Country Sales Manager

Country Sales Manager - Emmi Desserts Italia Remote - with travel to Italy Competitive Salary + Car allowance and bonus Once again I am excited to be partnered with Emmi Desserts to find them a new Country Sales Manager! Emmi are currently building a desserts powerhouse and looking for a vibrant leader to drive the UK business forward. Leading a team of NAMs you will be responsible for both branded and own label dessert products into UK retail, forging deep relationships with the top 4 retailers. With an initial focus on own label with branded to follow in the near future. They provide a range of good, better and best products that are crafted in Italy and imported to the UK. Your key metrics will be customer service excellence, unlocking the potential of your team, market share growth and strong margin delivery. Responsibilities; People Development; Leading, Coaching and Developing a team of 3 commercial colleagues in the UK. Market Development: take ownership of developing and executing strategic plans to expand the dessert business within the UK market, leveraging market insights, consumer trends, and competitor analysis to identify growth opportunities. Key Account Management: build and maintain strong relationships and joint business plans with strategic retail accounts (such as Sainsbury's, and Waitrose), understanding their needs and objectives, and developing tailored solutions to drive sales and maximize profitability. Negotiation and Contract Management: lead negotiations with key accounts to secure favourable terms, pricing, and promotional opportunities, while ensuring compliance with company policies and contractual agreements. Business Unit lead: collaborate closely with cross-functional teams such as Marketing and Category Management, Sales Support team, product development (NPD teams), and Supply Chain (Technical Manager, Quality, Planning, Logistics) to ensure alignment of strategies and execution plans, and to drive initiatives that support market expansion and customer satisfaction. Sales Forecasting and Performance Analysis: develop accurate sales forecasts, monitor performance against targets, taking P&L full responsibility for the Private Label business and proactively identify areas for improvement or course correction to achieve sales objectives. Market Intelligence: stay abreast of market trends, competitor activities, and regulatory changes affecting the dessert industry in the UK and provide timely insights and recommendations to inform business decisions. Background; Experience within both branded and own label food or drink product. Experience in chilled or short shelf life product. Full P&L management and ownership. Proven track record of success in sales and account management roles within the food industry, preferably in the dessert segment and with experience working with retail accounts. Strong negotiation and influencing skills, with the ability to build and maintain relationships at all levels of the organization. Analytical mindset with proficiency in data analysis and interpretation to drive strategic decision-making. Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate complex ideas clearly and persuasively. Results-oriented with a demonstrated ability to meet or exceed sales targets and drive business growth. Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. Call: 020 7871 8000 Email: We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age. By applying for this role, you are agreeing to our Privacy Policy, which can be found on our website. Please note that The Advocate Group is acting as an employment agency in relation to this vacancy.