Advocate Group
Head of Sales
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Head of Sales – Food
South West London
£100,000 car allowance + up to 20% bonus + benefits
I’m working with a fast-growing food business to recruit a Head of Sales to lead their commercial function across a broad mix of channels.
This is a brilliant opportunity for someone who wants to join a business with real scale, but still operate in a fast-moving, entrepreneurial environment. The business has around 35 people, multiple brands and 100s of SKUS. It will manage a sizeable team across all customers.
The channels will be Wholesale, Online, Supermarket, Retail, Export, and EU customers, this isn’t a business that’s overly reliant on one retailer or one route to market. They’ve also got strong momentum in Ireland, with national distribution across customers including Tesco Ireland and SuperValu.
This is not a “sit above it and manage from a distance” role. They need someone who can lead the team, own the sales strategy, and still get personally involved in opening doors, building relationships, and driving new business.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead the sales function across Grocery, Wholesale, Online, Retail, Export, and EU customers
- Manage and develop a team of around 4 people, likely including 2 SNAMs and the Irish sales team
- Own the sales strategy, pipeline, forecasting, and revenue performance
- Drive new business as a core priority, including new listings and NPD listings
- Build stronger relationships with key UK Grocery customers, including development opportunities in Sainsbury’s
- Bring structure, focus, and pace to a business that is growing quickly
- Work closely with marketing, supply chain, NPD, and finance to align the commercial plan
- Create a culture that gets the team hunting, not just managing existing accounts
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What we’re looking for:
- Proven experience as a Head of Sales or similar senior sales leadership role
- Strong UK Grocery experience within food or drink FMCG
- Experience across both larger businesses and SME / challenger brand environments would be ideal
- A proper new business mindset — someone who can personally open doors, not just ask the team to do it
- Strong people leadership experience, with the ability to motivate, coach, and develop a high-performing team
- Commercially sharp, practical, and comfortable making decisions without perfect data
- Comfortable in a fast-paced, less-corporate environment where things move quickly
- Someone hungry, entrepreneurial, hands-on, and genuinely comfortable with change
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This is a role for someone who can bring structure without slowing the business down. They don’t need someone who relies on polished decks, long prep cycles, or overly corporate process, they need a commercial leader who can get close to the team, get close to the customer, and drive growth.
If the role and responsibilities sound like a good fit for you, then I’d love to speak to you!
Find out more about our available opportunities or how we can help you further your career – contact us today.
Please get in touch with or click “Apply Now” to be considered for this vacancy:
- Call: 020 7871 8000
- Email: will.cattell@advocate-group.co.uk
The Advocate Group is a leading recruitment partner, based in the UK, to the FMCG and consumer product sectors. 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.
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