Come and join the leading #avoexperts 🥑

Westfalia Fruit is a leading multinational supplier of fresh fruit and related value-added products to global markets. Through our vertically-integrated supply chain we grow, source, ripen, pack, process and market quality avocadoes & fresh produce – 365 days a year & across the globe.

 With the largest avocado-growing footprint in the world, we are recognised as the leading #avoexperts and considered as the supplier of choice to both retail & wholesale customers whom we serve from sales offices in the UK, Europe, North America, Latin America & Southern Africa.

We’re looking for a European Commercial Manager to join our team in Europe.

As our European Commercial Manager, you’ll take on an exciting new role at the heart of our European growth strategy. Leading the charge, you'll develop and execute a comprehensive 5-Year Sales Plan, alongside Annual Operating Plans, ensuring seamless alignment with our Commercial Directors across various markets.

This role offers a unique opportunity to make a significant impact by identifying untapped growth opportunities, optimising category management, shopper marketing, and commercialisation strategies. As the leader of the Pan-European Commercial team, you'll drive strategic initiatives with direct support from our Insights and Category Manager, who will report to you, delivering valuable insights that will drive pricing, promotions, and key customer engagements.

Domestic and international travel will be required to support business operations and collaborate with European teams. We are open to the location of the successful person, but you must be within commutable distance to one of our offices in the UK, France, Netherlands or Germany.

Responsibilities include:

• Develop and execute the European sales strategy, aligning with business objectives.
• Translate strategic goals into actionable plans for key markets.
• Identify and capture sales opportunities across key channels.
• Monitor and adjust sales targets to meet growth plans.
• Lead market intelligence efforts and gather competitor analysis.
• Utilise data to optimise pricing, trade spending, and promotions.
• Drive category management initiatives aligned with customer objectives.
• Deliver category management insights to customers.
• Develop and implement shopper marketing strategies.
• Oversee the innovation pipeline and ensure successful product launches.
• Lead and develop the Strategy & Development team.
• Provide strategic advice to the President of Europe.
• Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

• Extensive experience in sales strategy development and execution, particularly in customer strategies, category management, and business analytics.
• Proven experience working with retailers, ideally on a Pan-European basis.
• Strong understanding of the sales and change management process within large organisations.
• Proven ability to lead strategic discussions with senior internal stakeholders and external partners.
• Strong analytical competencies to support financial inputs and business case development.
• Excellent leadership and people management skills, with a track record of developing sales teams.
• Proficiency in insights-driven decision-making and using shopper insights to drive sales.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, Sales, Marketing, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• Fluency in English and at least one other European language is desirable.

Desirable

• Prior industry experience within perishable goods, ideally fresh fruit and vegetables.
• Experience working in a pan-European capacity, understanding various market dynamics across the region.
• Industry-specific certifications in category management, shopper marketing, or sales analytics.
• Knowledge of innovation pipeline management and commercialisation within the retail or consumer goods industry.

Benefits

• Competitive salary.

• Discretionary company bonus.

• 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays.

• State of the art office with fresh fruit, bean-to-cup coffee, freshly squeezed orange juice & avocado ice-cream.

• Free on-site parking.

• Company pension scheme with life insurance cover.

• Employee Assistance Plan with Medicash.

• Christmas hampers & a Christmas party.

• Sausage roll Thursday & pizza lunch days.

Please note that this position does not have a specific closing date. We encourage you to apply as soon as possible as we will be reviewing applications on a rolling basis and the advert may be removed at any time.

We’re an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to age, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, family or parental status, national origin, or veteran, neurodiversity or disability status.