Business Development Manager

Business Development Manager (Food Manufacturing / Retail)\nLocation: Leicester\nHours: Monday to Friday, office-based with regular UK travel\nSalary: Negotiable + strong earning potential + bonus\nBenefits: 28 days holiday (inclusive of bank holidays), pension, sponsorship available\n\nWe are exclusively partnering with a well-established, family-run food manufacturer based in Leicester, supplying major UK retailers with a strong portfolio of branded and own-label products. The business is known for quality, innovation, and long-term customer partnerships across multiple UK retail and foodservice channels.\n\nWhy this role?\n\nThis is a genuine opportunity to take ownership—not just maintain accounts but grow them. You’ll be trusted to develop existing retail relationships, open new doors, and actively shape commercial growth within a business that values ideas, pace, and results.\n\nIf you enjoy being out with customers, spotting opportunities, and turning conversations into commercial wins, this is a role where you’ll thrive.\n\nThe Role\n\n * Own and grow relationships with major UK retail customers\n\n * Develop own-label and private label opportunities\n\n * Spend significant time on the road meeting buyers and building relationships\n\n * Identify new categories and growth opportunities within existing accounts\n\n * Win new business across the UK retail landscape\n\n * Work closely with NPD to bring new products to market successfully\n\n * Deliver a high level of service—responsive, flexible, and commercially focused\n\n * Influence key stakeholders and drive long-term partnerships\n\nWhat we’re looking for\n\n * Proven experience working with major UK food retailers (essential)\n\n * Background in food manufacturing or B2B food sales\n\n * A proactive, self-starting sales approach—you create opportunity, not wait for it\n\n * Strong relationship builder with the ability to influence buyers and decision-makers\n\n * Energetic, resilient, and comfortable in a fast-paced, target-driven environment\n\n * Confident communicator with a commercial mindset\n\nThe Opportunity\n\nThis is a chance to join a business where success is rewarded, relationships matter, and growth is very real.