Our client:

Lotus Bakeries, based in Lembeke Belgium, produces snacks like Lotus Biscoff, waffles and small cakes. The family company is listed on the Euronext Brussels Stock Exchange and produces in Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Sweden. Lotus Bakeries operates via own sales offices in ten European countries, the USA, Hong Kong, China and Korea and works with over 40 external distributor partners worldwide. Around 2,400 employees manufacture and sell the products under the brand names Lotus, Peijnenburg and Annas. Lotus Bakeries draws on its strong tradition to develop innovative new products and is also expanding its “Natural Food” snacking segment. In 2021, Lotus Bakeries achieved total sales of EUR 750 million and is within the Top 7 ranking of the worldwide sales value for mono portion cookie concepts.

In Germany, Lotus Biscoff is the No. 1 biscuit brand in the OOH channel with more than 300.000 servings per day and has also a strong track record within the retail channel.
Lotus Bakeries expanded its product range in Germany in 2018 in the very exciting area of "natural snacks" in the fruit slices and muesli bars category with the innovative brands Nakd and Bear.
The existing sales office for the German market with its 13 employees is located in Düsseldorf (Derendorf).
 

The scope:

In this role you are managing the customer relationships and delivering the strategies for yearly and long term, profitable sales growth of your customers together with the Channel Manager OOH.

The job:

• Developing and implementing an account plan in line with the Lotus Bakeries strategy and the development of strong commercial relationships
• Building conceptual OOH related selling stories on our Lotus & Natural Foods portfolio in collaboration with the Channel Manager OOH
• Translating the national brand and OOH strategy at customer level by means of the growth pillars range such as product listings, promotions, trade fairs, etc.
• Taking over the responsibility for regional OOH trade partners, developing targeted, customer-related plans and establishing a collaborative relationship to achieve the commercial objectives
• Opening new, sustainable channels and customers in the German OOH market
• Close collaboration with Marketing/Category Management to jointly develop and implement key leverages that enable to grow the business
• Monitoring and management of all administrative, logistical or financial tasks encountered by customers in close consultation with the Key Account Assistants as well as other departments
• Efficient communication of relevant commercial information to other internal or external stakeholders
• Building and maintaining an effective network within the OOH market
• Analyzing and translating relevant OOH market data
• Representing Lotus as a company at customers, events, fairs, etc.

The profile:

Professional requirements:

• University degree (MASTERS) in business administration or equivalent
• First FMCG experience is a must
• Knowledge of German Out of Home market structure is an advantage  
• Understanding of Sales process dynamics (interrelations head office vs regions)
• Good conceptual and analytical skills
• Excellence in execution
• Affinity with numbers
• Eager to learn
• Fluent in written and spoken German, strong understanding of English (written and spoken)

• Teamplayer
• Open Dialogue
• Passion for Sales and Brands
• High stress tolerance, able to manage multiple tasks in parallel (given by small team)
• Driving results, loves the “scoring the deal” process
• Good interpersonal skills
• Social and ambitious person, who appreciates own responsibility and takes initiative
• Positive mindset in life