Trade Sales Manager (Wine & Spirits)
Location: Home-based with regular travel across the Marches, Midlands and mid Wales border, together with regular visits to Ludlow Distillery, Ludlow Farmshop.
Hours: Full-time, Monday to Friday.
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience.
Reports to: Managing Director.
About Ludlow Distillery
Ludlow Distillery is an independent, award-winning producer of premium spirits based at Ludlow Farmshop in the heart of the Shropshire countryside.
Since launching in 2018, we’ve grown from a small craft distillery into a multi-channel drinks business, producing our own award-winning range of spirits, providing contract distilling and private-label manufacturing for other brands, and operating an established trade wine business. Our customers include independent retailers, farm shops, pubs, restaurants, hotels and hospitality venues across the Marches, Midlands, Mid Wales border and beyond.
As we continue to grow, we’re investing in smarter systems, stronger customer relationships and focused commercial initiatives to support the next stage of our development.
The Opportunity
This is an opportunity to play a key role in the future growth of Ludlow Distillery’s trade business.
We’re not looking for someone simply to take orders or spend every day chasing new customers. Instead, we’re looking for someone who enjoys building lasting relationships, identifying commercial opportunities and helping shape the way we work.
Working closely with the Managing Director, you’ll take ownership of our trade sales activities across both wine and spirits, supporting existing customers whilst developing new business opportunities across independent retail, hospitality and wholesale markets. The role will also support the continued growth of our contract distilling and private-label business by identifying opportunities and developing relationships with prospective partners.
You’ll also play an important part in improving the systems that support our sales operation, helping us build a smarter, more efficient and more scalable business.
This is a varied role offering real responsibility, considerable autonomy and the opportunity to make a genuine contribution to the continued growth of an ambitious independent business.
For the right person, this is an opportunity to develop broad commercial experience across sales, account management, marketing, product development and business improvement within an ambitious independent drinks business.
Purpose of the Role
To grow Ludlow Distillery’s trade business by developing long-term customer relationships, identifying commercial opportunities and delivering outstanding service across our wine and spirits portfolio.
Working closely with the Managing Director, the Trade Sales Lead will help strengthen our existing customer base, win new business, support the implementation of smarter commercial systems and contribute to the continued growth of the business.
Key Responsibilities
1. Build Relationships
o Develop long-term relationships with existing trade customers across the wine and spirits portfolio.
o Carry out regular customer visits to understand customer needs and identify opportunities for growth.
o Deliver a consistently high standard of customer service and account management.
o Support customers with wine lists, spirit selections, staff training and promotional initiatives where appropriate.
2. Drive Commercial Growth
o Identify and secure new trade customers across hospitality, independent retail and wholesale sectors.
o Develop focused commercial initiatives and campaigns to grow sales within agreed target markets.
o Prepare quotations, proposals and presentations for prospective and existing customers.
o Represent Ludlow Distillery professionally at customer meetings, tastings and industry events.
o Identify opportunities for contract distilling, private-label production and collaborative projects, referring technical and commercial discussions to the Managing Director where appropriate.
3. Improve Commercial Systems
o Help develop and maintain our CRM and customer information systems.
o Encourage the adoption of smarter ordering processes and customer communication.
o Maintain accurate sales records, customer activity and pipeline reporting.
o Identify opportunities to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the trade sales operation.
4. Contribute to the Business
o Work closely with the Managing Director to help shape the future direction of the trade business.
o Share customer feedback, market intelligence and ideas for continuous improvement.
o Support new product launches, contract distilling projects and commercial collaborations as the business continues to evolve.
o Help identify opportunities to grow both the Ludlow Distillery brand and our contract manufacturing business.
Who We’re Looking For
We’re looking for someone who shares our passion for building long-term customer relationships and enjoys helping businesses grow.
Ideally, you’ll be:
o Commercially minded with a genuine interest in developing business.
o An excellent communicator who enjoys meeting people and building lasting relationships.
o Self-motivated and comfortable working independently.
o Well organised, with good planning and time management skills.
o Curious, proactive and always looking for ways to improve.
o Confident using technology and willing to embrace new systems and ways of working.
o Interested in premium food and drink; experience or knowledge of wine and spirits would be advantageous but is not essential.
o Professional, trustworthy and proud to represent Ludlow Distillery.
Working Pattern
o Full-time, Monday to Friday.
o Primarily field-based, with home working encouraged.
o Regular travel throughout the Marches, Midlands and Mid Wales border.
o Regular visits to Ludlow Distillery for meetings, planning and team collaboration.
o Greater time at the distillery during the initial induction period.
o Regular communication with the Managing Director and wider team.
o Flexibility to attend occasional evening tastings, customer events and trade exhibitions where appropriate.
o Full UK driving licence essential.
Package
- Competitive salary, dependent on experience.
- Company laptop and mobile phone.
- Business mileage reimbursed.
- 28 days’ holiday including Bank Holidays.
- Staff discount across the Ludlow Distillery range.
- Ongoing product training and professional development.
Why Join Ludlow Distillery?
This is an opportunity to join an ambitious independent drinks business at an exciting stage of its development.
You’ll have the autonomy to make a genuine contribution, the support to develop your knowledge and skills, and the opportunity to help shape the future of our trade business.
If you enjoy building relationships, thinking commercially and taking ownership of your work, we’d love to hear from you.
How to Apply
Please send your CV together with a covering letter explaining why you’re interested in the role and what you feel you could bring to Ludlow Distillery.
Pay: From £15.38 per hour
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Bromfield
