Overview of the Business
The Foods of Athenry is a proudly family-owned Irish food business and one of Ireland's most exciting and innovative producers of high-quality 'free-from' bakery products. We create, bake, and deliver trusted, great-tasting products for customers across Ireland and an expanding international footprint.
In recent years, we have made significant investment in our people, facilities, and equipment, strengthening our foundations and positioning the business for its next phase of growth. We are an ambitious, close-knit team with big plans, and we are now seeking a commercially driven Sales & Development Manager to help accelerate our momentum.
This is a hands-on, fast-paced role offering variety, autonomy, and the opportunity to make a tangible impact. Covering retail, wholesale, foodservice, gifting, and export markets, this position is ideal for someone who thrives on building relationships, opening new doors, and turning opportunity into sustained growth.
What This Person Looks Like
You're someone who never really switches off. You're naturally curious, always spotting opportunities, and you get a genuine buzz from building relationships and opening doors.
You're passionate about food, how it's made, how it tastes, and how it's presented. You understand that great products sell themselves better when they're backed by belief, integrity, and pride. You probably don't mind the occasional sneaky treat either.
You bring people with you. Customers trust you, partners enjoy working with you, and colleagues know you'll follow through. You're comfortable starting conversations, keeping momentum going, and turning interest into long-term relationships
Key Responsibilities
· Develop and execute a robust sales pipeline to drive volume, margin, and profitable growth across domestic and export markets.
· Build and deliver a clear strategic sales plan to maximise performance within existing accounts, both in Ireland and internationally.
· Proactively identify, prospect, and secure new export opportunities, expanding the Foods of Athenry footprint in key target markets.
· Manage and optimise performance with distribution partners and key customers, delivering agreed metrics, building and deliver Joint Business Plans (JBPs), while supporting entry into new markets.
· Collaborate with internal teams and external stakeholders to develop effective sales, activation, and sell-through strategies.
· Play a key role in shaping and building the sales function and team as the business continues to scale.
Experience & Skills
· Minimum of 4 years' experience selling into Retail and Foodservice / HORECA environments.
· A proven track record of delivering sales growth and improved profitability.
· Strong understanding of consultative selling and relationship-led account management.
· Experience building and managing a sales pipeline to drive sustained growth.
· Demonstrated ability to generate, convert, and close new business opportunities.
· Strong influencing, negotiation, and communication skills at all organisational levels.
· Solid commercial and business acumen, with a clear focus on meeting and exceeding targets.
· Comfortable managing your own workload, prioritising effectively, and working across multiple customer channels simultaneously.
· Confidence and commercial presence.
· Flexibility and adaptability in a dynamic environment.
· Strong focus and attention to detail.
· Excellent communication, IT, and reporting skills.
· Ambition, drive, and a proactive, can-do attitude.
· A genuine passion for food, people, and building brands with purpose.
· Represent the business at trade shows, exhibitions, and industry events, both in Ireland and internationally.
· Stay closely connected to industry trends, competitor activity, and market dynamics across Ireland and global markets.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: €55,000.00-€75,000.00 per year
Experience:
* FMCG Sales : 6 years (required)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Athenry, CO. Galway