National Account Manager

About us:

The Bread Factory is the UK's leading artisan bakery. Founded by Gail Meija in 1993, The Bread Factory, originally known as Gail Force, began by supplying some of London's most prestigious restaurants, including many with Michelin stars. More than three decades later, we continue to work closely with the best chefs, alongside grocers, foodservice partners and our own neighbourhood bakery, GAIL's.

The Bread Factory is synonymous with quality. We have been awarded more than 100 Great Taste Awards and have held a Royal Warrant since 2016, when it was first granted by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. In 2024, the warrant was renewed by His Majesty The King.

We source our ingredients thoughtfully, partnering with farmers and millers who align with our values. The result: delicious, carefully made baked goods that support a more sustainable and nutritious food system; bringing great bread to more tables every day.

The Foodservice National Account Manager will manage and grow a portfolio of customers across The Bread Factory’s Food Service channel, building trusted relationships with chefs, operators, contract caterers, restaurants, hotels, coffee shops and other foodservice partners.

The role is responsible for delivering sales growth, excellent customer service and strong commercial outcomes by understanding customer needs, identifying opportunities and working closely with colleagues across bakery operations, customer service, planning, technical and NPD.

Every day is different at The Bread Factory, but here are some of the things you will be doing:

Account Management & Customer Growth

• Manage a portfolio of foodservice customer accounts, acting as the primary commercial contact and building strong, professional relationships.
• Develop and deliver account plans that grow sales, improve profitability and strengthen customer retention.
• Identify opportunities to increase distribution, introduce new products and expand The Bread Factory’s presence with existing customers.
• Maintain regular customer contact through meetings, site visits, range reviews, bakery visits and performance updates.

New Business Development

• Prospect, develop and convert new foodservice opportunities across restaurants, hotels, contract caterers, coffee shops, pubs, leisure, travel and hospitality groups.
• Build a strong pipeline of opportunities, progressing leads through sampling, pricing, negotiation and onboarding.
• Represent The Bread Factory confidently in market, communicating our craft, quality, service capability and product range.

Commercial Delivery

• Deliver agreed sales, margin, volume and customer performance targets.
• Prepare forecasts, monitor account performance and provide accurate updates on risks, opportunities and trading trends.
• Support pricing, tenders, proposals and contract negotiations with clear commercial thinking and attention to detail.
• Use customer, category and market insight to shape recommendations and support profitable growth.

Customer Service & Cross-Functional Working

• Work closely with customer service, planning, operations, logistics, technical and finance teams to ensure customers receive a high-quality, reliable service.
• Resolve customer issues quickly and professionally, escalating where needed and ensuring follow-through.
• Coordinate product samples, launches, seasonal activity and customer communications.
• Partner with NPD and bakery teams to bring customer feedback and market opportunities into product development discussions.

Our team tells us you will be a great addition if you have:

• Proven experience in account management with a strong network of contacts, sales or business development, ideally within ambient foodservice, bakery, FMCG or hospitality supply.
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to manage pricing, margin, forecasts, tenders and account performance.
• Excellent relationship-building skills with the confidence to engage chefs, operators, buyers and senior customer stakeholders.
• A genuine passion for food, hospitality and high-quality bakery products.
• Self-motivated and organised, with the discipline to manage a territory, pipeline, customer meetings and internal follow-up.
• Comfortable balancing existing account development with new business generation.
• Strong communicator with good presentation, negotiation and problem-solving skills.
• Able to work cross-functionally and build productive relationships with internal teams.
• Customer-first mindset with high standards of service, responsiveness and professionalism.
• Full UK driving licence preferred due to regular customer travel.

What’s in it for you:

• Fresh bread daily to take home to enjoy with family and friends.
• 50% discount at GAIL’s and 40% off at The Bread Factory & The Flour Station Markets.
• 25 days holiday + bank holidays
• Discounts and Savings from high-street retailers and restaurants
• 24-hour GP service
• Cycle to work scheme