peopleforge

Business Development Manager (On-Trade Drinks / Field Sales)

About the Role

Business Development Manager (On-Trade Drinks / Field Sales)

 Cumbria / North West

 £45,000 – £50,000 Basic + Uncapped Commission + Company Vehicle + Field Based

 Are you a commercially driven Business Development Manager with experience in drinks, wholesale, FMCG, or field sales, looking for a high-autonomy role where you can genuinely grow accounts and win new business? 

 On offer is the opportunity to join a growing Cumbria-based drinks wholesaler with a strong reputation across the on-trade sector. This is a field-based role offering real independence, long-term relationship building, and the chance to directly influence regional growth across pubs, bars, restaurants, and hotels. 

 In this role, you will focus on winning new business, reactivating dormant accounts, and developing existing customer relationships across your territory. You will work closely with hospitality clients, deliver product tastings and training, negotiate commercial agreements, and help expand the company’s footprint across the region. 

 This role would suit a Business Development Manager, Area Sales Manager or Field Sales Executive with experience within drinks wholesale, FMCG, hospitality, or on-trade sales environments.  

 

The Role

  • Develop new business opportunities across pubs, bars, restaurants, and hotels
  • Manage and grow an existing customer portfolio within your territory
  • Conduct face-to-face meetings, tastings, and client visits
  • Negotiate supply agreements and commercial terms
  • Identify upselling and range expansion opportunities
  • Track competitor activity and market trends to support growth
  • Field-based role covering Cumbria and surrounding areas 

The Person

  • Experience within drinks sales, wholesale, hospitality, or field sales
  • Strong relationship-building and negotiation skills
  • Commercially driven with a proactive “hunter” mentality
  • Comfortable managing a territory independently
  • Self-motivated and target focused
  • Full UK driving licence required 

Ref:1673505

 

Key Words: Business Development Manager, Area Sales Manager, Field Sales Executive, Drinks Sales, Beverage Sales, Wholesale Drinks, Hospitality Sales, On-Trade Sales, FMCG Sales, Wine Sales, Beer Sales, Cumbria, Kendal, Penrith, Carlisle, Lancaster, Barrow-in-Furness, North West, Field Sales 

 If you are interested in this role, click 'Apply Now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV. 

 We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates. The salary advertised is a guideline for this position. The offered remuneration will be dependent on the extent of your experience, qualifications, and skill set.

 Peopleforge Limited acts as an employment agency for permanent recruitment and employment business for the supply of temporary workers. By applying for this job, you accept the T&C's, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers which can be found at our website.

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For SMEs, every hire matters. Our success isn't about volume, it's about making the right hire that delivers real impact. That means being selective, honest, and focused on long-term fit from the start.

FAQs

We support SME businesses across a range of roles, including engineering, technical, sales, and broader commercial positions. Our focus is on making the right match, not filling volume, so we're selective about the roles we take on.

We work with SME businesses building things that matter. No recruiter games, no endless CVs, just a straightforward, quality-first approach focused on finding the right long-term fit.

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