The posting
Head of Sales – Foodservice & Wholesale
Location: National UK – ideally Midlands based Salary: £60,000–£65,000+ basic salary, negotiable depending on experience + performance-related bonus Contract: Full-time, Permanent Field-based / Home-based | National Travel
Are you an experienced B2B food sales leader who knows how to grow key accounts, develop a sales team and open doors across the UK foodservice and wholesale market?
We are recruiting a Head of Sales for a growing UK food supplier operating nationally across wholesale, foodservice, catering, distribution and independent retail.
This is a hands-on commercial leadership role for someone who enjoys being close to both customers and the sales team. You'll lead a team of Business Development Managers while personally managing major accounts, developing relationships with key buyers and driving sustainable national sales growth.
The position can be based anywhere in the UK, although a Midlands location would be particularly convenient due to the national customer coverage and regular field travel.
The Role
As Head of Sales, you'll take responsibility for developing the UK sales function while remaining actively involved in major customer relationships and commercial negotiations.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Leading, coaching and developing a national team of Business Development Managers
- Taking ownership of key accounts and building strong relationships with major buyers
- Growing sales across wholesale, foodservice, catering, distributors and independent retail
- Identifying opportunities to increase repeat business, revenue and margin
- Re-engaging lapsed customers and rebuilding commercially valuable relationships
- Developing new business within agreed priority sales channels
- Negotiating commercial terms and closing significant pallet and high-volume orders
- Supporting the sales team in the field and helping progress key opportunities
- Using sales data, forecasts and account plans to set priorities and make commercial decisions
- Working closely with operations and supply chain teams to ensure customer commitments can be delivered
- Monitoring sales performance and creating greater structure and accountability across the sales function
About You
We're looking for an established sales professional with strong knowledge of the UK B2B food market and the credibility to deal confidently with buyers, distributors and commercial decision-makers.
You should have:
- Proven experience leading and developing a sales team or sales function
- Strong B2B food sales experience within the UK market
- Good knowledge of wholesale, foodservice, catering, distribution and/or independent retail channels
- A strong track record in key account management and business development
- Experience negotiating commercial terms and closing substantial orders
- The ability to coach and motivate field-based salespeople while remaining hands-on yourself
- Commercial confidence using sales figures, forecasts and reports to drive decisions
- Strong relationship-building, negotiation and communication skills
- Fluent Ukrainian is essential
- Fluent professional English
- A valid UK driving licence and your own car
- Flexibility to travel extensively across the UK
Experience selling ambient food products into relevant B2B channels would be particularly valuable, as would an existing network of UK wholesalers, distributors, foodservice customers or major buyers.
CRM and structured sales reporting experience would also be advantageous.
What's on Offer?
- £60,000–£65,000+ basic salary, negotiable according to experience
- Performance-related bonus linked to commercial and team performance
- National, field/home-based position
- Significant autonomy and influence over UK sales growth
- Opportunity to lead and develop an established sales team
- Direct involvement with major national customer accounts
- Business mileage/fuel and reasonable authorised travel expenses reimbursed
- 29 days' annual leave, including public holidays, a birthday day off and 5 additional well-being days (34 days in total)
- Company pension
- Company sick pay following probation
- Long-term opportunity within a growing food business
Working Pattern
This is a genuinely national, customer-facing Head of Sales position, rather than a predominantly desk-based management role.
Following the initial onboarding period, you should expect to spend up to four days per week in the field, visiting customers and supporting the sales team. One non-travel day is protected for team management, reporting and account planning.
Occasional overnight stays will be required.
Interested?
If you are an experienced Head of Sales, National Sales Manager, Sales Director, Commercial Sales Manager or Senior Business Development Manager with a strong background in UK foodservice, wholesale or food distribution, we'd be interested in hearing from you.
Apply today with your CV for a confidential discussion.
Please note: only candidates currently based in the UK with a valid right to work will be considered. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
