Business Development Manager - Brighton

Build your career at Sazerac! With almost 400 years of rich history, Sazerac Company has thrived as an independent, American family-owned company with operations in the United States and around the world. Since the 2000s, Sazerac has averaged double digit growth every year! Sazerac Company produces and markets the most award-winning bourbons and whiskeys in the world, including Buffalo Trace, Pappy Van Winkle, Eagle Rare, Blanton’s, Traveller, and Sazerac Rye. Additionally, Sazerac owns many popular brands across a range of spirits, including Fireball, Svedka, Wheatley, BuzzBallz, Southern Comfort, Seagram’s V.O., Myers’s, Goldschläger, Parrot Bay, 99 Brand, and Platinum Vodka.

• Territory: Brighton, Bournemouth, Southampton, Oxford and Portsmouth

This role offers a fantastic opportunity to join one of the most exciting spirits companies in the World. Sazerac Company is one of the UK’s leading spirit distributors and brand builders representing an award-winning range of Sazerac owned and third-party agency spirit brands. Our enviable, diverse portfolio of award-winning brands include Fireball, Buffalo Trace, Tequila Rose, BuzzBallz, Southern Comfort, and Antica Sambuca.

We are looking for passionate and driven individuals who have a solid understanding of the UK spirit’s market. Ideally, we are looking for candidates who have worked within the FMCG/ alcoholic beverages industry with business development experience. If you’re looking to make your mark in a fast-paced environment and join a rapidly growing drinks company, then this opportunity might just be for you.

Building Sazerac brands, and agency brands by implementing commercial, activation and promotional programmes across independent free trade outlets in the on-trade, delivering exceptional performance and execution, driving volume and incremental distribution of the Sazerac portfolio.  Focus will be on maintaining current relationships and building new business, supported by our activation and marketing-led campaign tools.

Responsibilities Include:

• Territory Management

Manage a designated territory and establish strong relationships with independent free trade accounts, independent operators and RTM account managers. Build a call file within assigned territory that allows maximum reach for incremental growth of the Sazerac portfolio.

• Sales Target Achievement

Develop and implement effective sales strategies and plans to achieve or exceed sales targets. Utilize a consultative sales approach with CRM system and other tools to understand customer needs, promote and sell the right brands to the right accounts, activate POS, and build price plans for commercial support that has the best outcome for the business, growing the Sazerac portfolio in value and volume.

• Campaign Partnerships

Work alongside the marketing team to bring our campaigns to life in the on-trade and hosting customers at sponsored events to leverage relationships and incremental sales.

• Relationship Building

Establish and maintain strong relationships with key decision-makers, owners and operators, and bar teams in independent free trade accounts and RTM representatives. Act as a trusted advisor and provide exceptional customer service to ensure customer satisfaction and loyalty.

• Market Insights and Feedback

Gather market intelligence, competitor information, and customer feedback to provide valuable insights to the sales and marketing teams. Contribute to the development of sales strategies, product enhancements, and marketing initiatives based on customer and market needs.

• Sales Reporting and Administration

Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of sales activities, customer interactions, and sales-related expenses using CRM tools or other designated systems. Prepare regular sales reports, forecasts, and other administrative tasks as required.

• Collaboration and Teamwork

Collaborate closely with internal teams, including marketing, logistics, and customer service, to ensure smooth order processing, timely delivery, and exceptional customer support. Communicate customer needs and requirements effectively to internal stakeholders.

Required Qualifications

• Proven experience in field sales, or business development, preferably within the drinks industry or related FMCG sectors.
• Experience at management/operations level within the on-trade, to have a deeper understanding of the commercial impact of Sazerac brands across multiple outlet types.
• Firm knowledge of the hospitality sector, including understanding customer dynamics, market trends, and competitor landscape. 
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build rapport and establish trust with independent retailers.
• Results-oriented mindset with a track record of achieving or exceeding sales targets.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently in a field-based role.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize tasks effectively.
• Proficiency in using CRM software, MS Office Suite, and other sales-related tools.
• Valid driver's license and willingness to travel within the assigned territory