Senior National Account Manager & Category Lead - Retail
| Posting date: | 08 September 2025 |
|---|---|
| Hours: | Full time |
| Closing date: | 08 October 2025 |
| Location: | UB6 8LZ |
| Remote working: | On-site only |
| Company: | William Jackson Food Group |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Job reference: | WJFRP82357-15332 |
Summary
Overview
Belazu is looking for a commercially sharp and insight-driven Senior National Account Manager & Category Lead to manage key grocery customers and lead category strategy across our retail portfolio. You’ll drive profitable growth, own customer relationships, and lead initiatives that bring data and innovation together. It’s a perfect role for someone who loves the buzz of retail, thrives on cross-functional collaboration, and wants to play a visible part in growing premium food brands like Belazu and Miso Tasty.
About Belazu
This is a lovely opportunity to join a business with an impressive set of accreditations, from B Corp status to silver standard Investors in People and newly recognised in 2025 as a Sunday Times Best Place to Work. We are a diverse team with a shared set of professional goals and social values that drive a hugely satisfying working experience. Belazu has been a pioneer of supplying high quality, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean Ingredients within the UK’s Foodservice for over 30 years. We are an innovative leader in our field, with an energetic and high performing working culture. We have ambitious plans to grow over the next 5 years and take great pride in the values that form the spine of our business.
What the day job looks like:
As Senior National Account Manager & Category Lead, you will:
• Lead the commercial relationship for Tesco, Ocado, M&S and Co-op across multiple categories.
• Develop and implement JBP strategies, promotional plans, and in-store activations.
• Monitor EPOS and revenue performance, making data-led recommendations for growth.
• Lead range reviews and customer presentations, turning insights into action.
• Drive category excellence - develop frameworks and tools that embed category thinking into everything we do.
• Identify new product and category opportunities in collaboration with Innovation and Marketing teams.
• Track and respond to competitor movements, customer trends and shopper data.
• Manage and support a National Account Executive, helping them hit their KPIs and grow.
This role will suit you if:
• You have strong experience of food/FMCG experience managing the Tesco account and other major retailers and negotiating JBPs - this is essential
• You love blending commercial thinking with category insights and shopper behaviour.
• You’re confident presenting to buyers and senior stakeholders.
• You’re organised, analytical, and comfortable owning multiple projects end to end.
• You’re a natural mentor and collaborator with a strong sense of ownership.
This role may not be for you if:
• You prefer back-end account support over direct customer ownership.
• You struggle with shifting priorities or cross-functional work.
• You don’t enjoy using data to influence category and retail strategy.
• You’re not comfortable managing others or giving regular performance feedback.
What’s in it for you?
• 33 days annual (including 8 public holidays) per annum
• Auto-Enrolment Pension
• Life assurance
• Discretionary bonus scheme (30%)
• Hybrid working
• Long service awards
• Free parking on site
• Up to 40% discount on Company products
• Access to Enjoy Benefits portal
• The best canteen you’ll ever eat at
Terms
• 40 hrs/wk, 8:30am–5.00pm Mon–Fri (flexible start times)
• Hybrid working model
• Probationary period: 3 months
• Annual salary review (our ‘movers and shakers’ are always rewarded)
• 30% KPI-related bonus based on clear and achievable goals
Thanks for reading our job advert. We do our very best to bring to life what it's like working as part of our team. Diverse teams really are the best teams. We want everyone to feel they can be themselves at work and develop their talents to the full. All colleagues are expected to take personal responsibility for keeping our workplace free from discrimination, harassment, and bullying - a place where everyone is treated fairly and respectfully.
We also know that sometimes some candidates may be put off applying for a job unless they think they can tick every box. If you are really excited about working with us and think you can do much of what we are looking for but aren't sure if you are 100% there yet... go on... why not give it a whirl? Good luck!