Commercial Manager – Produce, Horticulture & Bakery (7 to 12 month Maternity Cover)
Attractive Salary, Car Allowance, Bonus Scheme and Benefits
36.5 Hour week (Hybrid)
Newtownabbey (Must reside within daily commuting distance)
Who are we?
At Henderson Group, we are proud to be Northern Ireland’s leading foodservice provider. Our group encompasses Henderson Wholesale, Henderson Retail, Henderson Foodservice and Henderson Group Property. We employ over 6,000 staff and have been placed 5th in Ulster Business Top 100 Companies 2024.
We're a family-owned team that cares about our people and the community in which we live. Our leaders care about employees, and our employees succeed together and celebrate the success of others. We are interested in your aspirations, interests and skills and we strive to support and inspire you to do well.
A look into the role
As a Commercial Manager within the Customer Proposition team, you will play a key role in improving performance across Produce, Horticulture and Bakery categories, working closely with retailers, stores and colleagues across the business to deliver growth and great execution.
This is a delivery-focused role where you will work directly with independent retailers, store colleagues and the HWL Sales Team to improve participation, execution and commercial outcomes across the estate.
You will work closely with Trading, Retail Operations and cross-functional teams to ensure agreed plans, projects and initiatives are delivered consistently, supporting sales growth, operational standards and retailer engagement.
This role offers an excellent opportunity to develop your commercial, project delivery and stakeholder management skills while gaining experience across multiple business functions.
Joining us as a Commercial Manager you will:
- Deliver Produce, Horticulture and Bakery projects, plans and initiatives across the estate.
- Drive Fresh category participation through promotions, seasonal activity and key initiatives.
- Grow wholesale purchasing by improving retailer engagement, distribution and ordering.
- Improve in-store execution, availability, ranging, merchandising and promotional compliance.
- Support the effective implementation and performance of Automatic Stock Replenishment (ASR).
- Analyse category and store performance, identifying opportunities, risks and actions
- Build strong relationships with retailers, store colleagues and the HWL Sales Team to improve performance and deliver results
- Collaborate with Trading, Retail Operations, Space Planning, Logistics and Marketing to deliver joined-up plans.
- Prioritise effectively, responding to changing business needs and delivering key activity within agreed timescales.
Skills for Success
Joining us as Commercial Manager the minimum criteria you’ll need is:
- A minimum of two years' recent and relevant experience within a supermarket, convenience, wholesale, food or customer-facing retail environment.
- A good understanding of retail operations, customer needs and what drives successful store performance.
- Experience working with fresh or Food categories, or transferable experience that demonstrates an understanding of these areas.
- The ability to understand information and data, identify opportunities and take practical action.
- Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, organise your workload and deliver against agreed objectives.
- A good understanding of the Northern Ireland retail market
- A full, current UK or EU driving licence.
The Attributes you’ll need include:
- Excellent communication skills and confidence engaging with stakeholders
- A willingness to learn new processes, systems and ways of working.
- Ability to influence and collaborate across teams
- A proactive approach with strong ownership of delivery
- A structured and organised way of working
- Confidence to challenge and improve existing ways of working
- Strong attention to detail with a focus on outcomes
- A customer and commercially focused mindset.
It is Desirable if you have:
- A third-level qualification or relevant professional qualification.
- Proven ability to lead, coach and/or develop teams within fresh or food categories.
- Previous experience working collaboratively with retailers, store colleagues and/or sales teams to deliver business objectives.
- Experience of presenting information, recommendations or ideas to colleagues or stakeholders, through strong commercial understanding.
- Relevant experience working within the Northern Ireland retail or wholesale market.
- Experience of leading, coaching or supporting others.
Are we right for you?
As part of this role, it will be important that you feel aligned with the values that we live and work by.
Ambition – We always strive to be better. We seek new challenges and look for ways to do things better.
Customer First – We provide exceptional service. We put customers at the heart of everything and support our communities.
Teamwork – We succeed together. We help colleagues to succeed, and we share our knowledge and skills.
Integrity – We are fair, honest and ethical. We treat everyone with dignity and respect. We are inclusive and champion diversity.
The Reward
The impact you can make with Henderson Group goes far beyond your day to day. You will be part of a business supporting defibrillator installations and school sports days. In the last year Henderson group staff and retail stores raised over £1 million for charity partners.
You will have the balance necessary to enjoy your job and your life. We will help you to feel proud of what you do and achieve. And we will be here to celebrate your success.
Our business has been recognised externally for delivering excellence in employment. We value employee development and heavily invest in our people.
Benefits include market competitive salary, car allowance, bonus, contributory pension scheme, healthcare, life assurance, employee assistance programme, social club, Reward Gateway Employee Recognition & Discount Scheme throughout UK/Ireland, staff discount (grocery/fuel) at SPAR/EUROSPAR Henderson Group company-owned stores and many more.
This is a full-time position working 36.5 hours per week. Working hours will be 8:45am-4:45pm Monday to Thursday and 8:45am-3:45pm Friday. Hybrid and flexible working arrangement available.
Please note this role will require the successful applicant to make occasional visits/business trips away from home.
If you'd like to speak with us before making your application, our Talent Acquisition Specialist - Joanne McClelland would be happy to have a confidential chat with you about the role on offer - email [email protected] to get in touch.
Completed applications must be submitted online by midnight on Wednesday 26th August 2026
We are an equal opportunities employer.
