Business Development Manager – Food Industry (B2B)

The People Co.; Randstad; Hybrid; EUR 70,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Regular European travel

Bonus potential

Job summary

The People Co. is seeking a Business Development Manager for Food Ingredients to drive growth across Europe. You will identify opportunities, build strategic relationships with manufacturers, distributors, and food service players, and manage the full sales cycle from prospecting to closing.

Base salary ranges €70,000-€80,000 with a performance bonus. The role supports hybrid working with at least one day per week in Rotterdam and regular European travel.

Qualifications

• Proven B2B sales track record in the food sector.
• Experience selling into food ingredients or related markets is a plus.
• Fluent Dutch and English required.
• Willingness to travel across Europe, including weekly trips to Rotterdam.

Responsibilities

• Identify and develop new business opportunities across European markets.
• Build relationships with manufacturers, distributors, food service, and HORECA clients.
• Drive the full sales cycle from prospecting to closing deals.
• Collaborate with technical, marketing and supply chain teams to tailor solutions.
• Attend customer meetings, exhibitions and industry events across Europe.

Skills

B2B sales

Food industry experience

Dutch language

English language

Travel readiness

Education

Degree in Food Science/related field

Job description

Business Development Manager – Food Ingredients / B2B

European Food Industry

Salary guide: €70,000-€80,000 + bonus

Location: Netherlands or Belgium - with at least one day per week in Rotterdam

We're working with an established international food business, looking to bring in a Business Development Manager to help drive its next stage of growth across Europe.

We're particularly keen to hear from people based in the Netherlands or Belgium, provided they're within a reasonable travelling distance of Rotterdam and happy to be there at least once a week. There will also be regular travel to meet customers and develop opportunities across European markets.

Dutch and English language skills are essential.

This is a genuine new business role, so we're looking for someone who enjoys making things happen, opening doors and building relationships. Experience selling food ingredients would be particularly interesting, although we're also keen to speak with people who have sold into food manufacturing, food service or HORECA.

What you’ll be doing

• Finding and developing new business opportunities across European markets.
• Building relationships with food manufacturers, ingredient customers, distributors, food service operators and HORECA businesses.
• Identifying new customers and markets, and turning initial conversations into long-term commercial relationships.
• Managing the sales process from prospecting and presentations through to negotiation and securing new business.
• Attending customer meetings, trade exhibitions and industry events.
• Working alongside technical, marketing and supply chain colleagues to develop the right solutions for customers.

What we’re looking for

• B2B sales experience within the food industry.
• Ideally, a background in food ingredients sales. This would be a real advantage.
• Experience selling into industrial food manufacturers, distributors, food service or HORECA customers.
• A strong track record of acquiring new business and expanding markets, instead of simply maintaining an existing customer base.
• Fluent Dutch and English.
• Based in the Netherlands or Belgium, with the ability and willingness to travel to Rotterdam at least once a week.
• A person with strong business sense. Confident in negotiating and comfortable working across different European markets.
• Degree-educated, with a strong academic background. Ideally in Food Science, Food Technology, Business or a related discipline. However, the subject is less important than having the right commercial experience and ability.

Existing relationships within the food ingredients sector, food manufacturing or distribution would be particularly valuable.

The package

• €70,000-€80,000 basic salary, depending on experience.
• Performance-related bonus.
• Hybrid working, with at least one day a week in Rotterdam.
• Regular European travel.
• The opportunity to make a real impact on the growth of an established international food business.