Restaurant Business Development jobs

About Savona

Savona is a leading independent foodservice wholesaler with over 50 years of experience supplying chefs, caterers, and hospitality professionals across the South of England. What truly sets us apart isn’t just our products – it’s our people, our culture, and our customer-first mindset.

We’re a business built on relationships. Every order, every delivery, every conversation is driven by one simple value: put the customer at the heart of everything we do. Our team takes pride in going the extra mile – anticipating needs, solving problems, and delivering a service experience that is personal, reliable, and refreshingly genuine.

We work fast, stay flexible, and think differently. As an independent company, we have the freedom to innovate, to act quickly, and to put doing the right thing above all else. Collaboration and integrity guide how we work – with our customers, our partners, and each other.

At Savona, you’ll join a team that values initiative, celebrates fresh ideas, and supports each other to grow. We’re passionate about food, serious about service, and proud of the reputation we’ve built.

Your Role as a Business Development Manager

We are looking for a driven, confident, and commercially minded Business Development Manager to join our team and take ownership of new business growth across the territory. This role is focused on identifying opportunities, opening doors and converting prospects into long-term customers within the food service sector.

This role suits someone who thrives on opening doors, building relationships from scratch and converting prospects into long-term customers. You will identify opportunities, engage potential customers, understand their needs and present our food service offering in a way that delivers real value.

This is a true new business role, not an account management position. We are looking for someone who enjoys prospecting, breaking into new accounts and winning new customers.

Key responsibilities

• Identify and target new business opportunities within the food service market
• Build a strong pipeline of prospects across suitable customer sectors
• Approach and engage potential customers through calls, visits and follow-ups
• Develop relationships with decision-makers and understand their buying needs
• Present our product range, service levels and commercial benefits confidently
• Convert prospects into active buying customers
• Work closely with the wider team to ensure a smooth onboarding process
• Maintain accurate records of activity, pipeline progress and sales opportunities

The ideal candidate

You will be self-motivated, resilient and comfortable working in a target-driven environment, with the drive to create opportunities rather than wait for them.

You should be confident speaking to new customers, able to handle rejection positively and motivated by building a customer base from the ground up.

We are looking for someone who has:

• Demonstrate success in sales, business development, or field sales
• A strong new business mindset
• Confidence in prospecting and approaching new customers
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
• Commercial awareness and the ability to spot opportunities
• A positive, determined and resilient approach
• Experience in food wholesale, foodservice, hospitality or catering supply would be an advantage

What we offer

• Competitive basic salary in the region of £38,000–£40,000 per year, depending on experience
• Performance-related bonus
• Company car
• Mobile phone and laptop
• Company pension scheme
• Support from an experienced internal sales and operations team
• Opportunity to grow a territory and make a visible impact on the business
• Clear targets, regular feedback and recognition for strong performance
• Non-contributory Cash Health Plan Scheme
• Life Insurance
• Discounted or Free food

This role will require a Basic DBS Check

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: £38,000.00-£40,000.00 per year

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Kidlington OX5 1FP