Key Account Manager

Zeelandia UK, part of the Royal Zeelandia Group, are a leading supplier of high-quality bakery ingredients, serving both Industrial and Craft bakeries across the UK. With a strong heritage in the food ingredients sector and a reputation for innovation, service and collaboration, we partner with our customers to develop ingredient solutions that drive profitable growth.

We are now looking to recruit a Key Account Manager into our team, to support delivery of the next stage of our strategy.

• Deliver annual sales plan for assigned key accounts to achieve revenue growth of X% by year-end; maintain KPI ≥ target margin.

• Own account management process; ensure CRM data accuracy and compliance at 100% for all interactions.

• Partner with cross-functional teams (NPD, Customer Services, HR, Marketing, Operations, Finance) to remove blockers and deliver seamless customer experience.

• Develop and execute strategic account plans to secure long-term partnerships, including weekly onsite meetings with current and potential customers.

• Continuously improve sales workflows; document SOPs and implement measurable efficiency gains.

• Manage compliance & risk for all account activities (GDPR, contractual obligations, pricing governance).

• Report progress via dashboards and monthly reviews; escalate risks or delays promptly to leadership.

• Contribute to DEI, sustainability, and wellbeing initiatives relevant to client engagement and company values.

• Attend and actively contribute to required meetings, including pipeline reviews, client strategy sessions, and quarterly business reviews.

• Monitor market trends and competitor activity; provide insights to inform pricing and product positioning.

• Drive customer satisfaction and retention by resolving issues quickly and maintaining proactive communication.

Essential

• Experience in FMCG or food manufacturing sector, especially with experience of bread, multi-site or complex supply chain environments.

• Professional certifications such as Key Account Management, Negotiation Skills, or Sales Leadership or equivalent experience

• Proven experience in B2B sales within the food manufacturing or bakery ingredients sector, managing large or strategic accounts.

• Strong technical understanding of bakery processes and ingredient functionality

Skills

• Strategic account planning and relationship management

• Negotiation and influencing skills with senior stakeholders

• Data analysis and forecasting (Excel, BI tools)

• Problem-solving and solution selling in a technical environment

• Communication: Clear written and verbal communication; ability to present technical solutions to non-technical audiences.

• Digital/Systems: Proficient in CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce), MS Office Suite; intermediate Excel for data analysis.

• Compliance Awareness: Food safety standards (e.g., BRC, HACCP), GDPR, and contractual compliance relevant to client management.

• Commercial Acumen: Ability to manage pricing structures, margin targets, and profitability for key accounts.

Desirable

• Project management or process improvement credentials (e.g., PRINCE2, Six Sigma)