Retail Development Manager

Co-op; Exeter; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A major retail chain in the UK is seeking a Retail Development Manager to support independent retailers across Cardiff, Bristol, and Exeter. This hybrid role focuses on building relationships, driving sales, and providing essential support to maximize store performance. The ideal candidate has experience in field sales, excellent communication skills, and relevant IT skills. A competitive salary and excellent benefits package are offered.

Benefits

Company car

Private healthcare

Annual bonus

30% off Co-op branded products

28 days holiday

Pension with up to 10% employer contributions

Access to a subsidised onsite gym

Coaching and training for career development

Qualifications

• Proven track record in Field Sales/Convenience/FMCG sales.
• Strong ability to build and nurture strategic partnerships.
• Excellent communication and time management skills.
• Strong IT skills to interpret and feedback data.

Responsibilities

• Drive sales by building positive relationships with retailers.
• Manage schedule and visit convenience retailers across the region.
• Act as the interface between head office and retailers.
• Ensure all retail locations receive necessary support.

Skills

Field Sales experience

Communication skills

Organizational skills

IT skills

Job description

Closing date: 22-08-2025

Retail Development Manager
Circa GBP50,000 plus benefits, including a company car and private healthcare (Work Level 5)

Field based across Cardiff, Bristol and Exeter this role you'll work in a hybrid way splitting your time between working from home and travelling to stores across your area (find out more about our hybrid working policy at jobs.coop.co.uk/hybrid-working-policy).

Please note this is a field-based role with travel to store sites across your assigned area. A full UK driving licence is required.

We're looking for Retail Development Managers to join Co-op Wholesale. Since 1977, we've championed independent retailers to thrive with Nisa - and now, we're entering a bold new chapter as Co-op Wholesale. It's the same spirit, with bigger ambition: bringing the power of Co-op to more local businesses than ever. And with that, exciting opportunities are on the rise, like this one.

In this role, you'll act as the vital link between Co-op Wholesale and our network of independent retailers. You'll be responsible for managing a core portfolio of between 60-80 retail sites, ensuring each location receives the support needed to maximise sales performance and implement strategic initiatives. Your work will directly contribute to driving our commercial agenda through targeted business activities and incentive programmes.

As the face of the Co-op Wholesale business, regular site visits will form a key part of your role, where you'll assess store standards, provide operational and procedural guidance alongside identifying opportunities to increase sales volumes. In return, we can offer you a fantastic opportunity to build your networks, learn all about the industry, and really make an impact across our Co-op wholesale network.

What you'll do

• Drive sales by building positive relationships, helping your retailers to realise their potential and any developing opportunities for growth
• Create the best experiences for your retailers, finding the root cause to any problems they may face in our stores
• Manage your own schedule, visiting convenience retailers across your region
• Work closely with your retailers, challenging and educating them when necessary to develop productive relationships
• Take responsibility for driving your own performance and delivering KPIs
• Act as the interface between the head office and retailers; working closely with IT, logistics, and operational teams to resolve issues and queries

This role would suit people who have

• Proven track record of driving commercial success in Field Sales/Convenience/FMCG sales, with a strong ability to build and nurture strategic partnerships, and collaborate with key stakeholders to optimise revenue and market growth.
• Excellent communication skills
• Excellent organisation and time management skills, with the ability to manage their workload effectively
• Strong IT skills with the ability to confidently interpret and feedback data
• A track record of retaining current business

Why Co-op?

If you have the skills that we need, we can offer you a competitive salary and great benefits package which includes 30% off Co-op branded products in our food stores (as well as other discounts on Co-op products and services).

• An annual bonus (based on personal and business performance)
• 28 days holiday (rising to 32 with service) plus bank holidays
• A pension with up to 10% employer contributions
• Private healthcare
• Access to a subsidised onsite gym (at our Manchester HQ)
• Coaching and training to support your career development
• Wagestream app - giving you access to a percentage of your pay as you earn

Building a diverse environment

We're actively building diverse teams and we welcome applications from everyone. If you have a disability, we can make reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process according to your needs. We're also part of the Disability Confident scheme, meaning we'll always offer an interview to disabled candidates who apply through the scheme if they meet the minimum criteria for a job.

We'll ask whether you'd like to be considered under the Disability Confident scheme when you apply.

If we invite you to take part in the recruitment process for any of our jobs, we'll ask you if you need any reasonable adjustments to enable you to participate.

You can find out more about our recruitment process at jobs.coop.co.uk/apply-process

You can find out more about the Disability Confident scheme and all our commitments to diversity and inclusion at jobs.coop.co.uk/diversity-inclusion-wellbeing

Please note that we may close applications for this role early.

As part of your application, you'll need to complete an online assessment. This assessment typically takes between 45-60 minutes.