Overview

Head of Retail Sales for a fast-growing D2C functional drinks brand, leading the retail sales function and launching across major grocers, high street, and e-retail accounts. The business is aiming to become omnichannel with a world-class MD and a team of 20, positioned for potential growth in the next 5 years.

Role & Responsibilities

• Lead retail sales strategy – open doors with major grocers (Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Morrisons, etc.) and secure listings. Set the roadmap, build momentum, and land wins at the right time.
• Own the sell-in process – create compelling retailer decks, pitch with confidence, manage buyer relationships, and negotiate terms.
• Bring commercial rigour – own promotional planning, trade terms, JBP negotiations, and P&L responsibility.
• Manage and challenge retail agency partners – ensure they deliver against plan, while deciding what remains outsourced vs. brought in-house.
• Recruit and develop a sales team – attract top talent, coach future NAE’s & NAM’s, and build a best-in-class function.
• Expand market footprint – drive listings not just in UK grocery, but also high street and e-retail accounts.
• Collaborate cross-functionally – work with marketing, NPD, and operations to deliver launches.

What’s on Offer?

• Share Options
• Holiday Days: 25 Days + Bank Holidays
• Remote Working Policy

What we’re looking for

• Retail sales expertise: experience working with major UK grocers (Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Waitrose, Morrisons)
• Commercial acumen: ability to build promo plans, submit new line forms, and navigate retailer systems
• Entrepreneurial mindset: thrives in ambiguity, takes initiative, solves problems rather than just raising them
• Strong communication: confident pitching to buyers and directors
• Growth mindset: motivated by scaling a challenger brand into a £50m turnover business in the next 3 years

Lawrence Recruitment is acting as an employment agency on behalf of our client.