Dole Packaged Foods is an agricultural company, collaborating with the earth’s abundant resources to nourish the world. Our mission is to create ‘Sunshine for All’. With over a century of expertise, we are dedicated to cultivating high-quality food products while prioritizing sustainability, innovation, and care for the planet and its people.
Dole Packaged Foods delivers this purpose in Europe through a network of different (B2B) customers, ranging from Retail to Food Service to distributors which deliver our products to our consumers.
Are you passionate about driving growth in a purpose driven organization? We are now looking for a Country Sales Manager to join our commercial team!
The Country Sales Manager is responsible for achieving sustainable, profitable growth across the Dutch market as well as new 'white space' markets in Europe, with a primary focus on direct Route-to-Market (RTM) and a secondary focus on (distributor-led) channels both in Retail and Foodservice. The role involves strategizing, executing, and optimizing sales plans, fostering strong partner relationships, and unlocking new market opportunities to increase revenues, market share, and brand presence—all while improving gross margins.
Primary Accountabilities:
You are responsible for market growth and growing turnover and revenues in the Netherlands as well as in 'white space' markets in Europe for all accounts in retail, cash & carry and Foodservice, contributing to double digit growth of the regional revenues and significantly improving the gross profit margin year on year. The main focus for this role is to grow our brand and sales in Retail through a direct RTM approach, whilst also building and leveraging the other channels in these markets.
* Lead and execute retail sales strategies in the Netherlands and other 'white space' markets, increasing sales of existing products, launching new innovations, and exploring new sales channels to maximize footprint and profitability.
* Develop and implement comprehensive country & account plans based on in-depth market analysis, focusing on optimal RTM, product assortment, and pricing strategies.
* Drive market growth and revenue expansion through direct engagement with key retail partners, ensuring alignment with regional growth targets.
* Provide insights and recommendations regarding potential transitions from distributor-led to direct RTM, where applicable.
* Cultivate and orchestrate relationships with all people in the Decision Making Unit of the customers.
* Lead or support customer and sales projects within assigned geographies.
* Collaborate with internal teams (Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance, Innovation) to deliver aligned and effective sales initiatives.
* Identify and leverage market opportunities, including new categories, channels, and consumer needs, through market research and data analysis.
* Other duties as assigned
This role reports directly to the Sales Director.
Key Success Measures:
* Achieving double-digit growth in sales, gross margin, and gross margin mass across Europe and the Netherlands.
* Successful launch and distribution of new products, ensuring top-of-mind awareness for healthy, nutritious offerings.
* Efficient collaboration with cross-functional teams to deliver a broad product portfolio and increase distribution reach.
* Accurate sales forecasting and achievement of financial targets.
* Strengthening partner relationships and expanding market presence across the markets.
What You’ll Need to Succeed:
* Passionate about a purpose driven career in nutrition and wellness
* Proven expertise in sales, with strong experience in both direct retail account management and distributor management.
* Strong commercial acumen, strategic thinking, and ability to translate market insights into action.
* Structured approach to sales planning, execution, and administration.
* Flexibility and willingness to travel across Europe and within the Netherlands.
Experience, Knowledge, & Skills You Bring:
* Fluent in English and Dutch.
* Demonstrable experience (5+ years) in FMCG sales, ideally within (packaged) food or related sectors, with a focus on retail and distributor channels.
* Proven track record of growth delivery across multiple European markets.
* Proven experience in identifying consumer needs and transform these into new product opportunities
* Strong analytical skills, with the ability to translate data into actionable strategies.
* Experience working with retail partners in the Netherlands and across Europe.
* Selling, Negotiation, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.
* Financial literacy, including P&L management and revenue growth strategies.
* Integrity and accountability, relationship building skills.
Location:
* You are based in the Netherlands, and will work both out of a home office in the Netherlands and work from the Rotterdam office.
* Travel required in the Netherlands and in Europe.
What we offer to you as part of our awesome and diverse team:
* The opportunity to help develop our European organization to new levels and deliver on our purpose, while also building your personal and professional growth and well-being.
* International collaboration in a small, engaged and highly diverse team, with direct colleagues in Netherlands, UK, Germany, France and Belgium.
* A 7-month starter contract, with the opportunity to grow fast into a permanent role if we’re the right match, as we are genuinely looking for long term commitment.
* An annual base salary between €75.000 – €90.000, tailored to your skills and experience - fair and transparent. On top of this we offer a performance-based variable bonus and a gross monthly car allowance.
* Additionally we offer modern defined contribution pension arrangements (based on a 50/50 split between employer and employee contribution) and income insurances, 26 days of holiday leave per annum in addition to applicable bank holidays, full reimbursement of business-related fuel cost, et cetera.
* And of course the support and means to be successful in this role, such as laptop, mobile phone, home office equipment, et cetera.
Our application process:
* We start by reviewing your application
* We’ll get back to you as soon as we can, usually within two weeks.
* If we see a potential match based on hard minimum requirements, we will invite you directly to complete a short online assessment (about 20 minutes). This helps us bring more objectivity into the selection process.
* When the results align, you’ll be invited for a first interview with HR. If that goes well, a second interview will follow with the Sales Director and the Managing Director.
* And if everything feels right, we’ll make you an offer that fits — welcoming you to the Dole Europe Tribe!
The process continues until we’ve found the right candidate — there is no fixed closing date.
Dole Packaged Foods is an equal opportunity and inclusive employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, sex, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, political orientation, or on the basis of disability.