EU Retail Development Lead – Meat & FMCG

Kepak Group; Ireland; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company Pension

Paid Maternity Leave

Further Education support

Refer a Friend Scheme

Bike to Work Scheme

Long Service Awards

Job summary

Kepak Group, a leading meat producer with operations across Ireland and the UK, seeks an ambitious EU Retail Development Manager to spearhead our European retail growth strategy. You will identify new direct-to-retail opportunities, strengthen retailer relationships, and drive sustainable growth across key markets with frequent EU travel.

You will work with Commercial, Operations, Supply Chain, NPD, Finance, Food Safety & Quality, and Marketing to translate strategy into actionable plans, lead

Qualifications

• Proven business development experience within the FMCG sector and with retailers.
• Qualifications in business, agri-business, food business, strategic sales management, culinary, butchery or similar.
• Knowledge of retail category management, retail sales and supply chain channels.
• Experience within the meat industry is advantageous.
• Excellent CRM, negotiation, and relationship management skills.
• Fluency in English is essential; additional EU languages (French/Italian/German) preferred.
• Full clean driving licence and valid EU work/travel permit.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement Kepak's long-term EU Retail Development Strategy to support growth ambitions across Europe.
• Identify and secure new retail business opportunities while managing and growing existing customer accounts.
• Build strong relationships with retailers, buyers, category teams, distributors, and other key stakeholders.
• Lead commercial negotiations, tender processes, pricing strategies, and contract management to achieve sales and margin targets.
• Drive retail operating model development and establish frameworks that support sustainable finished-product growth.
• Collaborate with NPD and Category teams to deliver innovative customer solutions aligned with market trends and consumer demands.
• Lead cross-functional projects, ensuring successful delivery of new retail initiatives and customer programmes.
• Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and shopper insights to identify growth opportunities and enhance Kepak's retail proposition.
• Champion sustainability initiatives by aligning customer objectives with Kepak's sustainability strategy.

Skills

Business development

FMCG

Retail category management

Negotiation skills

Relationship management

Budget management

Project management

English fluency

EU languages

Driving licence

Education

Business degree or related

Job description

Kepak Group, a leading meat producer with operations across Ireland and the UK, seeks an ambitious EU Retail Development Manager to spearhead our European retail growth strategy. You will identify new direct-to-retail opportunities, strengthen retailer relationships, and drive sustainable growth across key markets with frequent EU travel.

You will work with Commercial, Operations, Supply Chain, NPD, Finance, Food Safety & Quality, and Marketing to translate strategy into actionable plans, lead