North West London
£35,000 to £45,000 basic, plus commission on invoiced sales
Talent Guardian is recruiting on behalf of a family owned London food manufacturer.
Our client has been producing Asian snack foods in North West London since the early 1980s, and is still run by the family that started it. From its own BRC accredited factory it now turns over around £10 million a year, supplying a major warehouse club retailer, producing white label lines for the multiples, and selling into independent retailers right across London.
The range runs from the volume classics, samosas, spring rolls and pakoras, through to newer lines like bao buns, gyoza and kimbap, all developed in an in-house product kitchen.
The team is seven people. That matters, because it means you will not be waiting on a committee to sign off a sample or a price. If a shop in Tooting wants to trial a new line on Thursday, it can be in front of them on Thursday.
The role
The white label and multiple side of the business is well established. The independent trade is where the growth is, and that is where you come in.
This is a field based new business role selling into independent retailers across London, north and south. You will be building on an existing customer base rather than starting cold, but the day to day work is genuine business development: making the calls, getting through the door, getting samples in front of shop owners, and making sure the product keeps moving once it is on the shelf.
Expect a mix of phone prospecting and face to face visits, with samples doing a lot of the selling for you. You will report directly to the Managing Director. What we are looking for
Experience selling food or drink into independent retail, wholesale or convenience, and a track record of opening new accounts rather than simply servicing existing ones. You will need to be comfortable working on your own initiative out in the field, confident talking to shop owners on their terms, and organised enough to keep a pipeline moving without being chased.
A full UK driving licence is essential. A company car is provided.
Given the customer base across London, additional language skills would be a genuine advantage in this role, particularly Gujarati, Hindi, Urdu or Nepali. This is desirable rather than essential.
Frozen or chilled food experience is useful but not required. Curiosity about the product and a willingness to get out and sell it matters more. Why it is worth a look
A competitive basic with uncapped commission on invoiced sales
A company car
A business small enough that your results are visible to the person who owns it. To apply, send your CV to Talent Guardian, or get in touch for a confidential conversation about the role. Full company details will be shared with shortlisted candidates
Salary description
£40000.00 - £50000.00 per year