Emporia Brands
Northern Sales Manager
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Own the North for a portfolio that includes the world's number one selling rum by volume, Poland's leading premium vodka, and Italy's oldest distillery.
About Emporia Brands
Emporia Brands is an award-winning premium spirits importer and distributor, working with some of the most exciting brands in the UK drinks market. We operate across On and Off Trade, partnering with leading wholesalers, retailers and on-trade operators to build distribution and grow brands. Our team is entrepreneurial, commercially focused and driven by a shared commitment to doing things properly.
Our portfolio spans premium spirits from across the globe, including Tanduay (the Philippines' leading rum and the world's number one selling rum by volume), Wyborowa (Poland's leading premium vodka), Gabriel Boudier (the acclaimed Dijon liqueur house), Nardini (Italy's oldest distillery, founded in 1779) and Père Magloire (one of Normandy's finest Calvados producers), among others.
The Role
We're looking for a commercially driven Northern Sales Manager to own and grow Emporia Brands' presence across the On and Off Trade throughout Northern England.
You'll be the primary commercial contact for our wholesale and retail partners across the North — managing existing accounts, opening new distribution and delivering against volume, revenue and brand targets. The role reports directly to the Managing Director and sits within the core sales team.
Day to day, this means account management, brand tastings and training, commercial planning, and working closely with the MD and marketing team to shape and execute growth plans for the North. It requires regular travel across the territory — customer meetings, trade visits, depot calls and brand events — with occasional visits to head office in Guildford.
Key Responsibilities
Customer Management
- Manage and grow relationships across On and Off Trade wholesale and retail accounts in Northern England
- Deliver agreed volume, revenue and distribution targets across the territory
- Lead joint business planning, promotional negotiations and account growth plans
- Build strong relationships with buyers, purchasing managers, depot managers and on-trade operators
- Open new distribution across wholesale, specialist retail and on-trade accounts
- Identify and pursue new business across national, regional and independent partners
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Territory Development
- Build and execute a territory plan aligned to Emporia Brands' annual commercial objectives
- Drive brand activation, tastings and training at account level to increase visibility and rate of sale
- Monitor market and competitor activity to spot opportunities and adjust approach
- Feed commercial insight back into the wider sales and marketing strategy
Commercial Planning
- Build account plans aligned to brand priorities agreed with the MD and marketing team
- Track and report on sales performance, distribution gains and territory activity
- Prepare insight-led customer presentations using sales data, market information and brand content
- Manage promotional investment and pricing across the customer base
- Work with finance and operations on forecasting, stock planning and promotional phasing
Brand Building
- Act as a credible ambassador for every brand in the Emporia portfolio
- Plan and deliver brand tastings, training sessions and trade events across the territory
- Support new product launches and brand activation campaigns
- Represent Emporia Brands confidently and professionally at all times
Experience & Skills
- Minimum 3 years' B2B field sales experience within spirits, wine or the wider drinks trade
- Proven track record managing On and Off Trade wholesale or retail accounts
- Genuine category knowledge — comfortable talking with authority across vodka, liqueurs, Calvados and eau de vie
- Existing relationships with wholesalers, buyers or on-trade operators across Northern England strongly preferred
- Commercially sharp, with hands-on experience managing pricing, promotions and account financials
- Proven ability to close sales, negotiate commercial terms and hit targets
- Strong relationship builder — able to open doors and maintain trust at every level of a customer
- Confident presenter, comfortable leading brand tastings and pitching to buyers
- Highly organised, able to manage a wide territory and multiple accounts at once
- Experience with Microsoft Office and CRM tools
- Full UK driving licence
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The Type of Person We're Looking For
- Self-starter who takes ownership and gets on with the job
- Commercial and results-focused — motivated by hitting targets and growing accounts
- Hands-on; comfortable in the field and at ease with customers at every level
- Resilient and adaptable — works through setbacks and finds solutions
- Strong personal standards and a collaborative approach with the wider team
- Genuinely into premium spirits and the drinks trade — not just able to talk about it, but into it
Why Join Emporia Brands
You'll own a territory, manage an outstanding portfolio of premium spirits, and work directly with the MD and marketing team to shape how we grow in the North. It's a hands-on, high-impact role in a business that moves quickly, makes decisions efficiently and gives its people room to perform.
If you know the trade, can build relationships and know how to drive distribution, this is a role where you'll see the results of your work directly.
Package & Benefits
- Competitive salary
- Annual performance-based bonus
- Private medical insurance
- Company pension
- Gym membership
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