itsu
Business Development Director [FTC]

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itsu [grocery] are hiring a Business Development Director
itsu [grocery] is looking for a Business Development Director to join our ever-expanding UK team.
About Us
itsu is a dynamic and fast-growing chain of Asian-inspired healthy food restaurants. itsu [grocery], brings the itsu vision into retail and wholesale, worldwide.
The Role
As Business Development Director, you’ll report into the joint managing director and have control of three separate functions in the business. Category management, where we want to be the partner of choice with key customers in important categories such as frozen, noodle cups, world foods and stir fry. Revenue growth management which has the responsibility to monitor all spend in the business between GSV and NSV, creates an evaluation culture within the sales team, has governance in pricing with customers and guides us through CPI’s when appropriate. Finally total P&L ownership of Sales outside of grocery. Whilst this includes all other channels, there will be key focus on OOH, online and convenience.
The Ideal Candidate
- 10 years+ experience in FMCG from start up to blue chip
- Cross functional experience covering key commercial departments
- Senior relationship management experience with key UK retailers
- Total P&L understanding from GSV to EBITDA
- Strategic thinking and experience of long-term planning
- Leadership of teams and creating a winning culture
- Flexibility to change, ability to adapt and thrive
- An eye for detail
- A can-do attitude, willing to get your hands dirty when required
- Works well cross functionally with all departments
Reasons to use Rodeo
I’m in my final year doing Economics and I don’t know whether to apply for grad schemes now or do a masters first. What do you think?
Honest answer — it depends on where you want to end up. A lot of top grad schemes (Big 4, civil service, banking) don’t need a masters. Let’s look at the ones you’d be competitive for now, and we can decide if a masters actually adds anything.
Also worth knowing: most autumn 2026 applications are open now. Timing matters more than you think.
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Graduate Consultant — 2026 Scheme
Why you're a good match
StrongYour economics background and your summer at a regional bank line up with what PwC looks for on the consulting scheme. Applications close in four weeks.
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Why you're a good match
You’ve got the grades and the economics background, and your bank internship is exactly the experience this scheme looks for. Apply soon — deadlines close within the month.
Experience fit
Your summer at the bank plus your econometrics coursework map directly to the day-one responsibilities on this scheme — client modelling, market briefings, and deal support.
Only hits
No noise. No "maybe this fits." Just roles with a clear explanation of why they're right — and where to focus when applying.
Key Responsibilities
Sales
Under your leadership your team will;
- Grow our existing portfolio of customers (all that sit outside of grocery) in a way that outperforms the grocery customers, looking at distribution and relationships early on
- Understand the convenience channel, focusing on the quick wins and then the longer term play of unlocking new customers with the right ranges
- Online will be a key pillar of not only sales but the marketing of our products. Leading a team that adapts to change and quickly builds strategic plans to be at the forefront of our customers minds
- Unlock new business in desired channels
- Lead the noodles team to win OOH business to give us a presence in smaller retailers
- Grow the wholesale channel to facilitate wins in new customers
Revenue growth management
Under your leadership your team will;
- Create the promotional strategy across all categories and all channels within the business, with well thought through rationale that aligns to our business strategy
- Work with the sales team to have regular check ins and create an evaluation culture that makes every pound spent work for us
- Input into the gate meeting process to help steer the business on what good looks like for NPD launches
- Set the pricing strategy for all existing and new SKUs in all customers
- Focus on the top retailers but support all small customers on any spend between GSV and NSV
- Start to emerge as a business partner for the international team with our indirect customer base included
- Work with commercial finance to ensure the business is armed with insight to drive action from the top to the bottom of the P&L


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Category Management
Under your leadership your team will;
- Work with all retailers to become their partner of choice in key categories all year round but also notably when range reviews, NPD listings and distribution changes are being made
- Provide the sales team with compelling decks to help engender a category approach to NPD listings
- Own the significant category data spend, looking at the right data for the right output
- Support in gate meetings to ensure NPD is shaped to land with our retailers and customers
- Ensure the right share of space and share of trade are produced and actioned with retailers
What We Offer
- Competitive salary
- Flexible working hours
- Generous bonus scheme
- 25 days holiday + bank holidays [pro rata]
- Health insurance
- Company pension scheme
- Free itsu lunch, daily
- 50% discount in itsu restaurants
- A training budget to support your development
We Want To Hear From You
start date: October
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