Food Retail Convenience National Accounts Manager

Food Retail Convenience, National Accounts Manager, Home Counties

£35,000 + excellent benefits package including use of Laptop, Mobile Phone/Tablet

Are you an enthusiastic National Account Manager/Executive, working in Convenience Food Retail who is looking for an exciting opportunity to work within our National Account team, covering the stores in the Home Counties + South East area. 

We have a fantastic opportunity to join A.F. Blakemore. As such we are seeking a determined, articulate self-starter with a real passion for convenience food retailing, to collaborate, support listen and grow as we continue to add value to our customer’s business as well as our own. 

This is a varied role, working within our National Account team, completing structured store visits within our National Account Stores. Unleashing great opportunities for broader development, as time will be spent not only engaging our Partners in their stores but also working internally cross functionally, so our customers can benefit from accessing the broader A.F. Blakemore business ability, knowledge, and expertise. 

As part of the broader A.F. Blakemore & Son business, you will be empowered and supported in a family business that encourages accountability and personal development, thriving in a culture with defined DNA and Values built upon positive relationships both internally, with its partners and our local communities.

Key Tasks/Responsibilities

• Building a site-specific Joint Business Plan in conjunction with our Retail Partners and their Regional and Area Management teams. 
• Completing concise store visit reports.
• Own an integrated contact strategy to build relationships with key stakeholders both internally and externally, to deliver the highest level of customer service adding value to both A.F. Blakemore’s and our Partner’s businesses.
• Support the implementation of initiatives to improve product mix, customer footfall and basket size whilst maintaining availability and client satisfaction.
• Monitor sales and service levels, investigating and resolving queries and issues raised.
• Involvement in cross functional projects and activities as required.
• Ensure key promotional activity is supported and maintained
• Taking a proactive approach to personal development, account management and administration.

Requirements:

• Previous experience in a FMCG - convenience retail customer-facing role essential.
• Full UK Driving Licence is essential.
• High levels of numeracy and literacy essential.
• Self-starter with an ability to plan and meet deadlines.
• Degree or equivalent is preferred.
• Strong evidence of the ability to build effective relationships.
• Ability to build and deliver a customer plan that grows profitable retail and wholesale sales.
• Strong IT skills; CRM system, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Office.

Key Job Info: 

• This is predominantly a customer facing role within the partner stores. Where you will be looking to maximise and maintain sales growth opportunities. 
• Predominantly field based, but with an expectation to attend both business and team meetings at our Head Office in Willenhall / Bedford, as and when required.
• The clients are national forecourt operators in food retail and as such national travel may be required as well as occasional overnight stays.
• Will have access to company car as part of role and must ensure this is looked after in accordance with company policy.

What’s in it for you?

• A salary of £35,000 p/a (plus potential to earn bonus of up to £7,000)
• Use of Company Car, Laptop, iPad & Mobile Phone
• A dynamic role in an expanding team
• Fast paced exciting opportunity working with some of the UK's leading brands including SPAR
• Generous staff discount
• Proactive promotion of internal candidates

Market leading benefits scheme including:

• 24/7 access to your payslips via HR/Payroll portal
• 10% Staff Discount in our SPAR stores
• Access to our colleague benefits scheme which offers a wide range of high street retail, holiday & leisure discounts
• Company Life Insurance worth 1 x Annual Salary and 6 x Annual Salary with Company Pension Scheme
• NEST pension scheme 
• Company Pension Scheme
• Extra Holidays - Purchase Scheme
• Long Service Awards 

About Us

A.F. Blakemore & Son Ltd is one of the largest privately owned companies in the UK. Food and drink have always been our lifeblood, and today our business has multiple divisions specialising in wholesale distribution, retail, and food service.

Our forward-thinking family-owned business began life in 1917 as a counter-service grocery store and has grown from these humble beginnings into a company that now employs more than 5,600 people, with a turnover of £1.3 billion.

Inclusive environment: as a Disability Confident Committed employer we are dedicated to creating a fair, inclusive workplace for all.  We offer a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum criteria for the role.

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