National Account Manager - Grocery & Foodservice

About the job

This is a unique opportunity to work for two fast-growing challenger snack brands. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to build the grocery and foodservice accounts across both Insane Grain and Spare Snacks. They will be working amongst a group of highly ambitious and motivated individuals with an entrepreneurial mindset and in a fast-paced environment.

INSANE GRAIN:

At Insane Grain, we make INSANELY delicious and nutritious snacks made from supergrains and are on a mission to make genuinely healthier snacks accessible to everyone. Our motto is to do things #AgainstTheGrain and that’s why we’re on the hunt for a unique, brilliant, and highly organised individual to join us! The company is rapidly growing and we have a top secret (and very exciting!) partnership happening in 2024. This will likely skyrocket our growth and unlock a number of retail channels.

SPARE SNACKS:

We create award-winning snacks that are great for people, producers and the planet because we believe snacks should taste good and do good. We transform apple-solutely wonky apples into beautifully healthy fruit crisps. So the more you snack, the less we waste - hence our mantra #WasteNotWantLots.

We are building a team of hard working hustlers (the Avengers in snacking!) to expedite our growth as we move into a crucial and game-changing period for both companies.

THE OPPORTUNITY:

Both Insane Grain and Spare Snacks are in an exciting growth phase. We are rapidly expanding in grocery and foodservice and are looking for someone to help take the lead in both channels. We are looking for a highly ambitious go-getter who has commercial acumen, is data-driven and is looking to make their mark. The successful candidate will report into the Co-founders (and a Sales Director) to predominantly win new business and manage existing accounts (including Co-op, Morrisons, Waitrose, Ocado, Brakes). They must have prior experience with at least one major grocer and have a good understanding of the foodservice category.

THE ROLE:

New business accounts within grocery and foodservice:

• Win new grocery, retail and foodservice accounts.
• Build strong relationships with new distributing partners and buyers.
• Build JBPs (negotiate commercials and in store plans) with buyers to drive profitable growth plans to help achieve overall business objectives

Existing grocery & foodservice accounts:

• Key point of contact for grocery, retail and foodservice accounts. Build good relationships with all buyers and distributing partners. You will be supported by a Sales Director.
• Effectively manage our sales accounts to ensure that annual turnover and profit targets are achieved.
• Continually assess and suggest ways to improve ROS and drive profitability across all accounts.
• Develop joint business plans with existing accounts and execute.
• Manage promotional plans, ongoing analysis of promotional activity effectiveness and monitor in store compliance and share recommendations for improvements.
• Plan and implement NPD launches with your customers.
• Work closely with the marketing team to activate agreed customer marketing plans (including instore POS implementation and sampling activity).
• Input into annual and monthly forecasting and budgeting cycles.
• Work with operations to accurately forecast stock based on promotional activity and in store plans.
• Continually review data on customer performance and share recommendations for improvements. Provide weekly reports on sales performance and manage sales KPIs and trends.
• Manage and execute any in store events and participate in trade shows.
• Organise sales meetings, develop pitch decks and draft compelling commercial proposals.

THE CANDIDATE:

The right candidate will:

• Have previous sales experience in a fast growth F&B company (ideally start-up) for at least 2-3 years – we are looking for someone who has previously secured new business and managed accounts across grocery, retail and foodservice. They must have prior experience with at least one of the top 4 Grocers and experience in foodservice.
• Have a can-do attitude – we are looking for someone who is happy to get stuck in and has a positive attitude.
• Be pro-active, independent, and self-motivated – we are looking for someone that doesn’t need to be told what to do. Someone that spots an opportunity and can make it happen.
• Highly organised – you will be managing our sales channel (with support from our Sales Director who will be overseeing you), so we want someone who is able to confidently manage a project independently from start to finish.
• Multi-tasker – you will be managing responsibilities across a number of grocery and foodservice channels, so need to be able to juggle tasks simultaneously. You will also be working across two brands, so need to be able to manage your time effectively.
• Detail-orientated – you will be required to use Excel and keep on top of regularly monitoring sales performance vs. KPIs and sales data.
• Good at relationship building & confident – you will be representing the brand to grocery and foodservice customers and buyers. You must, therefore, be approachable and be able to build best in class relationships with our existing and new customers. You must have the confidence to pick up the phone or walk into stores and speak to potential customers.
• Able to solve problems – we’re a start-up and so you must be comfortable with taking initiative and finding creative solutions when you hit a bump in the road!
• A team player, hands-on & keen to get stuck in across all elements of the business – as a small team, we want someone who would be willing to go the extra mile to help others, be collaborative and willing to get their hands dirty when needed.

OTHER STUFF:

We are start-ups, which means that as a fast-growing business, everyone in our team needs to be willing to roll up their sleeves and get things done (even if it’s outside of their job description). This might be helping with samplings, packing and stickering sample boxes, being involved in marketing campaigns etc. The tasks might not be very glamorous but everyone gets stuck in, regardless of how senior you are (Founders included!).

We’re a growing team, but we are still small. That means that, although you might have to get stuck into tasks outside of your job description, you have the chance to make a real and meaningful impact on the business. It also means that no two days are the same, which we think is very exciting!

ESSENTIAL EXPERIENCE:

Minimum of 2-3 years sales experience within grocery and foodservice for a food and drink company (ideally start-up).

PACKAGE:

• Competitive base salary (circa. £50k. To be discussed depending on experience level).
• Salary reviews every 6 months.
• Potential cash bonuses based on performance.
• Hybrid work 5 days a week: London/ WFH.

HOW TO APPLY:

Please send a covering letter /email or short video or audio clip to [email removed - click apply for more details] with ‘NATIONAL ACCOUNT MANAGER – GROCERY & FOODSERVICE - Escape the City’ as the subject. The covering letter/ video or audio clip should include the following:

• Describe yourself in no more than 1 minute/ 150 words.
• If you were stranded on a desert island and only had one snack to eat, what would it be (other than Insane Grain or Spare Snacks)?
• Where would you like to see Insane Grain and Spare Snacks stocked?
• What does it take to work for a challenger brand?

CHECK OUT:

www.insanegrain.co.uk and www.scrapples.co.uk