Business Development Manager
Attractive Salary, Benefits, Company Car & Bonus
36.5 Hour week
Field Based Role - Province Wide
Who are we?
At Henderson Group, we are proud to be Northern Ireland’s leading foodservice provider. Our group encompasses Henderson Wholesale, Henderson Retail, Henderson Foodservice and Henderson Group Property. We employ over 5,500 staff and have been placed 5th in Ulster Business Top 100 Companies 2024.
We're a family-owned team that cares about our people and the community in which we live.
Henderson Wholesale is a leading Wholesaler in Northern Ireland and supplies goods to over 490 stores across various brands such as SPAR, EUROSPAR and VIVO. We source from local farmers, growers and producers and are proud to contribute to our local economy and environment. We achieved Gold accreditation against the Investors in People standard framework in 2023 in recognition of people management excellence and our commitment to investment in people.
A look into the role:
Reporting to the Regional Sales Manager, the successful candidate will be responsible for providing support and guidance to a group of independent retailers within the Independent SPAR estate.
Main responsibilities will include advising on promotional activity, range-review, store layout and operational effectiveness, with the primary objective of growing retailer profit through margin management, turnover growth, and cost control while maximising business available to Henderson Wholesale.
Working as Business Development Manager you will:
* Drive sales at both Wholesale and Retail levels to ensure maximum performance versus targets.
* Manage customer loyalty and purchasing targets across all commodities, ensuring retailers purchase all products either through the warehouse or via central billing agreements, using reports to manage loyalty.
* Work alongside the marketing team to develop marketing plans in your territory to help promote and grow retail sales in individual stores as required.
* Work with Retail Services to ensure that retail development projects are carefully managed and delivered to achieve satisfactory outcomes.
* Develop and implement effective business development plans for SPAR neighbourhood stores.
* Build relationships with other departments within the Henderson Group and establish external relationships always promoting the Company.
* Develop and coach retailers to support continual improvement, introducing effective plans to increase customer’s margins and reduce costs.
* Develop a substantial knowledge of our competitor marketplace.
Skills for Success
Joining us as Business Development Manager the minimum criteria you’ll need is:
* GCSE English & Maths (or equivalent) at Grade C or above.
* Minimum 2 years’ experience at a management level within food retail / convenience / supermarket sectors or a minimum of 3 years account management in FMCG
* Experience of driving retail sales or purchases against set targets.
* Experience of NI food retail market.
* Proficient in MS Office packages.
* Current UK/EU Driving License.
The Attributes you’ll need include:
* Influencing and Persuading skills.
* Excellent Presentation and Communication skills.
* Organisational and Planning Skills.
* Customer-focused mindset.
* Team player.
* Build and maintain effective relationships with customers and colleagues.
It is Desirable if you have:
* Demonstrable success in a store manager position within the food retail/ convenience/ supermarket sectors.
* Experience of working with independent retailers within food convenience sector.
* Ability to analyse Profit & Loss accounts.
Are we right for you?
As part of this role, it will be important that you feel aligned with the values that we live and work by.
Ambition – We always strive to be better. We seek new challenges and look for ways to do things better.
Customer First – We provide exceptional service. We put customers at the heart of everything and support our communities.
Teamwork – We succeed together. We help colleagues to succeed, and we share our knowledge and skills.
Integrity – We are fair, honest and ethical. We treat everyone with dignity and respect. We are inclusive and champion diversity.
The Reward
The impact you can make with Henderson Group goes far beyond your day to day. You will be part of a business that puts our communities at the heart of what we do. In the last year Henderson group staff and retail stores raised over £1 million for charity partners.
Our business has been recognised externally for delivering excellence in employment. We value employee development and heavily invest in our people.
Benefits include market competitive salary, company car, bonus, contributory pension scheme, private medical insurance, life assurance, employee assistance programme, social club, Reward Gateway Employee Recognition & Discount Scheme throughout UK/Ireland, staff discount (grocery/fuel) at SPAR/EUROSPAR Henderson Group company-owned stores and many more.
This is a full-time position working 36.5 hours per week. Working hours will be 8:45am-4:45pm Monday to Thursday and 8:45am-3:45pm Friday.
If you'd like to speak with us before making your application, our Talent Acquisition Specialist - Joanne McClelland would be happy to have a confidential chat with you about the role on offer - email joanne.mcclelland@henderson-group.com to get in touch.
Completed applications must be submitted online by midnight on Tuesday 25th February 2025
We are an equal opportunities employer.