Experience

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  Valeo Foods Group

  • Ireland
  • Food and Beverage Manufacturing
  • 400 - 500 Employee

  • Senior Grocery Sales Manager FMCG

    • Jun 2023 - Present

    Valeo Snack Foods are a subsidiary of Valeo Foods Group - a global leading manufacturer with annual sales of 1.2bn euros annually, International supplier of branded and retailer own brand confectionery and snacks including Kettle, Manomassa, Poppets and Barratt sweets. Partnering with all major retailers, discounters and wholesalers.Key Achievements:• Branded & retailer own label experience across food & drink categories• Major grocery account management of strategic clients Tesco, JS, Asda, Morrisons, M&S, Waitrose, Aldi and Lidl.• Management of national sales team of 7 direct reports• Responsibility for £110m sales turnover & driving incremental margin growth • Leadership of International German Discounter channel including management of sales team • Business studies and German language graduate with 2 years’ work experience in Germany• GSCOP trained• Application of category management and consumer insight to gain new listings and develop NPD• C level contact and networking at senior director level to engage and man mark with all key business stakeholders• Breadth of knowledge across different business models from independents to global reaching retail businesses• Driving account growth - both volume sales and profit enhancing growth

  • International Business Manager - German Discounters

    • Feb 2021 - May 2023

    Management of Aldi and Lidl across both Snacks and Sugar confectionery categories, driving sales and margin growth through implementation of an aligned international discounter strategy. Achievements• Implementation of double-digit cost price increase across both snacks & confectionery categories.• Successful negotiation of £30m tenders, winning margin enhancing listings including own label & branded ranges.• Development of International business through wider European counterparts.

  • Senior National Account Manager- Sainsburys, Marks & Spencer & Waitrose

    • Sep 2017 - Feb 2021

    Strategic management of the M&S, Waitrose and Sainsbury’s accounts and development of retailer own brand through leadership of the wider cross functional and project team. Deliver growth through profitable innovation pipe-line plans with agreement and implementation of the JBP. Achievements• Successful tender negotiation of £10m account – retention of business, profit growth through NPD and ret-rospective, conditional investment.• Leadership of multi-functional project team to develop and launch profit enhancing and category supported NPD to break through in to retailer international territories.• Agreement and implementation of 7% cost price increase, +2% above business target.

  • Senior National Account Manager- Cash & Carry channel

    • Apr 2015 - Oct 2017

    Senior National Account Manager looking after the Cash & Carry Channel with 2 direct NAM reports and leadership of a national indirect sales team.

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  AB-Inbev

  • National Account Manager

    • Sep 2013 - Dec 2014

    Senior national account manager responsible for a significant P&L customer portfolio including a regional brewer and wholesaler, an international hotel group and the largest privately owned UK managed multiple with over 600 high street retail units.

  • National Account Manager - Restaurant channel

    • Jul 2011 - Sep 2013

    During these 2 years I was responsible for the successful growth and development of the restaurant channel of the on trade sector - the customer ledger ranged from The Restaurant Group with 500+ high street units including Frankie & Benny's ,to Café Rouge and TGI Fridays and buying groups of 3663 and NUS. The success of the role was focusing on growing the profitable contribution of the drinks category within these key food retailers.

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  Carlsberg Group

  • Key Account Manager

    • 1991 - Aug 1998

    Responsible for developing and growing existing and new customer relationships within the competitive independent and multiple freetrade sector. Recognised as highest achiever of new business development within 2 years with a total sales value of £8.3m.

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  Pittards plc

  • Export Sales Executive

    • 1989 - 1991

    My responsibilities included development of key export markets through close relationships with nominated European partners and agencies, plus new product development with key customers including the international luxury Louis Vuitton brand and UK based shoe company and retailers Jones and Church.