Head of Trade/FMCG Produce

Your Company: A highly rewarding opportunity has arisen for an experienced Head of Trade/FMCG Produce to join a fast-paced and ambitious organisation operating within the food supply, FMCG, wholesale, and protein trading sector. This is a senior commercial leadership role, ideally suited to an individual with strong trading expertise, deep market knowledge, and a proven ability to lead both teams and end-to-end commercial performance across procurement, sales, supply chain, and customer functions. The business operates across sourcing, trading, manufacturing, and global supply chain operations, supplying customers throughout retail, wholesale, hospitality, foodservice, and food production markets. The organisation is recognised for its entrepreneurial approach, commercial agility, and ability to deliver high-quality products through a robust and responsive supply network. The successful candidate will take ownership of the full trading cycle - from procurement and supplier engagement through to customer negotiation, pricing strategy, commercial growth, and operational alignment. This role combines strategic leadership with hands-on trading responsibility, requiring someone capable of driving margin, developing partnerships, identifying market opportunities, and leading high-performing commercial teams in a highly competitive environment. Key Responsibilities: While in this position your duties will include, but are not limited to: • Leading end-to-end trading activity across key FMCG and protein categories, ensuring alignment between procurement, sales, logistics, and operational performance • Managing and developing a high-performing commercial and trading team, setting clear direction, accountability, and performance targets • Owning commercial strategy including pricing, margin optimisation, promotional activity, and customer trading terms across multiple channels • Driving profitable sales growth across wholesale, retail, foodservice, manufacturing, and export markets • Negotiating high-value supplier and customer agreements to maximise long-term commercial value and supply continuity • Overseeing supply and demand planning in collaboration with operations, logistics, procurement, and planning teams to ensure product availability and service levels • Monitoring market trends, commodity pricing, competitor activity, and customer demand to identify trading opportunities and commercial risks • Managing key supplier and customer relationships at senior level, ensuring long-term strategic partnerships • Leading cross-functional collaboration between commercial, supply chain, logistics, finance, and operations teams to deliver overall business performance • Taking full P&L responsibility for trading performance across defined categories and commercial activities • Identifying and executing growth opportunities through new customers, markets, product categories, and supply routes • Ensuring all trading activity complies with food safety, regulatory, quality, and ethical trading standards What You Will Need to Apply: The successful candidate will have extensive experience within a senior trading, commercial, or category leadership role across FMCG, food manufacturing, wholesale, protein trading, or global food supply chains. In addition, the ideal candidate will demonstrate: • Proven experience in end-to-end trading, including buying, selling, pricing, and margin ownership • Strong leadership capability with experience managing and developing high-performing commercial teams • Deep understanding of food markets, commodity pricing, and complex supply chain operations • Excellent negotiation skills with a proven ability to deliver significant commercial value • Strong financial and commercial acumen, including P&L ownership and margin management • Experience operating across fast-paced and highly competitive trading environments • Strong analytical and decision-making capability with the ability to react quickly to market changes • Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills at senior level • Experience working across international sourcing, logistics, and export markets would be advantageous • A strategic mindset combined with hands-on trading capability and accountability What You Will Receive in Return: A highly competitive and substantial base salary is available for the successful candidate, alongside a significant uncapped commission and bonus structure, with strong overall earning potential available for exceptional commercial performance. In addition to this, the role offers senior-level influence over trading strategy and wider commercial direction, alongside long-term progression opportunities within a growing and highly ambitious organisation. The successful candidate will have the autonomy to shape commercial structures, influence operational strategy, and build high-performing teams, while working closely with senior leadership and executive decision-makers. This position also offers hybrid working flexibility alongside the opportunity to operate within a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment where commercial success, innovation, and leadership are recognised and rewarded. Overall, this is a rare opportunity for an experienced trading or commercial professional seeking full ownership of a high-impact trading function, the ability to lead at scale, and the platform to drive significant commercial growth within an evolving food and FMCG business. If this opportunity interests you, then please do not hesitate to reach out to: Alexander Booth - Talent Acquisition Specialist M: E: