Hamsons, Birmingham, United Kingdom
Brand Development Manager – Europe
Location: United Kingdom (Hybrid), Territory: United Kingdom & Europe
Employment Type: Full-Time
Eligibility: Must hold a valid UK passport
Travel Requirement: High (Extensive European travel required)
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced and commercially driven Brand Development Manager – Europe to lead the expansion of Zebra Basmati Rice across key European markets, with a primary focus on Asian, ethnic, and specialty grocery retailers. This is a hybrid role based in the UK, requiring frequent and extensive travel across Europe, alongside recurring visits to our UK head office. The successful candidate will play a critical role in building regional brand presence, securing shelf space, managing distributor relationships, and executing localized go‑to‑market strategies across diverse European markets.
Key Responsibilities – Brand Expansion & Market Development
- Lead the rollout and growth of Zebra Basmati Rice across European markets, particularly within Asian, South Asian, Middle Eastern, and ethnic grocery channels
- Identify and onboard new distributors, wholesalers, and key retail partners across Europe
- Develop and execute country‑specific brand entry strategies, tailored to local consumer behavior and retail dynamics
- Drive in‑store visibility, product placement, planograms, and shelf optimization
Retail & Distributor Management
- Build and maintain strong relationships with ethnic grocery chains, independent specialty retailers, regional distributors and importers
- Negotiate listings, pricing structures, promotional support, and trade terms
- Coordinate sampling programs, in‑store activations, and regional promotions
- Monitor sell‑through, velocity, and replenishment cycles in collaboration with internal teams
Cultural & Market Adaptation
- Adapt brand messaging, packaging positioning, and promotional strategies to suit language, cultural, and regional preferences
- Provide market feedback on SKU performance, pack sizes, pricing sensitivity, competitive landscape
- Ensure brand consistency while allowing for localized execution
Internal Collaboration & Reporting
- Work closely with sales leadership, marketing teams, supply chain & logistics, data & analytics teams
- Provide regular reporting on market performance, expansion progress, distributor activity, competitive intelligence
- Participate in strategic planning sessions at the UK head office
Required Experience & Qualifications
- 3+ years of experience in FMCG/Food & Beverage, ideally within rice, grains, staples, or ethnic food categories
- International or multi‑market brand expansion experience
- Proven track record of developing brands across multiple European markets
- Strong understanding of international grocery retail environments, ethnic & specialty food distribution channels, product placement, merchandising, and trade marketing
- Experience working across different cultures, languages, and consumer profiles
- Ability to operate independently in field‑based roles while aligning with HQ strategy
- Valid UK passport (mandatory)
Key Skills & Competencies
- Strong commercial and negotiation skills
- Strategic thinker with hands‑on execution capability
- Excellent communication and relationship‑building abilities
- High adaptability to regional and cultural nuances
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage extensive travel
- Data‑driven mindset with the ability to translate insights into action
- Entrepreneurial attitude with a growth‑focused mentality
Travel & Work Structure
- Extensive travel across Europe is required and expected
- Hybrid working model: field‑based across European markets with recurring visits to the UK head office for planning, reviews, and collaboration
- Flexibility to travel frequently and manage varying schedules is essential
What We Offer
- Opportunity to lead European expansion for a well‑established international FMCG brand
- High‑impact role with autonomy and strategic influence
- Long‑term growth opportunities within a global food business
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