UK Market Manager (Foodservice)

Salary: £36,000 to £46,000 annually, dependent on experience
Annual Leave entitlement: 25 days (plus 10 bank holidays) 
Working hours: Full-Time
Contract: Permanent
Location: Edinburgh\Hybrid-working

Closing date for applications: 29/07/2025
In person interviews for this role will take place w/c 04/08/2025

Prior to any employment commencing with Scotland Food & Drink you will be asked to provide documents to demonstrate your right to work in the UK.

JOB SUMMARY

The UK Market Manager (Foodservice) role at Scotland Food & Drink (SF&D) has responsibility for supporting the delivery of the UK market strategy, with a specific focus on managing key customer accounts and developing route to market opportunities.  This position plays a lead role in driving the industry’s growth in the coming years, aligned to ‘Sustaining Scotland, Supplying the world’ and specifically supporting the implementation of the UK Market Strategy.

An experienced, entrepreneurial, and commercially minded account and projects manager with deep knowledge and passion for the food and drink whose role it is to:

• Manage relationships with key foodservice customers, specifically in the contract catering, travel and leisure sectors by building and maintaining strong, sustainable, and mutually beneficial relationships to assist the sales growth of Scottish food and drink in Scotland and across the UK
• Operate as the lead point of contact for all matters in relation to assigned major accounts; collaborating with cross-functional teams (both with nominated accounts and within SF&D) to develop and deliver strategic account plans and be responsible for the flow of communications between the account and SF&D
• Work at both strategic and operational levels, collaboratively and flexibly with internal colleagues and external partners.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Your day-to-day responsibilities may include but are not limited to:

• Manage high impact account relationships by developing strategic customer relationships and plans between SF&D and UK foodservice operators and wholesalers (both at a regional buying level and strategic Head Office).
• Using market insight, feedback and discussion evaluate customers’ requirements to increase commercial opportunities, develop joint solutions and create bespoke account management plans for each customer.
• Within the customer plans, design and manage timely delivery of development projects, bespoke to the customers strategic direction and connecting with the UK Market Strategy.
• Collaborating with customers, facilitate and deliver new commercial opportunities between buyers and suppliers to increase sales of Scottish food and drink.
• Work with stakeholders and internal colleagues to lead other UKMD projects that are many and support the delivery of the UK Strategy
• Measure and report on the outcomes of activities
• Manage and monitor all budgets, costs and outcomes associated with ongoing delivery.
• Manage graduates seconded to key customer accounts, where relevant.
• Maintain the customer relationship management system.
• Sit on the UK Market Board and represent SF&D on other relevant groups within the SF&D Partnership and beyond

ABOUT YOU

• Commercially minded, with a deep understanding of the UK food and drink sector and the foodservice supply chain and 5+ years working in that environment.
• Excellent project management skills and ability to multi-task at speed in a busy environment, to drive delivery.
• Excellent relationship-building ability, with an ability to operate and advise at senior level and work closely with senior stakeholders in large, complex organisations.
• Collaborative team player, strong people skills to develop new and existing relationships, internally and externally.
• Proven account management skills with demonstrable track record of project delivery.
• Excellent core sales skills including influencing and negotiation.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including report writing and public speaking.
• Excellent analytical, monitoring and reporting skills, allowing close monitoring of all programmes.
• High attention to detail
• Ability to solution build to meet the demand of customer accounts.
• Willingness to travel and attend events out with normal working hours.

Successful outcomes of the roles will be:

• Scotland is recognised by key players in the UK retail and foodservice market as a leading destination for world class food and drink.
• Scotland Food & Drink is recognised by its members and all key stakeholders as driving growth in Scotland and the wider UK markets for individual companies and the industry as a whole.

ABOUT SCOTLAND FOOD & DRINK

Scotland Food & Drink is the industry leadership organisation tasked with delivering the industry strategy and driving responsible growth for the sector. We are also a membership organisation with over 350+ companies at our heart. 

Working with us gives you an opportunity to be part of one of the most exciting and innovative industries in Scotland.

Our culture and our people are core to delivering our diverse and collaborative work . We have work/life balance as one of our core values and a comprehensive benefits package including, a group pension plan, 35 days annual leave (in addition to your birthday off), enhanced maternity & paternity benefits, a health care cash plan, a flexible working policy, an electric vehicle scheme, a cycle to work scheme, a life assurance scheme, professional study & training assistance, an employee assistance programme and wellness events.

There is also opportunities to socialise and attend industry events and dinners. 

We believe working with us should be a hugely positive experience, our core values are:
Ambition – We pursue excellence with unwavering ambition.
Collaboration - We believe in the power of working together.
Innovation – We embrace a culture of continuous improvement and creativity.
Celebration - We believe in recognising and celebrating achievements.
Authenticity - We are committed to honesty, transparency, and integrity.
Balance - We believe in finding balance between work and the rest of our lives.

We are also an equal opportunity employer, and we recognise that diversity and inclusion is a journey, and we are committed to learning, listening and evolving to become more diverse, equitable and inclusive. We support candidates with reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process, please let us know when applying if you will require any additional support.  

APPLY NOW

Please send CV and covering letter, or any questions you have regarding the role to: careers@foodanddrink.scot with the title of the job you are applying for in the subject line.