Retail Chain Director – Mass Distribution (Agri-Food Industry)

The Retail Chain Director in the agri-food industry is responsible for developing and maintaining strong relationships with retail chains while designing effective commercial strategies to maximize sales and profitability.

Main Responsibilities of the Retail Chain Director – Mass Distribution

• Develop a commercial strategy for each retail chain, aligned with the company’s objectives.
• Implement specific action plans to achieve sales and profitability targets for each retailer.
• Negotiate commercial terms, pricing, promotions, and product assortments with retail chains.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key decision-makers within retail chains.
• Understand customer needs and anticipate their expectations to provide high-quality service.
• Collaborate with internal teams to define product assortments and promotions tailored to each retail chain.
• Develop promotional plans and assortment strategies to optimize sales and product visibility.
• Provide regular reports on retailer performance and market trends, recommending corrective actions when necessary.
• Prepare budgets and sales forecasts per retailer, considering market trends and company objectives.
• Identify growth opportunities and potential threats and recommend strategies to maintain the company’s competitiveness.
• Seek new partnership opportunities with retail chains, such as co-branding initiatives or loyalty programs.
• Work with other departments, such as marketing and R&D, to develop innovative solutions that meet customer needs.
• Ensure all commercial and promotional activities comply with current regulations in the food retail sector.

Required Skills for a Retail Chain Director – Mass Distribution

• Ability to develop and implement commercial strategies for each retail chain.
• Excellent negotiation skills to secure advantageous commercial agreements.
• Strong relationship-building skills with key decision-makers within retail chains.
• Ability to analyze sales data and KPIs to make informed decisions and adjust commercial strategies.
• Budget management expertise.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for interactions with clients, team members, and stakeholders.
• Sensitivity to the specific requirements of each retail chain and adaptability in strategy implementation.
• Leadership and team development skills to foster a collaborative work environment.

Required Experience for a Retail Chain Director – Mass Distribution

• Significant experience working with mass retail chains in commercial, sales, or key account management roles within large agri-food companies.
• Experience in head office functions such as Category Management, Merchandising Management, or Sales Development Director is an additional asset.
• Strong expertise in client relationship management, strategic planning, and leadership.