account manager jobs in Northamptonshire

About Meadows Honey

Meadows Honey is a growing UK honey packer and brand owner with a highly automated production facility in Rushden, Northamptonshire.

Our business combines sourcing, technical expertise and UK manufacturing capability. We supply branded, own-label and industrial honey products across a range of UK channels.

Our portfolio includes Meadows Honey, Three Bears Honey and Hive & Harvest, our developing breakfast and convenience-food brand.

The opportunity

We are looking for a commercially driven Account Manager to take responsibility for our existing customers across the industrial, retail, wholesale and discount channels.

This is not simply a customer-service or order-management role. You will be expected to protect and grow existing revenue, improve account profitability, identify new opportunities and selectively win additional customers within relevant channels.

You will act as the principal commercial contact for your accounts and work closely with operations, purchasing, technical, finance and the founder.

The role would suit someone who enjoys autonomy, understands the realities of supplying physical food products and can balance strong customer relationships with disciplined commercial decision-making.

The position can be based primarily in Rushden or London. In either case, weekly attendance at our Rushden production facility will be required, together with customer travel throughout the UK.

Key responsibilities

Account management

• Take day-to-day commercial ownership of existing accounts.
• Build structured account plans covering retention, growth, pricing, product opportunities and commercial risks.
• Develop strong relationships with buyers, procurement teams and other customer stakeholders.
• Conduct regular account reviews and maintain clear action plans.
• Identify opportunities to increase volume, introduce additional products and expand our share of market share.

Commercial performance

• Increase market share/turnover.
• Lead annual pricing reviews and communicate cost movements clearly.
• Understand the effect of raw materials, packaging, production, transport, rebates and customer-specific requirements on profitability.
• Assess the commercial viability of promotional requests, tenders and customer opportunities.

New business

• Identify and pursue suitable new opportunities within existing channels.
• Prepare quotations, tenders and customer proposals supported by the founder.
• Qualify opportunities according to volume, margin, operational complexity and strategic value.
• Manage new-account onboarding in coordination with technical, production and supply-chain colleagues.

Forecasting and internal coordination

• Maintain accurate customer forecasts and a credible new-business pipeline.
• Participate in weekly commercial meetings and monthly account reviews.
• Coordinate effectively with production, purchasing, logistics, technical and customer service.
• Maintain complete records through the company’s CRM and reporting systems.

How success will be measured

Performance will be assessed using a balanced set of measures, including:

• retention of profitable existing business.
• like-for-like revenue growth.
• sustainable new accounts and product wins.
• pricing and margin management.
• customer payment performance.

The bonus scheme will reward sustainable commercial performance. New-business incentives will be subject to agreed margin, trading and retention thresholds.

About you

You will ideally have:

• experience managing B2B accounts within food, drink, FMCG, ingredients, manufacturing, wholesale or discount retail.
• a track record of retaining and profitably growing customer accounts.
• strong commercial judgement and confidence discussing pricing and margin.
• experience preparing tenders, quotations and customer proposals.
• good numerical and analytical skills.
• the confidence to challenge commercially unattractive requests.
• strong organisation, ownership and follow-through.
• the ability to work independently without close day-to-day supervision.
• a practical and collaborative approach to working with operations and technical teams.
• excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• a full UK driving licence, and
• willingness to travel regularly to the Rushden factory and customers throughout the UK.

Experience in honey, food ingredients or commodity products would be useful but is not essential.

What we offer

• A competitive basic salary.
• A meaningful incentive scheme linked to growth and new business.
• The opportunity to take real ownership of an established customer portfolio.
• Direct access to the founder and senior decision-makers.
• A fast-moving environment where commercially sound ideas can be implemented quickly.
• Access to working locations in both Rushden and London.
• The opportunity to help shape the commercial processes of a growing UK food business.

Applying

Please submit your CV and a covering note explaining:

• the customers and channels you have managed;
• an example of how you grew an account while protecting or improving margin;
• the size and complexity of your previous account portfolio;
• an example of a commercially difficult customer conversation you managed successfully; and
• whether you would prefer Rushden or London as your primary working location.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: £43,000.00-£53,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Casual dress
• Free parking
• Sick pay

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Higham Ferrers, Northamptonshire: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (preferred)

Experience:

• Sales: 3 years (required)

Licence/Certification:

• Driving Licence (required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Higham Ferrers