Recruitment specialists for the Fresh Produce, Food, Agriculture, Viticulture & FMCG Industries.

Field Sales Executive – Food Service This is a Food Service company, keeping things extraordinary and fresh. Based in Cambridge, they are a leading supplier of fresh produce to hotel groups, catering companies, restaurant groups, pubs, and private schools across Hertfordshire, Essex, Northants, Suffolk, and London. They pride themselves on sourcing high-quality produce directly from local farms or imported depending on the season and ensuring prompt delivery to long standing customers. Our client is now in a wonderful position of continuing to expand their customer base and are seeking a minimum of two dynamic and results-driven Field Sales Executives to join their team. Job Summary: As a Field Sales Executive specializing in fresh produce, your primary responsibility will be to drive sales growth within your assigned territory. You will be responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with existing customers while also identifying and acquiring new business opportunities. The ideal candidate will have a passion for food / fresh produce, excellent communication skills, and a proven track record of achieving sales targets. Key Responsibilities:

1. Develop and execute a strategic sales plan to achieve sales targets and expand the customer base within the designated territory.
2. Identify and prospect potential customers within the hotel groups, catering, prominent pubs, and private school’s sectors.
3. Build and maintain strong, long-lasting customer relationships through regular communication and excellent customer service.
4. Understand customer needs and preferences and recommend appropriate products to meet their requirements.
5. Coordinate with internal teams to ensure timely and accurate order fulfilment and delivery.
6. Stay informed about market trends, competitor activities, and industry developments to identify opportunities for growth.
7. Prepare and present sales proposals, quotations, and contracts to prospective customers.
8. Collaborate with marketing teams to develop promotional materials and campaigns to support sales initiatives.
9. Attend industry events, trade shows, and networking functions to promote the company's products and services.
10. Provide timely and accurate sales reports, forecasts, and market feedback to management.

Qualifications:

• Proven track record of success in a field sales role, preferably within the fresh produce or foodservice industry.
• Catering / Chef experience would be interesting.
• Strong negotiation and persuasion skills with the ability to close deals effectively.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Self-motivated with a proactive approach to sales and business development.
• Ability to work independently and manage time efficiently.
• Knowledge of the local market and customer base within the designated territory is preferred.
• Valid driver's license.

This position offers a competitive salary, commission structure , and benefits package, car allowance, mobile, laptop, along with opportunities for career advancement within this growing organization. If you are passionate about fresh produce and possess the drive to succeed in a fast-paced sales environment, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity. Give Frank a call 07734 861 080 or email : Frank@FMKconsulting.co  (just '.co')    

This is a dynamic and energetic sourcing and sales Arm of a well-established fresh produce Import and Marketing Group. They have offices in the West Midlands, Lincolnshire and NL. We are seeking a dynamic and results-oriented Sourcing and Sales Manager to join our client’s team. This role is customer and supplier-facing, requiring exceptional communication skills, market insight, and a strong aptitude for business development. A Fresh Produce background is not a requirement as full training, mentoring and guidance will be supplied. Most importantly they are looking for a new Commercially orientated ‘Star’ to build their career in this fast-paced and exciting Industry. You will skilfully immerse yourself in this environment developing a keen focus on service levels, category management, and new product development (NPD), taking onboard the key elements of selling the products you have sourced. The primary responsibilities will include managing sales and margins, crafting compelling presentations and proposals, account management, negotiation, and building and maintaining strong relationships across the supply chain. Key Responsibilities:

1. Customer and Supplier Relations: Serve as the primary point of contact for both customers and suppliers, ensuring exceptional service levels and fostering strong partnerships.
2. Market Insight: Stay abreast of industry trends, market dynamics, and competitor activities to identify opportunities for growth and innovation.
3. Business Development: Proactively seek out new business opportunities, develop strategies for expansion, and drive growth in key market segments.
4. Fresh Produce : Eventually, after training, you will leverage your understanding of the fresh produce market to optimize sourcing strategies, manage inventory effectively, and drive product innovation.
5. Service Levels and Category Management: Monitor and optimize service levels to meet customer demands and ensure efficient category management.
6. New Product Development (NPD): Collaborate with internal teams and external partners to drive NPD initiatives, from concept ideas to commercialisation.
7. Sales and Margin Management: Develop and execute sales plans to achieve revenue targets while maintaining healthy margins.
8. Presentations and Proposals: Prepare compelling presentations and proposals to pitch products and solutions to customers and prospects.
9. Account Management: Oversee the management of existing accounts, ensuring high levels of customer satisfaction and retention.
10. Negotiation: Utilise strong negotiation skills to secure favourable terms with suppliers and customers while maintaining positive relationships.
11. Relationship Building: Cultivate and nurture relationships with key stakeholders across the supply chain, including customers, suppliers, and internal teams.

Requirements:

• Showing commercial potential.
• Bright, talented, ambitious, flair, keen to learn, confident, rapport builder.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Useful to have a track record of Sales, Business development, NPD...
• Negotiating skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Numeracy, Microsoft skills.
• Ability to work to tight deadlines.
• Can finish what you start.
• Ability to analyse data and extract actionable insights.
• Team Player.

If you are a bright, confident, and articulate professional with a passion for fresh produce and a drive for success, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity.

We have a role for a Quality Controller for a successful and well-respected Grower, Importer, Packer and Distributor based in a beautiful setting in North Kent. Our client has a robust and trusted QMS developed over many years dealing with UK Retail and Non Retail customers. The main requirement of the Job is the inspection and assessment of fresh produce on arrival, on the production line and on despatch.   DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES  

• To maintain excellent standards of personal and environmental hygiene at all times
• Assessment of raw material with production of related reports and guidance to business relating to ongoing use (e.g. advising Technical, Commercial and Packhouse management)
• Inspection of finished product, and production of related reports, to ensure the standards specified by the customer or recognised marketing standards (UK / EU) are achieved
• Selection and monitoring of shelf life samples
• To monitor and report on observations relating to hygiene standards and practices in all areas
• To be responsible for the health and safety of self and others
• To understand the meaning and importance of food safety culture
• Report machine faults and other defective items / equipment to the Site Manager, Quality Manager or Technical Managers