Head of Sales- Plant Based Business- Chilled Brand & Own Label (Grocery)

The Company  (Exciting Challenger Brands & Own Label)

As one of the UK's Leading Chilled Food Businesses, our client is a Own Label & Brand Leader in the exciting Chilled Plant Based Category. They have realised their strategic goals by being "1st To Market" with groundbreaking NPD, followed by Rapid and Strong Entry into the Grocery Channel. They are now committing strong levels of investment into both NPD, Taste/Food Innovation and Leading Edge Category solutions. Operating within the Branded & O/L arena their offering is both sophisticated and premium in nature and subsequently has become a real product of choice for their loyal and growing consumers base.

They are now ready for their next stage of Growth. As result they are now seeking to appoint a Head Sales to lead the Grocery Accounts across their Plant Business Business Unit.

The Role-

Reporting to the UK Managing Director and working closely with a the NPD Director you will take full P&L accountability for

• Total Grocery Channel

As Head of Sales you will be tasked with managing Business Unit of  £40M + within the respective Senior Managers reporting in. Working cross functionally both internally and externally you will drive a strong growth agenda within your business unit that will play a significant part in maximising EBIT performance of the UK business as whole. In order to achieve you will take ownership of driving a “change agenda” both internally and externally to the business. Your short-term goals will be 2 years out, whilst long-term goals will be devised some 5 years into the future, hence the intellectual stretch you will experience will be unparalleled in your career to date. Working at close quarters with the UK Managing Director, NPD Directors and respective SLT your plans will form the “Commercial & Category Compass” for the business to set its course. Within this, the Core Elements will be:

• Develop and lead the vision for the UK Branded and Private Label Business; secure key stakeholder buy-in, including The Group Executive, employees and board.
• Lead and develop a Commercial & Category Marketing Team to deliver first class service and clear blue water within Major Retailer/Foodservice/C&C- Wholesale.
• Provide a Vision for others to form key customers and suppliers, both trade and non-trade, securing existing business and winning new.
• As a SLT Memeber, contribute to the wider strategic agenda, effectiveness, profitability and success of the Business.
• Refine and implement the business strategy to ensure this maximises sustainable category growth opportunities and ensures that challenging sales, volume and profit objectives are delivered. Group expectations are to achieve c120% Growth over the next 3-4 Years.
• Develop a Commercial Strategy which takes the UK Business to the next level and builds substantial equity as a modern and innovative Private Label Business. Define the growth categories and consumer need states and energise the origination and delivery of innovation which maximise growth opportunities
• Lead and coach a 1st class commercial & category support team, encouraging an entrepreneurial approach and establishing a high-performance culture.

Candidate Requirements

Candidate must have gained strong Senior Commercial Level experience in a Leading Own/Private Label FMCG Player (Of course they have had exposure to Brands as well).  However, candidates must have strng "Chilled" Experience. Additionally the client is also willing to consider dynamic candidates who could be at a Controller Level, but you must be clearly leading your “peer group” and be ready for the greatest challenge of your career to date. A "Traded" perspective and Strong Relationship skills are a must, as this role is one of the most important within the Executive Board Team.