Commercial Manager

UK Chertsey/Home Based

Client Details

Blue Diamond, headquartered in Sacramento, California, is a strong, internationally known brand and supplier of the world's highest quality almond products. As the number one almond supplier in the world, products include Almond Breeze (almond milk) and various snack nuts in a range of flavours and formats.

Founded in 1910, the 108 year-old co-operative is owned by half of the state's almond growers who produce over 80% of the world's almond supply, currently representing over 3,000 growers. Blue Diamond led the development of California's almond industry from a minor domestic specialty crop to the world leader in almond production and marketing. Today, Blue Diamond serve customers in over 100 countries and is pro-active in opening new markets, forging new relationships and developing new products to stimulate demand. The business has three core values which revolve around building strong relationships with the growers, honest communication, and teamwork and collaboration in order to further realize the best return on their investment.

In the early days, Blue Diamond supplied almonds as a commodity for customers to further process, but in recent years the business has successfully developed into a global organisation with a portfolio of branded, value added products - including brand leading flavoured Snack Almonds and Almond Breeze. The strategies driving business success include commitment to quality, outstanding innovation, and global development.

Blue Diamond has two significant production plants which process almonds in California (Sacramento and Turlock) which together total over 2.5m square feet. Blue Diamond have also invested in creating a new Innovation Centre which comprises a new product development and research facility housing the latest technologies for creators, innovators and trailblazers.

As a company, Blue Diamond places real emphasis on its key sales partnerships and developing strong long term relationships that drive sales success for all parties. Supply is also managed through partners, with snack nuts processed in the UK to supply all of Europe and Almond Breeze processed in France and Spain. We have recently developed a portfolio of Dairy Free Yoghurt products under Almond Breeze which have been launched into the Spanish retailers.



Description

Country Sales Growth Development - working with our Spanish manufacturing and sales partner to deliver stretch sales targets. Develop a strong relationship which allows them to help drive/push distribution, rate of sale and ultimately sales performance.

• Work with the Spanish Marketing agency to ensure that communications plans are aligned with retailer activity for optimum delivery.

• New Product Development - coordinating with our partners to ensure the efficient introduction of new products in line with both marketing plans and customer requirements.

• Store Visits - to effect store visits to review both Blue Diamond products and competitor products as required. Ensure that retailer promotions and brand communication activity is perfectly executed.

• Develop a strategic sales plan for launching and developing Almond Breeze into France working with our key European Manufacturing partner on distribution and merchandising support.

• Logistics Planning on Almond Breeze - working in conjunction with European management, Blue Diamond corporate logistics planning. This will entail reviewing forecasts in line with both marketing plans and customer plans, and identifying and advising supply requirements.

• European Sales Review - providing sales analysis for customers and Blue Diamond corporate. Updating on a monthly basis and identifying key trends for which business decisions can be taken. Attending meetings to present information as required.

• Overhead Budget Management Planning - Manage budget centres and monitoring committed/actual spend. Managing submission of approved invoices.

• Packaging Management - coordinating all packaging requirements including the introduction of new packs and pack design changes.

• General Administration - to assist in the smooth running of the European business.

Profile

• Graduate ideally in a numerate and/or computer science discipline.

• Fluent in Spanish, Ideal to have fluency in French too

• Strong influencer, able to build stronger relationships quickly with confidence to challenge status quo.

• Must be able to work on own initiative, and deliver against required time lines.

• Clear communicator - will be required to relate to and submit reports to many key persons.

• Some travel will be required.

Job Offer

A competitive basic salary + bonus + benefits.