholder management skills.
• A proactive, commercially focused approach, with the ability to work independently and manage competing priorities.