Junior National Account Manager

Ready to take a fresh step in your career?

Location: Hybrid work with regular office presence (Old Windsor) and customer travel (UK)
Contract: Full-time, Permanent
Team: Sales - Cash & Carry and Convenience Channel
Reporting to: Channel Controller

Are you ambitious, commercially minded, and eager to build a successful career in FMCG sales? Do you want to take ownership of national customer accounts, work with iconic brands, and develop your skills in a fast-paced international business?

Launch your FMCG career with one of the world's leading confectionery companies!

At Perfetti Van Melle, we're looking for an emerging commercial talent to join our UK Sales team as a Junior National Account Manager. This is more than just a sales role – it's a development opportunity designed for individuals with the drive, energy, and potential to grow into future commercial leaders within our business. This role is ideal for someone who is ambitious, confident, proactive, curious, and passionate about developing a long-term career in FMCG.

Where we need you:

As Junior National Account Manager, you will be responsible for leading a portfolio of wholesale customers, including Co-op Wholesale and Sugro, while supporting the delivery of strategic growth plans and commercial objectives.

Why this role stands out:

• Ownership of national wholesale accounts and customer P&L responsibility.
• Exposure to major UK wholesale customers including Co-op Wholesale, Sugro Head Office, and Sugro wholesale members nationwide.
• Opportunity to work with some of the world's most loved confectionery brands including Mentos, Chupa Chups, Fruit-tella, and Smint.
• Hybrid and flexible working model.
• Clear development pathway into National Account Manager and broader commercial leadership roles within Perfetti Van Melle.

Your core responsibilities at a glance:

• Full leadership and P&L ownership of your customer portfolio.
• Develop and implement strategic account plans that create win-win outcomes for both customers and Perfetti Van Melle.
• Deliver annual budget targets across Volume, Net Sales, and Market Share growth.
• Lead forecasting and S&OP processes for your customer accounts.
• Manage product mix and Net Sales performance to drive profitable growth.
• Own customer trade investment and continuously evaluate return on investment.
• Build strong relationships with key customer stakeholders at Buyer level and create opportunities for senior-level engagement.
• Partner effectively with Finance, Supply Chain, Commercial, Trade Marketing, and Brand Marketing teams.
• Act as the voice of the customer within Perfetti Van Melle.
• Deliver exceptional customer relationships, measured through Advantage Survey outputs.
• Demonstrate and champion Perfetti Van Melle values in everything you do.

The ingredients of Perfetti Van Melle – is this your flavor?

We are Taste Makers in Candy!

Perfetti Van Melle is an international family-owned business with over 18,000 employees across 38 operating companies, and products enjoyed in more than 150 countries worldwide.

In the UK, we're proud to be home to some of the world's most loved confectionery brands, including Mentos, Chupa Chups, Fruit-tella, and Smint.

What makes us unique:

Empowering – Growth and development opportunities tailored to you, with clear career pathways and continuous learning.

Fun – A family-like culture, collaborative teams, engaging events, and yes... a candy factory!

Innovation – Active engagement in health, sustainability, food safety, and category innovation.

Dynamic – Operating in 30+ countries with exciting growth ambitions and opportunities for international exposure.

The ideal recipe for our new Junior National Account Manager:

• Degree-level qualification desirable, or equivalent relevant industry experience.
• Experience within sales, account management, commercial roles, or FMCG environments.
• Developing knowledge of the UK FMCG industry, ideally across multiple channels.
• A track record of delivering results and building strong customer relationships.
• Previous experience within impulse categories would be advantageous.
• Ability to analyse data and translate insights into compelling customer recommendations.
• Strong communication, negotiation, and influencing skills.
• High proficiency in Excel and willingness to develop expertise in data platforms such as Circana and Kantar.
• Resilience, determination, and a solution-oriented mindset.
• A growth mindset with a genuine desire to learn and continuously develop.
• Ambition to build a long-term career within Perfetti Van Melle and the FMCG industry.

The qualities that will help you succeed:

• Confidence to take ownership and make decisions.
• Curiosity and eagerness to learn.
• Commercial awareness and customer focus.
• Initiative and a proactive approach.
• Energy, ambition, and a passion for winning together.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-moving and collaborative environment.

What we offer:

As part of our mission to create a fulfilling workplace built on trust and mutual respect, you will benefit from:

• Company bonus scheme participation.
• 8% company-paid pension plan.
• Private medical insurance.
• Dental cover.
• Life assurance.
• Income protection insurance.
• Travel insurance.
• 27 days annual leave (full-time contract).
• Flexible working arrangements.
• A collaborative and inclusive culture.
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities.
• A clear pathway for career progression into National Account Manager and broader commercial leadership roles.

Most importantly, you'll join a business that genuinely invests in people and supports ambitious talent in building rewarding long-term careers.

Want a taste of more?

If you're looking for an opportunity to accelerate your FMCG career, take ownership of meaningful customer relationships, and develop into a future commercial leader, we'd love to hear from you.

At Perfetti Van Melle, we believe the strength of our team lies in diversity. We create a workplace where everyone feels welcome, respected, valued, and empowered to grow.

Ready to shape the future of sweets?

Apply now and help us create even more sweet moments.